I'm a big girl

Addy has been very pleased with her big girl abilities of late especially when comparing what she is able to do with Elliott. She'll be the first one to tell you that she's a big girl and Elliott is a little baby. She's also been 'remembering' what she used to do when she was a baby. Addy loves to point out that she eats food and that Elliott doesn't have any teeth. She boasts at her ability to use the potty and reassures Elliott that he will someday, too. She's working on figuring out where she stands in this world, as we all our and she's trying to strike a balance between the world of being a baby or toddler and the world of the big girl. I imagine this will happen again and again as Addy continues to grow into her own.

Addy adores babies and dotes on our newborn friends. She's fascinated with playing doctor and patient and has been known to have anywhere from one to eight babies of her own in a day, all named "Minga" or some variation (boonga, moonga, etc.). And she longingly watches big girls both close in her age and much older. Our neighbor and supper club friend, Clementine is one big girl Addy looks up to. We are the very appreciative recipients of Clementine's hand me down clothes. Yesterday, we received a new batch and Addy promptly removed her 'old' Clementine hand me down clothes in exchange for the new, bigger ones which she is donning in the above pictures. She told me that we need to make sure we say "Thank you" for the shoes and the clothes.

Addy is an incredibly proud and loving big sister. She loves to 'help' Elliott when he is upset by letting him know, "I'm here Elliott. I'm your big sister." Or by giving him a toy to distract him. She also gets frustrated when he's getting the attention she wants but she's better able to handle it now. And despite this bit of attention competition she wants to know where Elliott is all the time and would prefer that he be awake and with us instead of sleeping, though we have had enjoyed some lovely dates together lately, just the two of us. I'm thankful our relationship is growing stronger once again. It was pretty tough there in the beginning right after Elliott's birth. An incredible journey in 2 1/2 short years. I've learned so much already and look forward to the continued evolution of our little girl.