Four years ago, I delivered our second child....and was greeted with the news of a girl. The mild delivery drama—broken meconium sack created need for NICU team to be at my delivery and for delayed skin time—forced me to quickly get over the shock of a GIRL and just embrace that she was healthy. A few days later, the panic came.
I always pictured myself the mom to boys, even after nannying two girls that are very close to my heart. Once Ryan came, I was convinced that I was Mama's Boy material alone. I could not have been more wrong! We've been given the most spunky, stubborn, empathetic, creative little girl the world has ever seen. She's one of a kind. I know that to be true because I can't imagine God remixing all her good stuff in quite the same ratios again. It was a complicated, magical recipe when He knitted our little girl together.
Elise's 4th year was spent dispelling anything we knew to be true in her first few years. She stopped wearing dresses after only wearing tutus forever. She began greeting people with a smile and curious question or observation after years of giving people looks that translated to scorn and judgement. She developed her own interests rather than just being the kid carted to everything Ryan was a part of. And she grew hair the week of her third birthday. This year has been spent trying to manage those beautiful curls. She even surprised us when she started dance lessons this summer by allowing us to put in a pony tail. (We convinced her that it was required to see her neck posture.) Now if we could only move onto barrettes and pigtails! Maybe in her fourth year.
Elise is no longer shy about going in the water. Just last week she purposely went underwater and blew bubbles. The cottage has been great for her confidence in the water, as well as her confidence around other kids. She keeps up with the big kids and seeks out the teen girls. I always say she's trolling for babysitters, but the truth is, she's an observer and she seems to pick out the best people to cozy up to. In fact, her favorite people are people of great character. It makes me so happy that her inner compass is well calibrated.
For the better half of the year, she thought she was a super hero. Boy culture was all she was into. Spiderman and Ironman are her favorites. Her preschool class consisted of 18 boys and her for much of the year. Then she got a doll at Christmas and her nurturing side came out. Now, towards the end of her third year, it's not a surprise to find her rocking her superhero boy underwear while soothing her favorite stuffy, Leppy, like a newborn baby.
Currently, her sleep habits are very different from Ryan's. She can sleep later and takes shorter naps. (Ryan still wakes at dawn and sometimes requires a nap several hours long.) She also does better on those late nights with friends ... until she doesn't. Her meltdowns are EPIC, and sad, and dramatic, and trying. But generally, she'll be the life of the party and will dance the hours away with a giggle and funny statement to keep the crowd laughing. Just last week as I was changing her bathing suit I said to her, "Hold on to me." And without missing a beat, she began singing "Cuz I'm a little unsteady..." See, I had spoken part of a lyric without thinking about it and she is witty enough to hear it and act on it with her song. All while standing on one foot and following directions.
Costumes and make-believe are a huge part of Elise's play world. More so than Ryan's. Whereas Ryan has always been interested in real world things, documentaries, non fiction factual books and drawing all the details of vehicles, Elise is much more into pretend play, designating roles and rules, and playing things like kitchen or shop.
All in all, the "Threenage" year was a huge leap forward for Elise. At times, it was emotional, but for the most part, it's consisted of huge strides forward. She's trying to read, she can write almost all her letters, she counts to 30 and she is trying to figure out how to tell time. Mainly so she can talk me out of naps. She's been super healthy this year compared to her 2nd year and that's been a huge relief. We could not ask for anything more!
We love you Elise and are so proud of the independent, free-spirit that you are. Keep shining babygirl. You certainly burn bright.
To see a video montage of some of these pics and more, visit: and use the password "elise" https://vimeo.com/175934229
Love Momma and Daddy
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