My youngest niece Ella and I have had a bit of a love-hate relationship. For the first two years of her life, I have most certainly not been her favorite person. I sounded a lot like her Mommy, I looked a lot like her Mommy, but I most definitely was NOT her Mommy. Perhaps it was because I saw her so infrequently that she just didn’t know me, but every time I would try to do something for her or help her, she would just tell me, “No! Mama do it!” And trying to get some love from her was like pulling teeth.

And I still might not be her most favorite person, but I think Ella and I finally had a breakthrough this past week.

She has become very quick witted and an incredibly funny little girl. And while trying to keep up with her older sisters and cousins this week she finally let me “in” a little. We bonded. And then I found her button – and I pushed it just to see her get riled up. It was the most fun. And I think, although she pretended like she didn’t like it, she enjoyed the good-natured teasing as much as I did.

One day she had a comeback that was a little sassy and I called her Miss Sassy Molassy, usually a title I reserve for Addison. And, well, Miss Ella did not really care for that. “No Aunt Bean, I Ella!” she proclaimed.

So of course I had to come up with a new nickname for her.

“I think we should call you SasserElla.”
“NO! I Cinderella!”
“Nah, I think you are a SasserElla!”
“No, I just Ella!”

We had this same conversation several times this past week. And it cracked me up every time. At one point when I was teasing her she looked at me and with a deadpan expression she just said, “Then you are SpongeBob, Aunt Bean!”

I’ll take it. I’ll be her SpongeBob if it means that I can be on her good side for a change.

It’s true, my youngest niece, Gabella-Ella turns two today! I hope you have a fantastic year, Gabella. And the very happiest of days to you. I’m very excited that we got to spend a few days celebrating with you.

In other news, we are indeed spending time with this sweet girl and my other two sweet nieces right now. We are here in Michigan for the week, so while I have all kinds of Christmas aftermath to post about, and a few projects that have to be done, I’m just enjoying my time away from home – and maybe taking a mini-blog vacation, too. I might post some stuff this week, I might not. We’ll just have to see.

I hope all of you are digging out from Christmas and have some good shots to show today, though!

Ewww…it is Monday already?

If you have a minute, click on this, my favorite shot of my gorgeous new niece (well, newest niece, she’ll be one, next month) and see her big ol’ eyes in all their glory. They are so beautiful!

We are now heading over to Chicago for a few days with some friends and then heading home. My little travelers are weary and A. told me yesterday “I wanna go home, Mama.” I am also anxious to go home to get some Christmas fun started! I want to decorate and finish our crafts and just start spreading some cheer. So a few more days of little posts

Don’t forget to wander over to Tracey’s to see some other holiday Best Shot Mondays.