Sass

Miss Ellen seems to be on the upswing, so the sass is emerging. (The steroids help, oh boy).

This week has been challenging with her, though I'm trying to be really thankful and recognize all the positives amidst the chaos:
- Yes, it's a challenge to have a sick child, but we are so lucky that sickness is the exception rather than the rule.
- Man are we lucky (LUCKY) to have close, helpful parents who drop everything to take care of our girl.
- Yes, it sucks to have a car that breaks down on the first work day of the week, but I did make it to my 7am meeting (at 7:07am), the car could be towed, and it cost less than $200 to fix. Hallelujah.
- I got to hear some entertaining stories (to put it lightly) from the tow truck driver.
- Yes, our house is covered in dust, after it had been cleaned from top to bottom, but we have two freshly painted rooms to show for it.
- Our wine fridge is stocked. Period. Thankful.

Also, a few Ellen-isms from the week:

- Erik likes to say that he is the Baby Whisperer of our house these days. I like to see that Ellen asks for him from time to time, because she has been going through a long phase of mommy - ONLY. When she whines after she goes to bed, Erik has been going up and gently running his fingers over her face and telling her to go to sleep. She loves it. He was gone last night at a meeting and I asked her if she wanted me to do Daddy's trick ... "Yes, Mama. Daddy's tip, please."

- Erik also tries to entertain Ellen with music, either with a dance party after work, or she wanders around with headphones and our little mini iPod. Now when music comes on she asks, "Is dis Jay-Z?"

- Ellen has a terrible crusty nose, which she only occasionally lets me clean if I use a warm wash cloth. I tell her it will be "nice and warm", so now she says everything is "nice and warm!". I was battling her over cleaning up her boogies and she said, "No! I just can't believe it!"

- Ellen has taken to calling me Molly. "Thanks, Molly." "Molly, I need yogurt." "Let's go, Molly." I like to think that it is because Molly is so close to Mommy, but I think it is more likely 2-year-old Sass. (With a capital S).

Evidence: