She talks!!!

Ella walks into the bathroom this morning with one of my makeup sponges and says, "Mom, what is this?".  It was so clear and so put together, I was so excited!  She's been talking more and more lately but no real sentences until now.  She mostly says one word at a time then adds that what ever it is is hers.  Going outside in the morning, "Cold!...my cold.".  At night: "Moon!...my moon."   Dirty diapers: "Bllleeecchhh!....my blech."  Then today while in the bathtub she said, "I swim!"  It's nice to start hearing some conversation out of her.  We're all really enjoying it.  It's nice to know what she wants and how she feels.

Another amazing thing about her is that she's been potty training herself lately!  I've really not been any hurry to teach her since she wasn't able to communicate very well.  Besides, diapers are much easier to clean up than dirty pants, car seats, shopping carts, etc.  But she's decided she's ready.  She stayed dry on her own all day yesterday.  We used one diaper the whole day!  She would tell me she had to go and then she'd go sit on her little potty.  She's even asking to sit on the big potty now.  All her doing.  I had no part in it other than getting her the potty in the first place and helping her get her clothes back on.  This way is much easier than trying to teach her!  I'm going to move her into pull-ups soon if she stays dry a few more days on her own.  Go, Ella!!