Happy Birthday, Ella!

Dear Ella,

Today you turn three. Whenever it was my birthday my Grandma would call and tell me the story of my birth. She would say that I was born early in the morning and they had to rush out of the house so fast my brother didn't have time to put shoes on. My Aunt Charlene came out of the room crying saying "It's a Girl!" because in those days you just never knew if it was a boy or a girl. It is a special story to me.

Your birth story is even more special. You were a week late. I sat each day in your nursery and would cry because you weren't coming. Then one day I went for a long walk with my dog, Star, and came home. I wasn't feeling very well so I took a nap and then started dinner. We had pulled pork sandwiches and sat down to watch the Mariner's. Just after dinner I started to feeling weird. I wasn't sure what it was, but then it started to get really painful. Your Daddy was rushing around and I got out the hospital paperwork that I never bothered to read and it said I should go in when my contractions were three minutes apart. Mine were only one minute apart. We rushed off and when we got there they made me do all sorts of tests while I was in horrible pain. You finally came after four hours and were the most perfect baby ever. They doctors were amazed by your soft hair, perfect color, and beautiful shaped head. We all cried because we were so happy to finally have our Ella with us.

Today on your birthday you woke up VERY early and we ate waffles with whipped cream and sprinkles. Then we went to visit your preschool that you start in two days. You were the sweetest little girl saying hello and good bye to the teachers. We then went to the park and played until it got a little too cold out and came home and watch a movie.

You are an amazing little girl. You are a leader, caring, funny, and so creative! You can sing and dance and love to read and play pretend. I can't wait to see what your threes will bring because you always amaze me with your talents.

I love you so very much!

Love,
Mommy

Daredevil Ella

Dear Ella,

You are my daredevil. I can't say this enough. It is like your little soul was born with fire around it and you just like to put sparks out everywhere you go! We went to the park yesterday and you played for two hours non stop. I think I said "No Ella" about a hundred times because you wanted to go down the slide wrong, jump on little kids, try to climb up big toys, and run away into the bathrooms.

Here is the secret, I may act annoyed or exhausted by your spirit, but I love it! I love that you are uninhibited. That you don't care what the world may think. That you chase after challenges like they are there just for you. It is amazing to me because I've always been careful to a fault. I never try the scary things, but here is my little girl running straight for the scary and unfamiliar and conquering them with no fear. You are my wild child and it is just what I need to keep me on my toes and to remind me to keep moving and doing.

I hope you never lose this spark. I hope the world doesn't try to take away your fire and that you always wander and find and challenge.

I love you so much my little firecracker!

Love,
Mommy

Big Girl Bed!

Dear Ella,

You are officially a big girl. No more baby crib for you! April 6th we took off the baby rail on your bed and you slept in your very first big girl bed! We took you to pick out our own bedding and you picked a white and pink comforter and we came home and put it on and you said it was time for bed!

You did okay the first night, got up about five times to use the bathroom or to let us know you were awake but finally fell asleep. You woke up nice and early and mommy told you to sit in your big girl bed and read, which you did VERY happily.

Here is the hard part. No more crib means no more baby. When I found out you were a girl I went and picked out a pink and brown crib set. I matched the furniture, carpet, and art work and we painted the wall chocolate brown to match. It was exciting to think I would have this beautiful baby girl to sleep in this baby pink crib. Now that crib set is put away never to be used again. I put you to sleep for the last time in that crib and when I left the room I cried. I cried when I folded up the soft pink and touched it remembering the feeling I had when I first picked it out. I know you have to grow up and it is a good and exciting thing, but you will always be that small baby that I gently placed on that brown and pink polka dot sheet. Always my baby.

Love you,
Mommy

My Big Girl

Dear Ella,

We spent an entire week together potty training. You never cease to amaze me with your ability to learn and lead. You not only trained in one day, but you did it with so much strength and determination that I can just tell that no matter what you do you will do it all the way.

Spending this time with you change my view of you. You aren't my little baby anymore, you are a big girl. You are goofy and spirited and you love to celebrate, dance, and cuddle.

One thing that I took for granted up until now are your eyes. You have your father's eyes. They are big and brown and are rimmed by the most beautiful thick eyelashes. Before you were born I swore that you would need to HAVE my eyes because they are my favorite feature. Of course nature had other plans and gave you brown eyes. At first I was sad because I wanted your baby blue eyes to stay and they darkened by your first birthday. This past week I couldn't love them more! They remind me of the sweetness and love that is all your dad. They are bright and excited. Caring and calm. All the things that I love about your dad and you are so incredibly lucky that you have his eyes.

Thank you for sharing this major milestone with me and for reminding me of just what an amazing little girl you are! I wish I could stop you from growing and sometimes I cry because I miss my squishy Ella baby, but then you do things that remind me that you growing up is amazing and special!

I love you so much, so much more than words could even express.

Love,
Mommy