To an outsider, my life today and my life from two years ago today probably don't look that much different. Two years ago today, I was snuggling, rocking, swaddling and nursing a newborn.
Two years ago today, I was mesmerized by the intoxicating smell and gentle coos of a sweet baby girl. Today it's Abigail I snuggle. Two years ago today, it was my sweet Ella Joy.
Somewhere along the way in the last two years I blinked and life went racing by. My cuddly, sweet newborn babe turned into a feisty, jabbering, independent two year old. My cubby, round cheeked baby grew into a chubby, round cheeked little girl with flowing, blond ringlets and a smile that melts my heart.
At two years old, Ella really believes she's one of the "big kids." No matter where the other kids are or what they are doing, she's smack in the middle of it, throwing her toddler weight around and enforcing her own set of rules.
She adores wearing shoes, anyone's shoes, especially boots. As soon as one of the older 3 kick off their cowboy boots, she races to get them and shove them onto her own squishy toddler foot.
She's an expert escape artist and pint sized Houdini. She's been known to escape from footed, zip up pajamas that have been put on backwards - all without unzipping the zipper. Her nap and bedtime routines consist of duct taping on her diaper so that she won't take it off and launch it out of her crib.
And speaking of her crib. Oh, that girl. We've had crib escapees before. But typically, a hard fall or a consequence from Mom or Dad usually deters future crib breaks. At 2, Aaron moved from the crib to the big boy bed and never looked back.
But Ella? Ha! Falls, consequences and the lure of a big girl bed wasn't enough to keep her in any bed, much less her crib. Finally, we gave up and bought a crib tent. So far, she's managed to stay put. So far.
She's maintained her nickname of Ella Goat because of her willingness to eat just about anything. Especially anything green. Her affinity for foods that are green are only out measured by Aaron's repulsion of the same foods. She'll eat anything and does so in large quantities. She's been wearing 24 month and 2T clothes for a while now and as I begin to pull out spring and summer clothing, it's a given that she'll move straight into 3T clothes. I'm eager to see what percentiles she's in when we go for her 2 year check up next week. Having never had a baby in more than the 50th percentile, I'm sure she'll be a rule changer in that arena as well.
This girl and I have a special bond, it's unique from the one I have with the other kids. It's not that she's my favorite or even because she's the "baby" (which, I mean, she's not. Though it's hard for me to wrap my mind around that). The bond I have with her is is just...well, special. She's a Momma's girl through and through. She squeals with excitement when Daddy comes home at the end of the day but when push comes to shove (which is does a lot around here) Mommy is the only one who can adequately soothe her cries, calm her fears and kiss her boo boos.
As I was taking these photos of her yesterday, she kept wanting to sit on my lap or stand with one arm wrapped tightly around my leg. And I couldn't help but smile, even though I really wanted her to step back so that my lens could capture her sweetness.
You know, love is a crazy thing, especially when it's directed toward your children. You find out you're expecting (whether by birth or adoption) and suddenly your heart begins to expand and you begin to love this person you've never met. Then you hold your baby for the first time and think that surely your heart will explode from all the love inside it, trying desperately to pour itself onto this person in your arms.
Then, they grow. And one day they're swinging on the swingset or running through the freshly mowed grass or just sitting and watching cartoons and you look at them and that same swell of emotion happens again. And you wonder, how on earth could I ever love someone the way I love you?
And yet somehow your love continues to grow, day by day, week by week, year by year. And if you add more children into the mix you're sure that none of them could ever capture your heart the way that this one does.
But let me say with confidence, that loving the 6th child with a reckless abandon, in only a way that mother can love, is entirely possible. In fact, I'm learning that it's possible 7 times over. Somehow, this heart of mine continues to multiply the love I have inside for each of my 7 babes. It's entirely possible to fall in love with your children over and over and over again.
And with this frazzle haired girl, who hardly ever lets me keep her hair in a cute, neat pony for longer than .375 seconds, I'm finding that falling in love with her is simply wonderful. Somedays I think I could just squeeze her til she hurts. She floods my heart with such simple, wonderful joy.
Happy 2nd Birthday my sweet Ella Joy! I love you so very much!
Two years ago today, I was mesmerized by the intoxicating smell and gentle coos of a sweet baby girl. Today it's Abigail I snuggle. Two years ago today, it was my sweet Ella Joy.
Somewhere along the way in the last two years I blinked and life went racing by. My cuddly, sweet newborn babe turned into a feisty, jabbering, independent two year old. My cubby, round cheeked baby grew into a chubby, round cheeked little girl with flowing, blond ringlets and a smile that melts my heart.
At two years old, Ella really believes she's one of the "big kids." No matter where the other kids are or what they are doing, she's smack in the middle of it, throwing her toddler weight around and enforcing her own set of rules.
She adores wearing shoes, anyone's shoes, especially boots. As soon as one of the older 3 kick off their cowboy boots, she races to get them and shove them onto her own squishy toddler foot.
She's an expert escape artist and pint sized Houdini. She's been known to escape from footed, zip up pajamas that have been put on backwards - all without unzipping the zipper. Her nap and bedtime routines consist of duct taping on her diaper so that she won't take it off and launch it out of her crib.
And speaking of her crib. Oh, that girl. We've had crib escapees before. But typically, a hard fall or a consequence from Mom or Dad usually deters future crib breaks. At 2, Aaron moved from the crib to the big boy bed and never looked back.
But Ella? Ha! Falls, consequences and the lure of a big girl bed wasn't enough to keep her in any bed, much less her crib. Finally, we gave up and bought a crib tent. So far, she's managed to stay put. So far.
She's maintained her nickname of Ella Goat because of her willingness to eat just about anything. Especially anything green. Her affinity for foods that are green are only out measured by Aaron's repulsion of the same foods. She'll eat anything and does so in large quantities. She's been wearing 24 month and 2T clothes for a while now and as I begin to pull out spring and summer clothing, it's a given that she'll move straight into 3T clothes. I'm eager to see what percentiles she's in when we go for her 2 year check up next week. Having never had a baby in more than the 50th percentile, I'm sure she'll be a rule changer in that arena as well.
This girl and I have a special bond, it's unique from the one I have with the other kids. It's not that she's my favorite or even because she's the "baby" (which, I mean, she's not. Though it's hard for me to wrap my mind around that). The bond I have with her is is just...well, special. She's a Momma's girl through and through. She squeals with excitement when Daddy comes home at the end of the day but when push comes to shove (which is does a lot around here) Mommy is the only one who can adequately soothe her cries, calm her fears and kiss her boo boos.
As I was taking these photos of her yesterday, she kept wanting to sit on my lap or stand with one arm wrapped tightly around my leg. And I couldn't help but smile, even though I really wanted her to step back so that my lens could capture her sweetness.
You know, love is a crazy thing, especially when it's directed toward your children. You find out you're expecting (whether by birth or adoption) and suddenly your heart begins to expand and you begin to love this person you've never met. Then you hold your baby for the first time and think that surely your heart will explode from all the love inside it, trying desperately to pour itself onto this person in your arms.
Then, they grow. And one day they're swinging on the swingset or running through the freshly mowed grass or just sitting and watching cartoons and you look at them and that same swell of emotion happens again. And you wonder, how on earth could I ever love someone the way I love you?
And yet somehow your love continues to grow, day by day, week by week, year by year. And if you add more children into the mix you're sure that none of them could ever capture your heart the way that this one does.
But let me say with confidence, that loving the 6th child with a reckless abandon, in only a way that mother can love, is entirely possible. In fact, I'm learning that it's possible 7 times over. Somehow, this heart of mine continues to multiply the love I have inside for each of my 7 babes. It's entirely possible to fall in love with your children over and over and over again.
And with this frazzle haired girl, who hardly ever lets me keep her hair in a cute, neat pony for longer than .375 seconds, I'm finding that falling in love with her is simply wonderful. Somedays I think I could just squeeze her til she hurts. She floods my heart with such simple, wonderful joy.
Happy 2nd Birthday my sweet Ella Joy! I love you so very much!