Ella, you’re 2!
Wow. The time is flying by. It’s been this way since the start of your life – it just feels like it’s moving so much quicker than it did with your big brother. I’m sure that it has to do with the fact that now we’re busy with two crazy kids instead of just one, but still, it’s a little hard to take.
How would I describe your relationship with Ben right now? Love/hate, for sure. With more hate than love. Keep in mind, I don’t really mean “hate”; but you two do drive each other crazy. Ben roars at you, you get upset. Two minutes later, you roar at him and he gets upset. Seriously, you two thrive on making the other mad. I honestly don’t know why your dad and I don’t send you two to live in the wilds of our backyard, so that peace is restored in the house, but you’re both still around, so we must make it through somehow. And then comes bedtime, and you and your brother love to give each other hugs and kisses on the cheek as you say goodnight. All the love/hate stuff aside, you completely idolize your brother and want to do everything he does – from marching around the house to Hap Palmer’s music, to tearing off your bathrobe to be NakedGirl to Ben’s NakedBoy.
These days, your nicknames range from Ella-bee, Beeper and Miss Bee, to Stink-o. I love it when Ben refers to you as “Miss Bee”, or “Ella Beeper”. So cute to hear him say, “Good Morning Miss Bee”, or “What’s wrong Beeper?” Don’t ask me why you’re Ella-Bee…you just are. Have been for a long time, really. You're our Bee and that's that.
In the talking department, you've been a little slower than what we anticipated. Not that it's a bad thing! You are certainly picking up on a lot of words now, which is great. But Daddy just told me that he thinks you're cuter because of your lack of words. I have to agree, but only sometimes. Hearing you say "Hi Daddy" or "Ay Mommy" or "Hi Guys" is just sweet music to our ears! Probably the cutest thing you say is "Warwee" - you love Charlie!
And now here is a list of your current favorite things:
Food: You eat pretty much anything we give you, but a couple things we NEVER have to worry about are cheese, rice, cheese, berries (of any variety), cheese, any other fruit, really. Oh, have I mentioned CHEESE?
TV show: Blues Clues, Curious George or maybe Elmo
Toy: A doll in a stroller or the shopping cart
Book: Blankie (Leslie Patricelli) or Little Pea (Amy Krause Rosenthal)
Song: Wiggy Wiggles Freeze Dance (Hap Palmer)
Activity: Wearing shoes, any shoes (not just yours), sometimes yours and then someone else’s, if they’re big enough to fit over yours. And you also like to color/draw and you usually want us to draw a stick person and you’ll draw the face.
Person: Mommy
You don't like milk nearly as much as Ben does. You're a better eater than he is though! You love to listen to music and dance. We do not mention bathtime until we're about to pour the water - you would bath 10 times a day, I think!
And finally, the last year in pictures:
You melt our hearts and make us laugh with your funny faces, crazy hair and your love of life. Life wouldn't be as beautiful without you. We love you to the moon and back.
Mommy, Daddy and Ben
Eating popcorn, waiting for his turn on the swings:
Ella eating popcorn:
