A few days ago you turned 11 months. I can't believe you're almost a year old. You went from crawling to pulling up really quickly. Walking is another story. You hate to move your feet. Even if I stand behind you and hold your hands, you don't like to take steps. Crawling gets you where you want to go so you stick with that. You're getting so big!
Anything Riley does, you want to be right there with her. Riley is ok with that, as long as you don't go in her room. She's gotten into the habit of shutting her door anytime she goes in her room. Not a bad idea either, since she has all kinds of small things on the floor. Riley plays with you a bunch. She gets on your nerves sometimes though, because she won't leave you alone. Your favorite game to play with Riley is "chase." Riley crawls around on the floor and you "chase" her. You're not actually after her but don't tell Riley that.
You had your ear surgery a few weeks ago and everything turned out fine. The whole family went: me, Daddy, and Riley. It was a long morning! When you came out of recovery you had the meanest look on your face. You were mad! And probably a little groggy, too. When you saw me you started to cry. We had a bottle ready and you drank it while I held you. Then for the longest time you just laid in my arms wanting to be close to me. It didn't take long for you to be back to your old self.
We bought a little swimming pool for you and Riley to splash in. You hate it. Riley loves it.
Ella, you like to be where the action is. If I'm in the kitchen cooking, that's right where you want to be. You love for someone to sit in the floor and let you climb all over them. You already have a favorite book:
You love this book! The ladybugs are hard and stand out from the pages. You like to rub your fingers over them.
You are very facially expressive. You frown most often, but you also love to laugh and smile. Your smile is so cute with your bottom two teeth.
Riley adores you. I hear her say to you all the time, "Best sisters!" She's heard "best friends" from movies, so she changed it to suit the two of you. She loves to make you laugh.
Riley has just about finished her first year of pre-k. Her birthday is two weeks past the cut-off for Kindergarten, making her have to repeat pre-k. It's not the end of the world and I know she will be extra-ready for Kindergarten. Riley loves to read and color. I've got some things to keep her busy on this summer and to help her read and learn. She gets bored quickly so I hope we get to go to the local libraries and to a few museums before the little brother gets here.
I'm not sure how things will work when there is one more to take care of and tend to. I feel stretched pretty thin already so I don't know how I will handle it all! Without a doubt I couldn't do it without Riley. She's a huge help to me. I'm trying to remember how it feels to have a baby inside my belly moving around because I know this will be the last time. I took care of that paperwork at the first appointment! I'm ready to meet the little fella, though. We all are.
Ella, you're the sweetest little thing I've ever met. I'm so ready for school to be out so I can spend every day with you. Love you so much.
Riley, you're my best friend. I couldn't make it without you, ever.
Love you both,
Mama
