16 months old
Our passionate little funny girl,
You express your emotions with such enthusiasm. When you are happy, everything about your laughter and silliness is big and contagious. When you are sad or angry, you throw dramatic tantrums, throwing yourself on the floor in hysterics or stamping your feet at me and yelling. Serious passion.
You have such a sweet and generous heart. You're always making sure everyone is taken care of before yourself. If you want a drink, not only do you bring me a cup for yourself, but the appropriate ones for each person present. Just the other day, you came over to me with Abby's cup and I told you that you couldn't have it because you already had a cup of milk. I put it away. You took it right back out and handed it to me again. Because I was making dinner and need to choose my battles, I filled up Abby's cup for you thinking you were just being stubborn and wanted two cups for yourself. When I handed it to you, you walked over and picked up your cup, then ran into the living room calling your sister and bringing Abby's cup to her. You weren't being stubborn. You were caring for your sister and making sure she had a drink because you did. This happens daily and in multiple situations. You won't even take your vitamin or sit down for breakfast if you think Abby is missing out. It's the sweetest to watch.
Your attention span has grown tremendously in the last month. It has changed a lot around our house. You love to read books and be read to. You will sit and watch an entire show with Abby. Most often, you are engaged in some focused play activity like playing with your Little People Farm, Mickey Mouse figures or cooking in the kitchen. You love hide and seek. You love playing babies and puppies. Literally playing puppies with your sister. You crawl around with each other barking, fetching and taking commands from each other. At times, Abby sneaks snacks from the kitchen as "doggie treats". You love Elmo and all things Sesame Street. You still love Barney. Your favorite book by far is Biscuit (and any book in the Biscuit series).
You are a sponge constantly learning and soaking up everything around you. With a growing vocabulary and a desire to be heard just as much as your big sister, you are talking up a storm. It amazes me to see how much you understand about a smartphone at this age. You know how to look through pictures and when to ask me to press play because you've scrolled to a video. When we take a picture, you run over to and turn the camera to see it.
Hmmm...what are some of your other unique quirks? You love popcorn. You ask us to pray multiple times during dinner by making everyone hold hands, bowing your head and saying amen! When we give you your pacifier, you always switch it around in your mouth right away (even though it is the same all the way around).
We took you to the allergist this week and found that you have a slight egg allergy. You kind of let us know that a long time ago when you refused any type of egg we tried to feed you, but now we know what to be looking for just in case!
We love you Ella Bean!
