Dear Ella April 22nd 2013

Dear Ella,

I am writing you this letter before your 2 year birthday slips to the back of my mind, my mind is full of about a million things right now!!!  But yes, it happened.  My baby turned 2!!!!!  On Wednesday, your birthday, I had all these plans to take you and Zoe out to breakfast, storytime at the library, then lunch.  But alas, you woke up mad at the world and I woke up sick.  So instead we all just hung around the house and got some rest.  When you woke up from your nap, I decided we needed to fulfill at least some of our birthday plans.  So we got dressed and went to the Zoo where we met my friend (your Aunt Phyllis).  You cheered up after a few minutes and we had a great time at the Zoo!  It was pretty cold so no one was there, which makes it nice because we don't have to fight crowds :)
When we got home from the Zoo you had your birthday cake with your Grandma's, Grandpa's and some of mommies closest friends.  You were SUPER excited about your Minnie Mouse cake, so much so that you really didn't want to mess it up by eating it!  You opened some presents and then quickly went to bed, because in case I failed to mention it before, you were a grump most of the day.  Daddy told you Happy Birthday over Face Time because he was on a business trip in Las Vegas.
Then on Saturday was yours and Zoe's combined Birthday Party!  Mommy and Grandma Pinson made you guys some really cute mini cupcakes.  Aunt Alex made you guys some big cupcakes of your own, and we played games and had a lot of fun with cousins and friends.  It's a lot of work, but seeing how happy it all made you, made it worth the hard work to me.  I go to great lengths to ensure your happiness, little girl.  Your happiness is my happiness.  I've been thinking a lot lately about how on earth I'm ever going to be able to have another baby and love it as much as I love you.  It's hard to comprehend that you won't always be "the one".  But what I have determined is that you will ALWAYS be my first dream come true.  I always knew I would get married.  I always knew would have kids.  Until I actually got married and it became clear to me that kids were a privilege.  There was a point in my life after I married your daddy that I wasn't sure anymore whether or not I would get to be a mommy.  So instead of a reality, you became a dream.  And five years after we got married, that dream did in fact come true.  So you, therefore, will always be my first dream come true.  That title will never go to anyone else, so that's what makes you special and sets you apart from any others that come later. 
You get smarter and smarter every day.  You blow your parents minds!!  You make up songs, you are mindful of your surroundings and the feelings of those around you.  If I am cleaning up the house and stub my toe and let out an "Owe!!" you rush over and say "You OK mommy?" "You so happy now mommy?".  It is really nice to have a little angel looking out for you, and that's just what you are to me.  I can be mad at the world (which I may be today), but you can cheer me up with your sweet silliness.  So thank you for being my angel.  My first dream come true.  I love you little girl, Happy Birthday!!!!

Love,
Mommy

Dear Ella, April 5th 2013

Dear Ella,

Oh my goodness we've had some fun the past few weeks!!!  You have celebrated St. Patrick's Day.  We had a pot of gold hunt at Grandma Miller's.  We've celebrated Easter.  We went on an Easter Egg Hunt (your first one!) with Kes and Jay, then had Easter dinner at Grandma Pinson's house.  You've been swimming a couple of times, and you are OBSESSED with the slide!  Such a brave girl :)  You've also been to the zoo twice just this week!  We like to keep it active, you and me :)  We've also been on a couple of family hikes.  These you are not so sure of yet, because the entrance to our hike is next to the park, and you pretty much just wanna play at the park, but we're workin' on it!  Unfortunately you've been a little under the weather this past week.  Let's just say your diapers are, well, disgusting.  I've washed your bedding abut four times, changed about a million diapers, and snuggled snuggled snuggled!  The last part is by FAR my favorite part of the whole "sick baby" experience ;)  Luckily your cousin Abbey was here for a few days to help out with you.  She was so excited to spend a few un-interupted days with her baby cousin Ella!!!
Daddy just got home late last night from San Diego (another business trip).  He was STOKED to see his girls!  We are gonna have a great weekend together :)  Right now he's shopping at Costco for us, because mommy wasn't up to it.  You see, I tend to snuggle and kiss you a lot when your not feeling well, and now I think I have what you've had :(  Oh well, it's worth it.  There isn't an illness in the world that would keep me from snugglin' and smoochin' your cute face. 
Oh, and you have this new thing where you glare at EVERYONE.  Not sure what that's about, but it's kinda funny.  I'll have to get a picture of it and post it so I can compare it to your teenage glare's when you're older ;)

Love you so much baby,

Mommy