and i do mean ALL DAY LONG.
today in the shop, ella came to me around 9:30am and said, "ghost!". i wasn't sure what she wanted, so as i do many times when i'm not sure, i said, "really? where?". almost always, the response is, "i showz you!", but this time, she said, "ruby: ghost!". that was my clue--she was playing out a story from max and ruby.
so--using my best ruby sing-song voice, i said the script as closely as i could remember it: "ok, max! climb in bed. i'll tuck you in. here's your elephant. good night, max!". while doing this, ella would climb into her little fold-out bed under the cutting table, i tucked her blanket/tablecloth around her, snuggled her elephant under her chin, then kissed her on the forehead (the kiss is not part of the original script--that was ad lib, and brilliantly done, i might add.).
we played this game about every 10-15 minutes for the entire day, and then again after we got home tonight. i just went in to get something from her room, and in her sleep she said, "ghost! ghost!"
so today, my little baby ella has been my little bunny max, and i've had the thrill of tucking her in to bed and kissing her goodnight about 4 dozen times.




