Ella Rae: 8-month newsletter

Dear Ella Rae,

Happy 8-month birthday! You're growing up so fast. But you're still so sweet.

You and Riley usually take a bath together (if I can persuade her). It's so much easier on me to get you both bathed at the same time. You two play and have a good time in the bubbles. Your favorite toy is a turtle. Every time I put you in the bath tub, you grab for that turtle. And it goes directly to your mouth.

Riley loves taking a bath with you. She watches to make sure she doesn't splash water in your face and doesn't like it if you fall backwards. In the bath, she is uninhibited. She doesn't seem to remember her nakedness when she is out of the bath tub because she won't undress in front of you. I've reminded her that you take baths together but she doesn't care.

Speaking of Riley, she is growing up to be a sweet, smart, young lady. She is your number one protector, too. It hurts Riley's feelings more than it actually hurts you if she bumps you or drops a toy on you. She was trying to give you a kiss in the bath tub and it knocked you backwards; it just about killed her soul. You had long past quit crying, but not her. She hates for anything to happen to you that might hurt you. 

She is trying her hardest to teach you to crawl. You're there and you're ready, with lots of rocking back and forth, but you just haven't taken that first crawl. Riley crawls all around you trying to inspire your movements. It won't be long until you've got it figured out, no doubt in part thanks to Riley. 

We're all so tired. Our weekends aren't long enough and our weeks too long. At least weekly, Riley asks to stay home from school. You're tired too, because on Saturdays you sleep most of the day. 

You're loving your new high chair and eating in it. When I put small pieces of food on your tray you really concentrate to pick the food up. You take eating very serious, unless Riley is eating at the same time. When Riley is eating at the table with you, all you do is watch what she is doing. You will open your mouth sideways for the spoon so you don't have to look away from Riley. 

When Riley was about your age her nose turned orange from the vegetables I fed her. My cousin once told me Riley's nose was dirty. I even made sure to mix her foods so she wouldn't have orange foods two days in a row. All to no avail. She just had an orange nose. Well, Ella, you do too. The end of your nose is just orange. I was extra pre-cautious with you because I knew what had happened to Riley's nose. It will go away in a few months. 

Well-meaning strangers still mistake you for a boy, maybe because you don't have any hair. You've got some, just not enough to really notice. I am starting to notice where it's grown in at the back of your head, but you've got a long way to go. Riley even asked when you would have long, curly hair. 

Our whole family loves you so much. You are the happiest, most congenial baby I could have ever asked for. 

Love you, Ella Rae. 

Love, Mama

Ella Rae - 7 month newsletter

Dear Ella,

You're another month older and doing great! You're such a happy baby and a real sweetie.

You love kisses on your neck and cheeks. You don't even try and move to get away, but just lay there and enjoy the attention. I'll kiss those cheeks all day if you let me!

You made your first emergency room trip not too long ago. It wasn't for you, but for Riley (asthma issues; all better now). It was the middle of the night and you stayed awake the whole time! You were a real trooper. 

You love to eat! You'll eat anything I give you. You even had your first Cheeto recently. You did a number on that Cheeto! Cheetos aren't exactly healthy or baby food, but I thought you would like it. You ate half of it, and the other half was clenched tightly in your fist. You could not figure out how to eat the rest of that Cheeto. Riley was quick to inform your doctor about you eating your first Cheeto. I've given you macaroni and cheese on your tray and you get very serious when you try and pick the macaroni up. You're pretty good at picking the macaroni up, and even better at throwing it on the floor.

Bath time has to be your favorite thing to do. You splash water all over the bath room by kicking. You kick so hard! Water gets all in your face but you don't seem to mind. You love when Riley is in the bath tub with you. She hands you all your toys.

And so, you're going to be a big sister. It's surreal writing that sentence. My sweet little baby is going to be a big sister. Needless to say, we were all surprised to learn that I was pregnant. You'll never remember life as the baby of our family. You'll always be a little sister, big sister and a middle child. You're going to be great.

I'm eating you up until this little brother gets here. I'm so proud of you. I love to show you off and brag about you. People have a hard time believing what a great sleeper you are. You're a great baby.

I love you so much! I can't wait to watch you grow and see what the rest of this year has in store for you.

Love, Mama

Ella Rae - 6 month newsletter

Dear Ella,

You're half a year old! I can't believe how big you've gotten and how much you've grown.

You got your first tooth last Friday. Hopefully that explains your fussy mood. Daddy and I have been wondering what's happened to our happy baby. You've also had a bad cold, but today you seem much happier.

Oh, that paci. You kind of like it. And if it falls out in the middle of the night you want it back. So, up I go to put it back. Just as I snuggle back in bed and start to doze off, you lose that paci. Something's going to happen to that paci. I'm just not brave enough yet to do anything about it. But soon.

You've been rolling for about a month now and can sit up by yourself for a few seconds at a time. I guess because of your new perspectives you don't like to lay on your back on your play mat anymore. You like to be held sitting up where you can look around and see. Well, that's fine, but I've got stuff to do! :)

I got smart and put you right in the middle of the living room in an old car seat. That way, you can look around all you want without being held. You really like to sit up. You like to sit in the kitchen this way and watch me cook and clean. It's nice to have the company too!

Sometimes you don't know what to think of Riley. If she is dancing and twirling around it's hard for you to focus on her. Today, she was coloring next to you and you really loved that. You also like to spend time in her room laying on her bed. She loves to entertain you for a few minutes while a make your bottle or something like that.

You were pretty sick a few weeks ago. I stayed home with you one day, not because of anything other than I knew you didn't feel right. You were so fussy and that morning I hadn't been able to get dressed or your ready. It was time to go to school and you hadn't even had anything to eat. You were very fussy. So we stayed home and you slept quite a bit and fussed some. After lunch you seemed better. So the next day I sent you to school. At around lunch I got a call saying something was coming out of your ear. I was expecting a bunch of ear wax. Your Daddy was able to go get you and I went ahead and made an appointment for the next day to have you checked out. I couldn't wait to get home and check out your ear! I don't think anyone could have prepared me for what it was. I've never seen so much PUSS coming from someone's ear! It was really bad. Your doctor said you had had a bad ear infection, unbeknownst to us, and it had ruptured your ear drum.You never ran any fever or pulled at your ear, so we had no idea you had an ear infection. After one dose of antibiotics the puss stopped and you felt much better.

Ella, you are the sweetest, cutest, most precious little thing. We love you so, so much.

Love, Mama

School Girl

Dear Riley,

Because I work at Bullard, you were able to start pre-K this year. You'll have to go to pre-k for two years, but that's ok. All the more to learn!

You really love your teacher, Mrs. Sanders. You've met so many new friends, too. Your favorite friends are Mollie, Brooklyn and Jonah.

When I drop you off in the mornings, the two principals are waiting to help all the kids get out of the cars. Without fail, you began talking about the most random things to the principals. "My pants are a little too small." They weren't too small, they were capris pants! "Today we're in the truck. It's my dad's truck." "My tummy hurts." I almost croaked when you said that! Or something to the effect of, "That's my little sister. She's just little and goes to her own school."

You've learned so much and the year is just half-way finished. You sing new songs just about every week. If it's set to a song, you can learn it so quickly! You've learned the months of the year, days of the week, plus countless other little jingles. I really surprised you the other day when I sang along to a new song you'd just learned. You couldn't believe that I knew that song, too!

Nap time at school is an ordeal. You're just not a napper and laying still and quiet isn't really in your nature. You've had two notes sent home this year about how you are disruptive during nap time. You were in a lot of trouble for it this last time, and it really had an impact on you. You told me from now on you want to lay quiet and still and not get in trouble. I asked you if it felt good to do the right thing and you said it did. We'll see!

Yesterday you asked me if I missed you while you were at school. I told you of course I did! Some days I am so busy I don't have time to look up. Other days when I'm not so busy I do wonder what you're doing. I hope you're being a good friend, learning all you can, and missing me, too!

You've got so much to learn and you really enjoy it. I hope you never lose this love of learning!

Love you sweet baby,

Mama

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