Wordless Wednesday

Friends

Ellie: Daddy? You are my friend.
Daddy: Aww, thank you.
Ellie: Mommy? You are my friend.
Mommy: Awww, that's so sweet. I love being your friend. You are my friend too.
Addie: (hand eagerly raised high) I DO! I DO!
Mommy: Addie, do you want to be my friend too?
Addie: (Nods enthusiastically)
Mommy: Of course you're my friend too.

Smiles all around.

Mommy and EllieTime

I may talk about how Ellie is such a good big sister fairly often, but one of the things I don't usually mention is how Ellie says "Addie doesn't like to share Mommy very much." She understands that Addie will learn to share more and more as she gets bigger, but I know it's hard for her to see how much attention Addie demands from me. And Ellie is getting so big herself! This weekend she actually suggested that we go to the store without her she reassured us that she would be ok just reading books in her room. As it turned out, I stayed home with her while Daddy and Addie when to the store. It was nice for me to be able to spend some alone with Ellie. I braided her hair like Rapunzel while she patiently sat and read her books. It was wonderful.

But what's with the confidence on staying home alone? REALLY? Is she getting THAT big and THAT confident without me even noticing???

Princess Addie

I was planning on having these photos be a Wordless Wednesday because in many ways they require no explanation.

But when I start to think about how big my little baby has grown, it seems wrong for me to not say at least something.

So I sit and stare at the beauty that is my daughter and I come up with nothing. No words to describe how I feel inside.

Yep, this is my baby. Feel free to share a little tear with me. My baby is nearly 2 years old and can spin in circles like a pro. She doesn't say much, but boy does she live a lot!

Does she know just how beautiful she is becoming? Her personality shines so bright and if her smile isn't present, it's not far away. Neither are her hugs or kisses. This girl is pure joy, I tell you.

Well, pure joy mixed with confidence and silliness, with just a little bit of attitude. She's got all the good stuff. This little girl has definitely proved herself to be so big in a world that expects her to be so small.

Addie's Homework

I have to say that doing something like this for daycare is MUCH MUCH easier when your child can talk and can answer your questions. What does Addie want to be when she grows up? Uh??? A doctor? An engineer? A princess? Her sister? What is her favorite color? Perhaps yellow? Perhaps blue? Perhaps whatever color her sister happens to like at that moment? What's her favorite kind of food? I suppose tomatoes. Dang! Why didn't I think of that in time???

Wordless Wednesday

Big Sister Quote of the Day

Ellie: Addie, do you want to suck it?

Addie These Days

Addie is quite the source of entertainment, love and laughter these days. My posts do not do justice to how much I am enjoying her more and more as she learns to express herself through her words. The little girl has quite a personality.

Recently the thing that brings the biggest smile to my face is her new game "My Addie." Daddy chases her saying "My Addie" over and over again. When he catches her he pretends to not be willing to let her go, repeating "My Addie." It turns out that now when she wants Daddy to chase her, she says "My Ah-ee-yine" a few times and giggles. If she wants Mommy snuggle time but she sees him approaching, she'll say "My Ah-ee-yine" and bury deeper into my arms.

Along with that, she has learned to stand up to her big sister a little more. "NO! My Ah-ee-yine!" if she notices that Ellie is taking advantage of the concept of taking turns. Too cute.

She also loves loves loves to give hugs. If she has done something that results in our disapproval, she is quick to offer a hug for an apology. This works well with avoiding any major issues when she accidentally (or purposefully) hurts her big sister. She'll quickly hold out her arms and say "Ugh!" and no one can resist forgiving her.

Though sometimes she's much too willing to give the hugs for her own good. The other night she was so tired that as soon as Daddy dropped her into bed she face planted into her pillow, but even with her face dug deep she was able to reach behind her back, put up her hand in the air and say "Ugh?" to let Daddy know that it's the thought that counts.

And speaking of bed time, the girl loves loves loves her bed. She's still in her crib (plans for a big girl room in the next month or two) but just adores it. She is rarely ready to get out when I come to wake her in the morning. My guess is that she's going to be quite the difficult teenager as she is definitely not a morning person. And at this age it's cute. A dozen years from now, I'm guessing the cuteness will have faded.

And so, my friends, trust me on this... My Addie Bear is one of the sweetest most adorable things I can possibly fathom. And with that, I'll leave you with a quick video - Addie's first song caught on tape. Apparently she follows in her sister's shoes in having Ba Ba Black Sheep be her most favorite:

Ellie Colors

Look at what my Ellie has learned to do!!! And if you're wondering what the heck I'm talking about...

Compare them to the ones that I cut out and hung on her wall in her bedroom. What a difference a month or two can make!!!

How the Special Rocks Work

By now you should know about our special rocks. Ellie has kept her blue heart under her pillow for over two years now and she knows that it keeps her safe at night. Recently she gave the rock to Addie in exchange for another heart rock similar to this one:

Ellie likes the green color with pink spots, and quite honestly those are the colors I think of when I think of my Ellie.

And so now the blue one has found a nice home under Addie's pillow, and it fits her. I think Addie likes blue a lot.

Anyway, in a recent conversation regarding the state of flux of our special rocks, Ellie expressed some concern over her new rock being able to keep her as safe as her old one.

Ellie: Mommy I like my special rock because it keeps me safe at night.
Mommy: Yeah, I know. You've had it a long time.
Ellie: Does it chase my bad dreams away?
Mommy: Yep.
Ellie: No. It catches my bad dreams and puts them in jail!
Mommy: Oh, is that how it works?
Ellie: And den my special rock says to the bad dreams, "You will stay in jail, Bad Dreams, until you decide to be good again!"
Mommy: And if they decide to be good they can come out of jail, right?
Ellie: Right, but that's ok because they're good dreams again.
Mommy: I didn't know that's how they work.
Ellie: But Mommy I don't think my new rock will be able to keep all my bad dreams away.
Mommy: Oh sure it can. It's just as magical as your old special rock.
Ellie: But I think that the magic will get old and it will run out of power.
Mommy: That's ok. All we have to do is fill it up with more magic.
Ellie: Can you do that for real life?
Mommy: Oh sure! Don't worry about your new rock. It has lots and lots of magical power right now.
Ellie: To keep me safe and put my bad dreams in jail, right?
Mommy: Right.