Year end

Dear Bella,

I have been very negligent about writing to you girls this season. Since Daddy works seven days a a week now with no days off, it's all I can do to keep up with you and my business and personal thoughts. I have yet to recover from the Great Editing Crash of 2010. It took me months to edit all those photos since Lillia was born, and I don't have the heart to start over.

You and Lia are starting to play together a bit more. Sometimes you will laugh hysterically for a half an hour just because Lillia loves it so much. You are very doting and will pile toys on Lia's lap up to her chest, just to be sure she is content. Of course, that is not to say that we haven't had a few mishaps, such as when Lia fell over because your boot hit Lia's head... while it was on your foot. Hm. However could that happen? Good thing you told me about it. What a mean boot.

We're about to get into trouble with door locks, too. So far I have been able to appeal to your independent side with, Open this door or mommy will do it. Alas, I tried one day and realized the doors will not unlock. Time to get new knobs, I think, before you get wiser. (May I just say, a month later in hind-sight, you wizened up that same day. We had to remove all the knobs from the doors until Grandpa made us a key...)

Bella, what can I say about you. It has been a really rough month for sleep. I'm sure I will never understand what is so defeating to you about falling asleep. I'm sure the trip to Oregon (and the ensuing cold) did not help, but we had so much fun. We sing lullabies at bedtime, and you now request your favorite verses. You like the twinklesky song, the achyricefishisnice song, and the appsybetsy spider. You also astounded us by running through the entire ABCs one day.

You have had so many miniature grown up moments this month. You say whatever and sigh and roll your eyes at me. No clue where you might have gotten that from. The one I hope to never forget was the train incident when (in a Voodoo Doughnut sugar high frenzy) you spilled my entire water bottle on our table and then stood up on your seat in the quiet car and shouted with delight, "Oh shit! It's raining!"

There are so many little things I wish I recorded that escape me when I sit down to write. It has been an immense change to have you every single day without a break, and I will confess I have had a short temper lately. I find that my attitude ripples and the shorter I am, the more unmanageable you become. When I get in over my head, you come to me with kisses and ask, That better? Mommy's happy now. After that, I always am.

I'm trying to be the bigger person, I promise. I have never been a peaceful person and to start learning as a parent is a challenge. You are my favorite crash course in personal growth and I'd never want it any other way. :O)

Love, mama

P.S. 6 gazillion pictures and not one of us together because you refuse to admit you like me, especially in front of the camera. (Except in those sweet moments when you tiptoe quietly up to me and say, Mama, I love you somuch. You know all the right words.)