Ella's 3rd Birthday

On the 15th of December 2009, our youngest turned 3 years of age. She is now about the age that Carey was when our family was in the States for furlough. It seems as if with each child the Lord gives a person the faster that they grow up.

So for nostalgia sake, and Ella someday, I want to record a bite of what Ella is like at three years old:

1. She loves to act like a 'big' girl. She is very independent and wants to try things on her own, of course this does not include jobs or chores that she does not like to do, which she is happy to try and get her big sister or parents to do for her.

2. She is quick to try new things, but acts shy around new people.

3. She loves to laugh and make noise. Her favorite sounds to make is something like a hyena laugh mixed with a raptor squawk.

4. Now that she does not suck on a pacifier, she loves to talk. Her biggest frustration about talking is people not understanding what she is talking about.

5. Somehow she has discovered burping! She loves to burp in-front of her sister. (To tell the true she is rather loud in this regard at times).

6. Ella does not like: to eat at meals, if we would let her she would eat snacks ALL day long! Ella does not like: when her mommy leaves the house without her, eating vegetables (most days), wearing only one pair of clothes in a day, talking to people she does not know well, or being treated like a 'baby'.

7. Ella likes: Playing with Carey (most days), dancing in circles or like a crazy monkey, to eat breakfast first thing in the morning, even if her parents are not awake. She likes swimming, singing songs over and over and over again (but not to be annoying). She likes new shoes, hair ribbons, tormenting her sister at times, playing in the mud, running, jumping, wrestling with Daddy, helping cook and baking with Mommy, and all around being a active three year old.

Some memories-

1. Going to the zoo with the girls. Ella's eyes lite up like fire-flies when she was able to feed the monkeys bananas. At first she was sacred a little bit, but after the first one she loved it.

2. Watching Ella in the classroom. She has a little desk and stole that she sits on. She loves to play at school, while Carey works with teacher. There are tons of puzzles to work on, and photos to match with colors.

3. Ella getting malaria. Ella was the first person besides me, to get malaria since our family arrived in Ghana six years ago. But, she bounced right back after getting her injections. (I need to add another thing to the list of things Ella does not like: SHOOTS!!!!)

4. Ella stopped sucking her pacifier. One day she walked up to Patty and said, "I am a big girl, here" and handed her the pacifier. After that no more pacy. Also she is totally toilet trained. It took a few months of getting candy after each time, but she has been diaper free now for six months.

Overall Ella's third year of life has been Great!