Animals, Art, and Adorableness

Eleanora's has added two new passions to her life lately, animals and art. She loves any book with animals and then making the (mostly) correct noises. She quacks like a duck (for all birds), pants like a dog, roars like a lion, tiger or bear, says "eeeoooow" for a cat, "oooooo" for a cow, jumps like a kangaroo, and makes a general "aaaahh" sound for the rest of the animals including sheep, horses, and elephants.

Ben taught her a new animal trick, "Skinning the Cat" (don't ask me why it's called this) during which no animals were harmed. My Dad used to do this with my sister and I all the time when we were little. I still remember the first time I was too big to climb up his legs and flip over. It was a very, very sad day.

"Skinning the Cat"


Speaking to the ducks in their native tongue as practiced with Rubber Duckie

Thanks to the genius influence of my friend Marianne, I recently picked up a used art table for Eleanora at a flea market-type sale. I wasn't sure about this big, dirty, table in our teeny house but after a good scrubbing and the magical eraser it looks brand new. Eleanora spent hours sitting on her stool sorting, chewing, and occasionally coloring with her crayons.

Working hard on her next masterpiece

We've also been having lots of fun with friends lately. Eleanora loves being around other kids at the library, playground and church. She tends to hold back with older kids, mostly just watching their every move. It's just the opposite with babies whom she wants to kiss, pet and touch constantly.

LOVING playing "big girl" with her friend Katie


Transfixed on Katherine's Mom (a.k.a. Erin) at the zoo

Of course, Eleanora has been up to her general adorableness as well. She loves to dance and do the motions to "Itsy Bitsy Spider", "I'm a Little Teapot", and "Ring around the Rosie". She keeps us entertained with her tickle monster impression (roaring followed by throwing herself on our stomachs and laughing hysterically), obsession with blueberries (she signs "one more" over and over and over...), and clapping with excitement all day long. She's full of personality, that's for sure!