dear ava

dear ava,

it's been awhile since i've written to you. mostly because our days are filled with a lot of adventure with your new baby brother, and because we are always on... the... go. you are so intrigued by helping me care for nolan. lately, whenever we are in the car, little brother loves to cry. you always are sure to ask me if he's okay or if you can help him feel better. i assure you that he will be fine till we can stop, and all get out of the car. he's now able to identify you and both of your faces light up when you see each other. you are his morning sunshine. it really does fill up my heart to see the way you two communicate at this age. 

beside the love you have for your little brother, since you've turned four, i can't help but to look at you as such a little soon to be adult. sometimes i need to take a step back and remember that you are still so, so little, and have so, so much to learn. it's hard. you're extremely regal and smart for your age. it takes me back how self-sufficent you are in taking care of yourself. however, the other night you witnessed a spider in our shower. you screamed your little tush off for two nights because of it. even after mommy scrubbed the entire shower down so you could be positive it wasn't there. we finally got over that hump. then there is the no eating dinner habit you've formed. when i asked you why you always complain about dinner time you responded with, 

"because mama, dinner time means vegetables."

i don't know what happened to my little girl who loved vegetables. you used to devour them! not so much anymore.

every piece of paper i come across in our house tends to have your name written on it. even if it's something important. i can't help but smile. how do i get mad knowing you can write you own name? it makes it so much more precious with your purple and pink crayons too. 

you love to come have "girl time" with me. the other day we went shopping. you went around to all of the clothing racks picking things off and saying,

"mama this is stylish! you should buy it!" first, you made it clear that it was okay if you could touch things. so sweet.

we ended up buying you a new heart necklace and some "stylish" sunglasses. you walked out of that store thinking you owned the world! 

you love to dance, and love music! when it's just us in the car we rock out to loud music and dance the whole way to our destination. 

your laughter is contagious, and you are quite possibly the best thing that has ever been brought into my life.

i love you ava noelle.

love,

your mama