our helper

the girls in matching jammies when Sophie was 3 weeks old

When we came home from the hospital Ella's whole world had changed.  She loved her baby sister, but didn't love that Sophie got Mom and Dad's attention too.  Ella acted out in every possible way.  Within the first week she stopped eating anything that had nutritional value, cried about everything, threw countless tantrums, bit me because I wouldn't let her keep a Barbie shoe in her mouth, asked to nurse, wanted to get in the crib, had me change her diaper on the changing table, and did just about everything else I feared.  She hated when I nursed the baby.  Absolutely hated it!  I don't know if it was just because the process was new and strange to her, or if it was because I spent so much time doing it, or if it was because Sophie had one on one time with Mom doing something that Ella couldn't. Through this difficult period of transition Ella has always loved Sophia and has wanted to help her whenever possible.  Sometimes she wants to help too much.  Ella believes that giving Sophie her pacifier is always the best thing to do.

 When people asked Ella if she helped Mommy she simply said, "No."  It was the truth.  Fortunately the more she adjusts, the more willing she is to help me out.  For Christmas Laz and Allie gave Ella a lawn mower.  She loves mowing the lawn with Daddy.

I am happy to report that now, in Sophie's 8th week of life, Ella is back to normal!!!  She sleeps well, eats about as well as can be expected, and has stopped acting out more than an average 2 year old.  The second our "normal" life changes she starts to act out, but I'll still take it!