dear Elsa

Dear Elsa~
It's been over a year since I wrote this to your sister. Your papa and I have watched in amazement as you've grown from an infant into your very own (big) personality. Determined, silly, loving, joyful and.... determined you are (wait did I say determined already? Well it's worth saying twice).

When I wrote that note a year ago you were just a babe and my letter to Iris was about how big and joyful her love for you is. And now, this big sister of yours is truly the light of your life.

Now you ask for her first thing in the morning. Her name (however hard it is to say) was one of the first words you tackled. You always watch out for her. If you get a cracker, you want Iris to have a cracker. You are certain you can do all that she does. If Iris puts on her own jacket you must put on your own jacket. You pee on the potty (sometimes) just because Iris pees on the potty (you are almost too little to pee on the potty!). The two of you play, and play and play. (And you do everything Iris tells you to do, and that's very nice, but I don't expect it to last real long). You squabble some too. You really miss her when she is away.

The two of you love to cozy up and "read" together, you are quiet as kittens. The two of you love to put on the bear costume and ROAR each other as loudly as possible. You build forts every day. You ride in sled together, you make faces at each other at the dinner table until we are all giggling, you splash together in the bath and you kiss each other good night. You make each other laugh. A lot.

This sister thing is pretty big, pretty strong and oh so sweet. We are so happy to watch it grow.

Here's to big love.
Mama and Papa