Elara Jane Bradley 14 Months Old

ELARA JANE BRADLEY

DECEMBER 2013

14 MONTHS

Dearest Elara,

Sometimes I call you Elara Jane, so much in fact I think your siblings think that is your official first name. I should stop so that when you are in trouble and I shout out Elara Jane you might actually believe you are in trouble. Oh, Elara... Words cannot express the joy you bring to our little family. Words also cannot express the heartache I feel for you almost daily. Your first year in this difficult world has been just that, difficult! You have been in pain, sick, and it just breaks my heart. I think your reflux is getting better, but ever since your reflux finally got under control that is when you started getting sick. It started in about August. It seems like every other weekend something else hits you and not just a little... Today, it is a stomach bug. Teething has been hard on you. Just like your big brother and sister it gives you a fever and does horrible things to your bum. I was a cruel Mom because the day we had family pictures was one of those horrible days for you. It was a struggle to get you to look at the camera and don't even mention getting a smile from you. It makes me sad that it is so hard to catch your smile on camera because that truly is your personality. You are a happy child despite being sick a lot this last year. You can be so sick and yet still want to crawl around and play and be happy, then you just lay your tiny little sick body down and rest for a while before going again. You need lots of love and hugs and cuddles. You give the BEST cuddles. While holding you, you will simply lay your cute noggin on my shoulder and wrap your tiny arms around me and hold on tight and snug! You fit perfectly right in mine and Dad's arms and we love to hold you tight. You are the first that holds on tight back. The first to lay their head down and just enjoy being held. Don't get me wrong, Kael and Eden are great snugglers and loved being held. There is just something special about the way you hold on. You still are not walking. Being so sick has been a set back for you. You were so close and taking one or two steps in October. You have no confidence anymore and just refuse. Dad has been trying to convince you to walk with diet coke and I'll admit it is the closest thing to working. Nothing else has convinced you. It is like you have to know 100% you won't fall before you even try this out. You are standing on your own and walking along furniture. Life will be so much more enjoyable for you, I know it, IF you just start walking. It is so funny to watch you dragging ginormous toys around the apartment while crawling around. You LOVE Odin. You love to pick him up and hug him. You put up with him nibbling your feet and jumping on your back. It's ok because you get him back by dumping out his water everywhere and scattering his food. You both have a love/hate relationship, but mostly it's a love. I didn't know a puppy would be so fun for a 14 month old. You love your big brother and big sister. They love you back. They are constantly dragging you around to do what you want or what they want. The picture of them trying to drag you is pretty accurate. You are an independent person. You can figure out what you want to do and you just do it. You have 8 teeth. Come on molars! You have super sensitive skin and this winter the eczema has been harsh. Your hair is a pretty strawberry blonde in the light. It is going to be fun to see how different you and Eden look. You are both so beautiful, yet so different for sure! I love you so much Elara. Your Daddy loves you so much! Your family loves you! Don't ever forget! Life is painful now, but you are so strong and it has made you into this amazing, beautiful, little girl! Stay strong, and this next year will be better! I promise! I love you!

Love Always,
Mom