Ellie at age 3.5

I had hoped to have this post all done and up when Ellie actually turned 3.5 (which was August 5th). However, I'm glad to have it posted before the month is over!!

So now, onto our biggest little, Ellie Mishelle Norris...
How to sum her up is a bit tricky because she is certainly unique, quirky, special, wonderful and there's never a dull moment with her.

This post is just a small sampling of some of our favorite things about our Ellie. There's so much more that could be said.

Her favorite color(s): pink and purple (just the other day she said she wanted our car to be pink!)
She gets so excited when it's almost, or is, Sunday and we tell her it's church..."Tomorrow is church?!?!?! (OR "Today is church?!?!?!) I'm so excited!! (And insert a big cheesy smile and shrugged up shoulders.) -Ellie.
Always covered in bruises on her knees and legs.
Curious about pretty much everything and asks lots of questions.
Shy at first with people she doesn't know or know well. But, once she's warmed up, she'll talk your ear off.
Talks all.the.time!
Uses hand gestures and body language for sure when talking.
When she's upset, she cries.
Doesn't like her picture taken, unless Paige has been getting hers taken, or it's initiated by her. And then most of the time she'll pose all silly (pictures below).
Love how she says 'girl' like "gurl".
For several months she referred to the dentist as "the fella".
Current favorite shows: 'The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That' and 'Octonauts'.
When it's just me putting the girls down for bed, and I'm reading to Paige in her rocking chair, Ellie always comes in and sits on my lap, too. (She gets her one on one reading time when I'm done putting Paige down, but she enjoys that time with us girls as well.)
Always making little beds for her dolls and stuffed animals.
Comes up with the most unique names ever for her toys...Henka, Kwala, Lowa, and Gopha just to name a few.
Has recollections or memories from past events that are mind blowing sometimes.
During this month she started to intentionally draw people and things.
Asks if its snack time almost immediately after mealtime, even if she's just had a good sized meal and told us she was full.
We've worked away from even a half hour nap because it would give her enough energy to keep her up an hour and half past her usual bedtime. Though, we'll give her a short nap if we know we'll be up later that night for something.
Upgraded her to a twin bed. The transition was from a toddler bed with railing. It went totally smooth and there's only been one incident where she fell out while sleeping (and she didn't get hurt thankfully).
Loves having a short made up story told to her (after getting a book read to her), a song and prayers before bedtime.
Asleep between 7:15pm-7:45pm and wakes on average at 7:15am.
Fully potty trained. (She was potty trained right before she turned 2. But, there were issues of always getting #2 in the potty-instead of underwear or pull-ups, until she was about 2.5. And she needed to wear pull-ups for bedtime up until June of this year.)
Still sucks her middle and index finger on right hand, mainly when she's in bed.

Some quotes from the past 6 months:
"I'm going to wear a big wedding dress, with pink flowers and wear my hair up in a bun."

"I'm sweating butter."

"I'm interested in your toilet." Referring to a urinal when Steven had taken her into the boy's bathroom.

"Everybody love Jesus. I wish to give him a big hug."

We love this girl and are so grateful she's ours.