Ella is now basically 18 months old. She went from being attached to my hip to running away after the first animal she see's. And I mean ANY animal, even those really mean geese. She has a heart of gold and is as brave as a warrior. Our grocery trips have changed from grocery trips, to grocery trips saying hi and buh bye to everyone who walks by. Which is super cute. Our days at the park have changed from days relaxing enjoying the sun to making sure Ella doesn't try to climb a tree or pet a raccoon. And it could not be better.
There are a ton of scary things out in the real world but nothing scares me more than seeing Ella trying to climb something. Now I can easily pick her up and move her away, and the times when I know its too dangerous I do and Ella lets me hear how mad she is about not being being allowed too. But her ambition, her will to accomplish things she has yet done amazes me. I find it best to let her try but always be an inch away to catch her if she falls. She's learned to ask for help. She now will try something, see its not working and come grab my finger and pull me over to help. Its a great feeling, honestly. She gonna keep growing and trying new and dangerous things, by dangerous I mean trying to climb on a 2 foot table. I love her adventurous mind and her "I can do it"mentality. She knows I'm there to catch her if she falls.
If I could choose 3 things to teach Ella to always show and carry with her it would be to be brave, to be kind (even to those who are not to you) and to be ambitious. My child at 18 months has the three qualities I respect the most. And as she grows I'm sure she will continue to challenge me in ways I have never been challenged and ill continue to challenge her. One thing is for sure, that she challenges me every day to be a better man. Now she can only say maybe a few words, recently she learned yellow and turtle. But she pushes me like nothing else has, I find my self working late hours on projects that could turn into big successes, I find my self studying up on new things everyday rather than watching that episode I missed last week. Moral of the story, allow yourself to be consumed with the need, not want, the need to be better everyday. For some it takes money to motivate, for my self its a 18 month old girl who has so much hope and joy in her eyes.
