Walking and Talking - oh my!

Dear Ella,

You are walking and talking. It all happened all at once. It took me by surprise how overnight you were no longer my little baby, but are toddler. My dad, your Grandpa Dave, used to say to me that he wanted to put a brick on my head to keep me from growing. Now I understand. I just want you to stay little and small forever. Even though your babyhood is coming to a close, there is this new and exciting phase that we are entering in together. You can tell me what you want with a "That!" command and you can walk to where you want to go rather than crawl.

Yesterday we went to the park and you held my hand and walked all over the place. You wanted to be near the big kids playing on the toys. Around and around we strolled and you had a blast! It wasn't that long ago that we were sitting at that same park and you just would stare at the kids on the toys not sure how to get over there. Yesterday you just stood up and toddled after them. Such a big girl with such a big sense of purpose. I can't wait to see what you do next because once you learn something you go crazy with it!

I look back on everything you have accomplished this first year and I can't believe how fast it has gone by. You can walk, talk, and show your little personality. It is crazy that at this time last year I was finishing up your nursury and anxiously waiting for you to come into my life. Now you are here and I'm chasing you all over the nursury!

I am so proud of all you have done and all you have learned. I still wish I could put a brick on your head though, or at least just slow down time a little.

Love you so much my little bean,
Mommy

First illness

My dearest Ella,

I am so sorry to say that you are sick. You have had a fever for a week now and a very upset tummy. We went to the doctor and the good news is that you don't have anything too serious, but the bad news is that we just have to wait it out.

You are very unhappy. All you want to do is cuddle with mommy and sleep on her. We have both only gotten a few hours of sleep at a time. It breaks my heart. A mommy wants to always make her baby feel better, and when you can't it is the worst feeling in the world.

I know this is the first of probably many bugs you will get in your life, and hopefully they will all be as "minor" as this one seems to be. I'm not sure you will always want to cuddle with mommy when you are sick, but I just want you to know that your mommy will always be here for you. Sometimes I can fix it, sometimes I can't. Regardless, I'll be here.

All my loves,
Mommy

Playdates and friends

Dear Ella,

When I decided to be a stay at home mom I was worried about you being able to meet and interact with other babies your age. It was scary to think that I would be your only friend! We have met a great group of moms and babies and you have made some wonderful little friends.

Kiera, Andrew, Brooke, and Maia are all your little buddies and we meet with them and other babies about once a week. You crawl together, you stand together, and you of course share your treats together! I can't believe that you won't be this small forever and that you and these special little ones will one day grow up and your play will change.

I want you to know about your first friends. Your first experiences playing and talking, sharing cheerios and pulling eachother's hair. You are a little bit of a bully. You have knocked down other babies, scratched them, climbed over them, and stolen their toys. I don't think you mean to, you are just learning. When you make another baby cry you feel bad and usually yell at them in your baby voice. As you get older I think you will be a leader. You cruise down hallways and into rooms that are off limits, others in tow. You also start nice baby yelling contests to see who can yell the loudest. If one baby has something, you must have it too. This includes their bottles, snacks, toys, pretty much everything.

I am so proud of you and your ability to play and learn. I hope that as you grow you will always have friends around you. You try new things, meet new people, and are never afraid to lead the way.

All my love,
Mommy

You and Brooke at playgroup

Your first sporting event!

Dear Ella,

On May 5th we took you to your first sporting event - Seattle Sounders soccer. We were very excited to share with you our love of sports and even more excited that your first experience would be soccer. For your first game I made you a Rave Green hairbow since we had a hard time finding a Sounders shirt that was small enough (you are very small for your age!). I dressed you in green and put the hairbow in your hair and off we went!

After a rocky ride into Seattle (you cried...a lot) we pulled into the parking garage and Daddy and his friend left for the pregame activities while you and mommy had a nice little snack in the car. You and Mommy then made your way to the game! Walking there we passed a lot of gree clad fans and even a fiddler who was playing some fun music that you liked! Mommy and Daddy got pictures with you and as we walking into Century Link Field you got a lot of compliments on your bow and your overall adorableness.

You did really well during the game! Towards halftime you got hungry and you snacked on some puff foods and felt much better. Then you sang to the music and had a good time watching the rest of the game. We had to take a diaper break and unfortunately you missed your first goal (bad timing) but after hearing the fireworks and cheers we were pretty happy that we missed the loud noise.

After the game you slept all the way home and woke up very happy! Next stop Mariner's baseball!

Love you so much, and Daddy and I are so proud of what a little sports fan you turned out to be!

Love,
Mommy

Half a Year Old

Dear Ella,

You are half a year old today. Six months ago you came into my life and things have never been the same. Sure, I used to be able to sleep a lot more, but your giggles and goofy noises make it all worth it! Today was a pretty low key day for us considering you were up about four times during the night, all after 3am. We spent the morning cuddling and napping and then the afternoon playing and taking your six month old photos.

You love to sing Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes and to bang your hands on pretty much anything from mommy and daddy, to the high chair. You giggle when I kiss your tummy and when I make you bounce up the stairs for bathtime. You like to pull your socks off, try to get anything and everything in your mouth, and you are the most wonderful and perfect thing I have ever seen in my life.

I can't believe that is has been half a year already. Time really does fly, especially when you are having the time of your life with the most wonderful little girl God has made.

You are sleeping next to me right now. Dreaming what dreams a six month old dreams. I wish I could keep you forever here with me, but I know I can't. I know you will grow up and learn new things, think new thoughts, and probably give me a run for my money. But right now, at six months, you are perfect.

I love you my little half-year-old. I can't wait to see what the next six months have in store.

All my love,
Mommy

4 Month Appointment

Dear Ella,

We took you to your four month doctor's appointment the other day. It was a very snowy day and most offices were closed but we made the trek in and were the only car on the road. You were happy and talking until the doctor came in. She wanted to check how tall you were, how much you weighed, and all of the other "health checks" to make sure you were growing and healthy. You were 14 lbs and 6 oz and 25 inches. Skinny and tall, just like your daddy!

She noted that you had a beautiful head - which I have to agree! Apparently it is very round which means you spend a lot of time on your belly or sitting up. You definitly like to sit up in mommy's lap. We spend a long time looking at magazines and books together and playing with your toys so I'm glad that your beautiful head comes from fun mommy times!

When you were being checked out by the doctor you started crying and looking at me. You wanted nothing to do with her and the doctor laughed saying that you are a mommy's girl. I'm probably to blame because I love our times together! We laugh and play and sing and dance and if that means you are a mommy's girl then good!

The night after your shots you woke up with a bad fever. Mommy and daddy were scared out of minds! You were crying and sad, but daddy gave you some medicine and you fell right back asleep. Please don't ever be sick again! It breaks me heart.

I love you very much and am so glad that you are growing and learning!

Love,
Mommy

Snow!

Dear Ella,
Today it snowed. A real snow too, not just one of those little dustings that most Seattleites freak out over and closes buisnesses. It is a snow that they think the whole world is ending, and I love it! When I woke up with you this morning I didn't know it snowed until I looked out the window. I squealed and you just stared at me like I was a nut ball. I should probably get used to that look from you because just a little side note...mommy gets very excited about things like this!

We took you outside in it and you were less than impressed. Probably because you were stuffed into a snow suit that I had been anxiously waiting to put you in from the day I got it from my cousin Stephenie.

I am very excited for many more snows with you, building snowmen, making snow angels, and of course throwing snowballs at Daddy because believe me he will have it coming!

Love you,

Mommy

Morning Time

Dear Ella,

Today is Saturday. Daddy woke up early with you because you were fussy and slept with you on the couch so I could get some sleep. He came in when you needed to eat and was so sleepy and tired that he crawled in bed and fell asleep while you ate. You on the other hand gulped down your breakfast and were very happy that you got to sleep with Daddy that you wanted to tell me about it with your happy baby noises.



We came downstairs and played together, having a very fun time. Then you got sleepy. Very sleepy. When you get sleepy you make baby sleepy noise. It makes me want to cuddle you for hours, but unless I leave you alone you will stay awake. You are now sleeping with your glow worm, messy hair and all. Here is the thing, my sweet little baby, I worry that these morning times won't last. That the older you get the more independent you will become. You won't want to play with Mommy all morning, you will want to play with yourself, your toys, or one day your friends. I won't make sleepy baby noises while I hold you and you won't give me a big smile when you wake up. You are growing and changing and for that I am grateful because I know you are healthy and strong and smart. But for today, just stay my little baby cuddle with me a little longer please.

Love,
Mommy

My first letter to Ella

Dear Ella,

You are sitting here with me as I type out this first letter to you and are trying to "help" by grabbing at my hands. I want to start writing you letters so you know about me, you, and the adventures that we will be taking together. When I found out I was having a girl I was in complete shock. My whole life I dreamed of a daughter, but for some reason I thought I would only have boys. The ultrasound tech said with a smile it was a girl, and I gasped. A girl! A daughter! You are so special, and that was the first moment I realized that I was one of the luckiest moms in the whole world!

When you were born it was sort of surreal. After a few hours of intense pain I was overcome with the greatest love I've ever known. They handed you to me and I promised you that I would be here for you no matter what. Your little hands, your crazy head of hair, and your sweet small nose. I felt as if I already knew you. September 2, 2011, the day I became a mother, is the greatest day of my life.

Watching you grow made me realize that I wanted to document and share with you for when you are older all of the things you do everyday. You make me laugh with your baby noises. You make me cry when you won't sleep. You make smile when you reach for me. You are so special and will forever be loved.

In this first letter, I just want you to know that I dreamed of you before you were born. I dreamed of holding you and showing you the world. It is hard to believe that now I have you. We will have great adventures together. I can't wait.

Love,
Mommy