Ella turned five?

Well, I guess I should probably post something for Ella’s milestone birthday. I think I was hoping that if I didn’t acknowledge it on here, then it didn’t really happen and she would still be my little girl. I could still fool myself into thinking pre-April 25th.

But, it did happen.

Ella turned 5.

That seems so old for my girl. She seems so big. When I am with her, I really notice the things that make her seem older – her lengthening blond hair, her height (compared to her brother), the phrases she comes out with, the attitude she gives (oh boy!).

But there are a few things that remind me of her actual age – the way she still needs her blankie at bedtime, how she loves to snuggle with us, her sensitive feelings when she feels she’s been wronged. And her speech (we KNOW we’ll have sessions with the speech therapist next year).

So, she’s an enigma. Big and little, all at once.

Her current likes:

Raw veggies
Fruit, fruit and more fruit - especially strawberries & watermelon
Her new scooter
Art class
Digging in the dirt
Drawing
Playing with play-doh
Eating tacos at the mall
Cats
Singing songs and being sung to

Her current dislikes:

Cooked veggies
Meat (at least, she THINKS she doesn’t like it)
Having to wait until September to go to school
Eating a “real” breakfast
Having her hair combed or put into pigtails
When her brother ignores her
When her brother gets in her face (see, an enigma!)

I feel like I could say a lot about her, but I also feel like I can’t put it all into words. I feel like the past 5 years have zipped by with not enough pictures, not enough time. Why can’t I remember more of her as a baby? Like all parents, I wish I could go back to relive every single moment with my kids.

This all makes me so emotional. A teary mess, really.

I guess all I can say about our Ella is that she is a sweet, sensitive, stubborn, creative, funny girl who we absolutely love to pieces. We can’t imagine our family without her in it!