This is Ella.
She is not the daughter I expected to have. When I was pregnant with her, I’d imagine her in all the little girls I saw everywhere. I just knew she’d be blond, with long, straight hair. She’d carry a little purse and wear smocked dresses and bows. My daughter would be dainty and clean.
That is not Ella.
She’ll wear dresses, but only if I beg, plead, and force her. Bows stay in her hair, on a good day, for twenty minutes. Usually I find them on the floor, minutes after combing through her nest of golden caramels curls. Ella’s favorite accessory is dirt.
Princesses? Ella thinks they are just pretty decorations on her underwear. She doesn’t understand why she can’t have Thomas the Train panties.
I signed her up for a little dance class, but what she desperately wants to do is play t-ball. At Dollywood, she doesn’t understand why she can’t ride the roller coaster. Ella is my fearless baby.
I’m always having to tell her, “when you’re bigger, Sweet Pea, then it will be your turn.”
I don’t miss the daughter that I imagined her to be. To me, she is perfect.
Ella, please always be who you are. Walk your own walk. Mommy and Daddy love you. YOU.
they’re never what you expect but somehow just what you want.
sweet post!
.-= MommyNamedApril´s last blog ..Summertime- Summertime- Sum Sum Summertime =-.
Beautiful (the post and her)
Beautiful. I love that they are at an age where they just don’t care what everyone else thinks. They do their own thing and think their own things.
.-= Kara´s last blog ..Great Sage Review =-.
What a beautiful little girl you have…even when she’s covered in dirt!
.-= Kelli´s last blog ..July 4th Weekend Recap =-.
I have the exact opposite issue. Sometimes I catch myself playing with Barbies and Princesses with Alexis and wonder how the hell THAT happened.
It works, though. Perfectly.
.-= Burgh Baby´s last blog ..Its a Matter of Semantics =-.
I adore this post. (I love that second picture!)
.-= amy2boys´s last blog ..Caramelized Cajun Chicken – Super Easy Recipe- =-.
Great pictures. It really captures her. What a beauty!
love the photos, i am in the market for a camera – what do you recommend…
.-= triftimom´s last blog ..first tri of season =-.
Awww. That’s sweet. She is so cute.
I have one like that too. She is a rolly-polly collecting, dirt playing, pig-pen each night of a girl. I’d not want it any other way.
That last picture of Ella? Just priceless. Love it.
.-= Issa´s last blog ..I just plain don’t want too =-.
My daughter isn’t quite what I thought she’d be, either. She’d much rather be one of the boys. Though what can you really expect with 2 older brothers?
.-= C @ Kid Things´s last blog ..Wash Your Mouth =-.
This is just so true, accepting them for who they are is easy, and hard too sometimes. She’s adorable.
.-= anymommy´s last blog ..A day like today =-.
That is what makes our little Ella so precious!! She is IT to her Pawpaw and Nana
There’s beauty in everything– even dirt! Ella is a doll and perfect in every possible way
.-= Formerly Gracie´s last blog ..A Wedding Toast for My Sister =-.
Re-reading Bella Tuscany, there is so much to be said for good soil and strong girls. Lovely.
.-= Amanda´s last blog ..Delicate =-.
Oh, I hear you on this one. I expected a serious, thoughtful, emotional child like I was. My daughter is a raging, passionate stallion. She is exactly who I want.
.-= dusty earth mother´s last blog ..Who are these children and why must I cook for them =-.
Love the tutu and high tops. I have a little tomboy, too. She nothing like I imagined her, but my perfect gift.
.-= Rima´s last blog ..Boredom- Interrupted =-.
Beautiful girl and beautiful post.
.-= Devan´s last blog ..Escapism =-.
My daughter isn’t what I expected either, but I love her tremendously, even though she pushes my buttons.
Your Ella is beautiful! I love the pouty face.
Beautiful!! I love it.
She is just beautiful, with the best little face. Great post!
.-= PopMommy Pam´s last blog ..Bethenny Getting Married =-.
She is SO gorgeous! I love dirty kids: it means they are having too much fun playing to bother with soap.
.-= tracey´s last blog ..The mystery is revealed- =-.
See, I thought I would get an Ella, with the dirt and tractors and all. Instead I got a Shevy who wears smocked dresses, can entertain herself for an hour trying on all her shoes, carries a purse when we go shopping, and thinks the world revolves around her owning everything that is pink. Funny how things end up like that, isn’t it?
she is stunningly beautiful. I wish the same for my daughter, even though she’s only 8 months old. I can already see parts of her I didn’t expect. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
.-= laura @ hollywood housewife´s last blog ..this is an associate producer- part II =-.
Precious! And she is adorable. Sounds alot like my daughter, she wears dirt better than any litle boy we know, including her big brother and she can kick swing a jump better too! Gotta love little gilrs!
.-= Danielle´s last blog ..Sous Chefs =-.
That picture of her looking up in the dance costume is priceless!!! She and my Miss A would get along swimmingly.
Go Ella.
I love this so much.
I imagine a little girl with strawberry curls and green eyes.
I got stick straight blonde hair and huge blue eyes and I wouldn’t trade her for the world. She walks to her own drummer, knows her own mind and God I love her
LOVE this post, Jennifer. She is so gorgeous!!!
I love this post. Having two daughters (and a son) of my own, I have always found that discovering they are not what I thought they would be was the most wondrous and humbling moment of parenting them. Thank you for putting beautifully into words what I believe every mother feels.
Jennifer, I love this! You know I don’t have any daughters of my own, but your description of Ella is just the picture of the daughter I imagine when I do think about what it would be like having a girl.
She’s gorgeous, by the way. I love that first picture.
.-= Elizabeth @claritychaos´s last blog ..hit me with your best shot =-.
This was pretty perfect Jennifer.
.-= Brigid´s last blog ..Trouble® =-.
My Princess loves to wear princess panties. He likes his Thomas ones, too.
yeah, so when i found out our triplets were 2 boys and 1 girl i just knew i’d have a tomboy on my hands. nope. i have a girly-girl and 2 boys who love all things princess and pink. drives hubby crazy and cracks me up. sadly, though, the world is much more accepting of girls who like trucks than of boys who like dolls. oh well…i think my 3 are perfect JUST as they are.
and your sweetness is BEAUTIFUL!
.-= monica´s last blog ..Mature for a Moment =-.
not sure what’s more wonderful:
your sentiments or your photos.
this is a post to cherish!
.-= mpotter´s last blog ..it happens every year =-.
I love this. My daughter is obsessed with trains, loves trucks and is happiest with puppies, not baby dolls. I thought I would have a little dancer, but I’m just not sure ballet will be her thing, probably more like soccer or motocross.
Just perfect: the post and Ella.
It brought tears to my eyes because it reminds me of my Maggie, who gives me her “angry face” whenever she sees the dresses I lay out for the day. And who told me that when she grows up (she’s 4) she will make Lightning McQueen undies for all the little girls to wear. Thanks for sharing!
That stupid Veggie Tales roller coaster! My son is one inch too short and it’s breaking his heart.
I just found your blog and I just HAD to comment on this. I relate to this as a mom in some ways, though I have a little boy. I think that last bit was great. Be who you are and we love YOU – just the way you are!! Choked me up. Great writing.
Oh, and I agree. Why don’t they make Thomas for girls? They are missing out on a whole demographic!!