Eliana

continues to be a joy.
This little one has such a sweet disposition that it is hard not to just smile and watch her in whatever she does.
She calls all of us 'honey bunny.'
When something drops or falls over she says 'don't worry, Mommy. It's OK.'
She loves jumping! And somersaulting! And this weird maneuver in which her hands and one foot are on the ground while the other is sticking up high in the air.
She's growing! (by my will, I think. I tire of seeing her in the same clothes and I decide she must move on to the next size - 'come on Eliana, a 2 1/2 year old cannot wear size 12 months anymore'. I move her up to the next size and within a few weeks the bigger size fits just right. She's like a goldfish, growing to fit her environment) (BTW, I've not tested that theory by, say, putting Matt's clothes on her to see if she'd inflate to a man's XL . Though it would be a cool trick, I'd rather not take the chance of it working. Nor have I tried shrinking her by putting smaller clothes on her) (I'm just answering the questions I know you have, people)
Eliana is talking like crazy. She has a tiny little voice and is fairly hard to understand much of the time, but it is fantastic that she has become so verbal. She taught herself her first knock-knock joke: Knock-knock.... Who's there? ...............Eliana! (sweet smile accompanied by the look-how-cute-I-am head tilt)
She loves to play with her sisters! She and Abigia spend all day together and usually play quite well. She eagerly plays the part of the baby or the patient or the dog in any game Eldana suggests. Her monster roar is ridiculous and adorable.
She has started attending a Spanish class for Preschoolers. We've also been in some other group- kid situations lately that make me think she will really be ready for preschool next year. She doesn't act nervous around the other kids at all. She really tries to join in with whatever other kids are doing and isn't shy about going up to little people she doesn't know.
Eliana has developed an affinity for a certain blanket ('my bankeet' she calls it).
She is 40-50% potty-trained. And also very congratulatory if she witnesses a successful bathroom experience of anyone elses ('Good job, Mommy! High-five!')
When she wipes her nose she uses a piece of tissue the size of my little fingernail.
She thanks us when we tell her we are proud of her for something.
She gives this mom the greatest little arms-around-the-neck-hugs imaginable.