Lately, I've been thinking that me and age three aren't going to get along too well.
Ella is still a mostly charming and adorable child. She's extremely imaginative, spontaneously tells me she loves me, always knows how to make me laugh, and still thinks I can fix anything with a kiss. But what makes me nervous about her turning three is the child I see emerging who constantly and defiantly tells me "No!", makes me start counting to three before she'll even think about doing anything I ask her to do, throws things, kicks and screams when she doesn't get her way, and somehow just picked up the new catchphrase "I don't care" (where do they learn these things?).
So what makes me confident in the core goodness of Ella's soul even when she's refusing to lie down and go to bed for what seems like the hundredth night in a row?
She is a great big sister.
Ella has been nothing but sweet towards Claire from the minute she laid eyes on her. When Ella came to the hospital the day after Claire was born, she held Claire and just stared at her in amazement. Ella doesn't sit still for anyone, so this was truly a sight to see. The best moment of all was when Ella leaned over and told Claire, "It's okay. It's okay. Don't worry about it." It was as if she was letting Claire know that her big sister was there and was going to take care of her. Every time she hears Claire cry, Ella still says, "Claire, it's okay," followed a few seconds later by, "Mom, will you get her?" And today, she leaned over and told Claire, "I love you. You know that?" I'll pause for a second so you can all say a collective "Aww" over that one.
Ella loves to rub Claire's head using her own strange definition of "gentle" (it usually looks more like she's giving Claire a noogie), give her hugs and kisses, and help out during Claire's bath time. She thinks it's hilarious when Claire sucks on her cheek. Poor Claire is usually sorely disappointed that the cheek doesn't produce any milk. Ella also loves to sing to Claire at the top of her lungs. I'm not sure if Claire really appreciates Ella's vocals, but it is a sweet gesture nonetheless.
I am really proud of how well my big girl has unconditionally accepted Claire into our family. I can't wait to watch their relationship develop.