Ella Bella

Ella is 3 years old (almost 4).  She can be a handful, but for the most part she's pretty sweet.  She has always had a very strong personality and definitely knows what she wants.  Ella loves her friends.  Our next door neighbor Aimee is her best friend.  They would play together every day if schedules permitted.  Aimee is in our little neighborhood preschool so they see each other twice a week and usually play at least twice a week on top of that.  Ella is all girl.  She loves to play dress up, have tea parties, and paint her fingernails.  Five is her favorite number because that is when she gets to ride the bus to school.  The other day she was talking to me about school and then got really somber and said, "Never mind, I don't want to go to school.  I want to stay home with you."  I like that idea.  I love watching her grow up, but it kills me that she's getting so big.  Ella is still an incredibly picky eater.  We're working on it, but we've got lots of room to grow.  Over the past few months she's started helping me make dinner.  She loves to set the table, pour ingredients, stir, fill water cups, and any other tasks she can handle.  She regularly tells me that I'm the "best cooker in the whole world."  Of course she says this as she refuses to eat what I make.  Oh well.  Ella loves princesses and playing make believe.  When she and Sophie get a long they usually play hide and seek or some form of house.  Ella loves to be snuggled, read to, or to do anything where she gets individual attention.  We love our Ella Bella.

Sophia

Sophie is 17 months old.  Time goes by way too fast!  At 17 months Sophie is walking everywhere.  I assumed that the second child would do everything faster than the first because she had someone to mimic.  That isn't the case with my Sophie.  She takes her time and does things when she wants.  She took her first step October 1st and started really walking in November.  Sophie still doesn't talk much.  She is really good at screaming and pointing though.  She signs inconsistently.  I know that she knows certain signs because she'll use them when she wants, but it just isn't that interesting to her.  She signs milk, all done, water, eat, and bath.  The only words she says are "Mama" and "Dada."  Sophie loves to help me around the house.  She grabs diapers, throws trash away, puts away her shoes and toys, and helps in any other ways she can.  She loves to point to belly buttons.  That was the first body part she learned to identify and it's still her favorite.  She also points to her head and nose.  She LOVES animals, but only tells us what a doggy says "woof  woof." Sophie's favorite toys are definitely baby dolls.  She lights up when we ask her to get her baby.  She loves to take her baby for a walk around the house with the little baby stroller.  Sophie also loves to push Ella's buttons (which are very easy to push!)  They fight about 70% of the time they are interacting.  The 30% of the time that they get along is adorable though.  She loves to play on Ella's bed or our bed and be wild.  Ella jumps (when we're not watching) and Sophie is a wild child so she just free falls and then laughs hysterically.  She is such a crazy little girl.  Her nicknames are Sophie, Soph, and monkey.  We love you baby!

my girls

This Christmas season I keep thinking about how truly blessed I am.  These two beautiful girls mean everything to me.  My whole life I've dreamed of being a mom and am so grateful that my dreams have come true.  Being a parent is the hardest thing I've ever experienced. I have so much to improve on, but I am so honored to have the opportunity.  My greatest blessing is my family and I'm so unbelievably grateful that I get to stay home with my girls.  It is easy to get caught up in unnecessary things so I'm grateful for this time of year that helps me think about what truly matters.