Ella Rae - 5 month newsletter

Dear Ella Rae,

This month snuck up on me! I was not prepared for you to start eating solids, but that's what your doctor recommended. I thought I had two more months before you started solids, but at 4 months and 1 week you had your first solid foods. You like most foods I've tried, with your favorites being green beans and sweet peas. Anything sweet gives you the "bitter-beer face."

You are such a happy baby. Tonight I had you cackling! I love to hear your sweet laugh. You're very serious, too.

Strangers don't bother you much, but you love to stare at new people.

No matter what, your sister is always around. She is your constant entertainment and my invaluable helper. You like bath time best when Riley is in there with you. You love the toys she brings you.

Ella, you can almost roll over. There's nothing really important you are trying to reach, so you don't really give it a good try. I've even put toys just out of your reach but that doesn't seem to motivate you. You're very content to lay around and look.

When Riley was little I couldn't wait for her to hit the next milestone. I wanted her crawling, walking, talking, as soon as possible. It was a new experience to watch a baby grow up. But with you, Ella Rae, I am happiest letting you be a baby. I want you to meet all the milestones, and you do, but if it takes you forever, that's just fine with me. Stay little! I am so enjoying having a baby around to tend to. It's exhausting most days, and even more so with a four year old, but it's my purpose in this world. Both of you girls make my life worth living.

Love you so, so much.

Love, Mama

Ella Rae - 4 month newsletter

Dear Ella,

This month you've started chuckling when we tickle you. But not all the time. You don't laugh hard very often, so when I'm able to coax it out of you it makes my day. You smile and grin, but not many laughs.

In this picture, Aunt Ma knew the trick to get you to laugh. You had been laughing like crazy.

Halloween was just a few days ago. It passed without you noticing much. You were a kitty cat.

Several years ago, Riley was the same kitty cat, too.

You're a very laid back baby. You are content to lay on your mat in the floor, or lay in your bed looking at the balls on your ceiling. You don't put up much of a fuss unless you are hungry. 

Bath-time is your favorite. You kick like crazy! We call it "riding a bicycle" because your legs are constantly moving in the motion of riding a bicycle. 

You're not rolling over yet. Instead, you are trying to sit up. It's funny to watch when you are doing this. You just keep on and on trying, without success.

You don't have much hair, just a small tuft in the back. You're quite bald! I just started giving you cereal some because milk was not filling you up! Cereal isn't your favorite, but with a little applesauce you eat it up.

You kept me up pretty late a few nights ago. I never did really figure out what was wrong with you. I don't know if it was your belly or your gums, but something was just not right. Finally at 2 a.m. I fed you and that kept you down. As a whole, that was the worst night you've ever given me. When you were little you would wake up to eat, but almost always go right back to sleep. I've been so lucky and grateful.

You are a sweet, sweet little girl. I want a dozen just like you.

Love you, baby.
Love, Mama

4th Birthday Party

Dear Riley,

We had your 4th birthday party at Sonic again this year. It's so easy to have a party there. The playground is enclosed, so we only have to worry about someone jumping off the playground equipment since you can't get out.

I work with a sweet lady who paints faces. I knew this would be perfect for your birthday party! She was a hit and almost all the kids loved it!

It's no big surprise Braxton didn't want his face painted!

Happy birthday! We love you so much!

Love, Mama and Daddy

Ella Rae: 3-month newsletter

Dear Ella,

Aunt Ma and I both agree that you're the sweetest baby so far. You don't cry much, you love to grin, and you don't mind laying on your back looking at your toys. You're very low-maintenance.

You're such a good sleeper, too. You go to sleep at around 7:00, and I have to force you to wake up the next morning at 6:15. What freedom!

You can hold your head up really well, so tummy-time is one of your favorite things.

You want to laugh so bad, but you still haven't got it quite figured out. You've just started cooing also. If Riley is in the room, you are watching her. You're a lucky girl to have a big sister like Riley.

We love you so much, sweet girl.

Love, Mama

Riley Claire - 4 year newsletter

Dear Riley,

You are my big girl.

You are four and you know it! You absolutely think you will be a teen-ager any day now. To you, four is a big milestone.

To be honest, it's a big one for me too. I am so proud of the little girl you have become. You're my best friend and just like me. Your feelings get hurt very easily, you always know where you are going, you like to be in charge and be the boss, and you are so smart.

This year we decided to put you in pre-K at Bullard where I teach. You were 3 for a couple weeks, so that makes you the youngest student in class. Your teacher bragged on you, telling me she couldn't believe you weren't quite 4. She said she had several 4 years olds whom she thought were younger than you. This made us very proud.

It's amazing how much you've already learned at school. You sing songs, sound words out, and tell all kinds of stories about your day at school. Your teacher has learned that you aren't much of a nap-taker.

You really love your little sister. You love to baby-talk with her and make her laugh. Other than that you don't have much to do with her. Of course, she can't color or play with Barbies and babies, and that's all you seem to want to do these days.

We love you so much. It's an honor to be your Mother. Love you more than you know.

Love, Mama