Happy Birthday, Grandpa Ace!!

Dear Elzora,
Today is my Grandpa's birthday. I believe that he turns 92 years young today. I might be wrong so I will have to double check with Grandma Mary Jo.
This is the only picture I have of him, but I just love it (he is the one on the right). I miss him.
I hope that you can meet him someday soon. He is a very talented and kind man.
Happy Birthday, Grandpa Ace!
Go for it!!
Love,
Mommy

Mommy and her Big Grrrrrl!

Dear Elzora,
Here is one of the two of us together. It was taken on April 9, 2009. Aren't we adorable?
I think this is the day you were supposed to be the Easter witch at school, but we didn't get up in time to do the make-up and you didn't feel like wearing the head scarf. Oh, well. We'll do it up big time for next year.

Linda Love

Dear Elzora,
I was just uploading some pictures and I found this one of you and Linda from earlier this month. You love her so much. One of the first words you could say clearly was "Liiin-daah!"
Love,
Mommy

Pee Pee Power!

Dear Elzora,
This picture is actually from November of 2008, but I just love it so much, and it is an appropriate image for this blog entry.

I just have to let you know that last Friday when I picked you up from The Ladybug Ethel informed me that you had asked for the potty chair earlier that day and that you went pee pee for the first time like a big girl. So cool! The funny thing is that since you are only 1.5 years old, we haven't even really thought about potty training, but you are obviously learning a lot from the children and adults you spend 15 hours a week with at school.

As you can imagine I was feeling a little bit sad that I had missed such a big moment, but then on Sunday you were at home with me and papa and Starla and you gasped and looked at me and pointed to your baby booty. I grabbed your hand and we took off your diaper and put you on the potta (Swedish name for potty chair) and you made one little poop!

It hasn't happened again that we've made it to the potta in time for you to do your business, but I think it is just super fantastic that you are thinking about such things. I am so proud.

Ethel says you are a really nice girl at school and that you talk all the time and you are always singing. I am glad that you are so satisfied and that you enjoy life so much. You are currently obsessed with going to the playground or lekplats to "gung-gung" on the swings. You also can't wait to get to the sandbox to "kaka" or make a dirt pie.

We definitely still have some rough times at home when you get tired or hungry and you just want mommy to hold you, but I have to take care of Starla and you. But, we are getting there and it gets better every day. On some days I wish you could just get mad at me and tell me that you are angry that you have to share me, but I am sure the words will come soon enough and until then we just both have to be patient and love one another with all our hearts.

I love you soooooooooooo much.

Love,
Mommy

Dear Elzora,
I know that this is not an easy time for you. It is not easy to share mommy when you are used to having her all to yourself. But just know that I love you more and more every day. Thank you for trying to be patient when mommy is feeding the baby. I love that you want to hold her and be close to her and kiss her and tickle her. I don't love that sometimes you want to hit Starla or hit mommy or daddy, but I know that this only happens when you are over-tired or very hungry. It must be really hard for you to understand what is happening. Just know that things will calm down soon and summer will be here and we can play outside and go to the park and be together and be happy.

I still can't believe how much you love to draw and color and paint. You are so focused. I love spending time with you and watching you play and grow.

Please try to be a little kinder to daddy when he is putting you to bed. He is so patient with you and loves you very much.

I love you.

Love,
Mommy