Payton and Ella,

Who knew 2 year olds could be so attached!  Who knew that meeting at 5 weeks old in an Infant Massage class would lead to such a great friendship!  We have watched you grow and change so much over the past 2 years.  It has been so fun to watch as your faces light up when you see each other at play dates, church, or just for dinner!  Before Ella could talk, she would wave her arms and squeal with excitement when you would enter the room!

It all started with Infant Massage.  Luckily, your Mommy's realized they were having the same problems with childcare and we were so fortunate that it worked out to share Miss Cindy for one year.  We started day care together - in the same room - so we could make it less of a change for the two of you.  The teachers commented on how much you seemed to enjoy each other every day.  When we were faced with the decision to move Payton up to the next class, without Ella by his side, I was scared it wouldn't go well!  You handled it well and actually got more excited on the days you would get to see Ella.  When Ella's baby sister arrived, Ella got to stay home with her Mommy and again I wondered how it would affect you to be at school without your best bud.  Again, you noticed but continued as normal.  You know where Ella's house is and now, when we drive by her neighborhood, you cry when we don't turn in.  You look for her when we go to church...hoping your best bud will be in the nursery with you. When we are planning a day or dinner with Ella, you talk about it for days!  You both survive without the other but you both get VERY excited when the other is around.  You both scream, run, and hug each other!  It is truly amazing the friendship you have at just 2 years of age!

October 2008

Halloween 2008 - Our Lobster and Lamb!

December 2008 - with your buddy Lila, who has also been around since those early months!

Starting to stand...together...January 2009

Turning 1 Together - 2009

Sharing ice cream...and a spoon!  April 2009

Beach time!  Summer 2009

Late summer 2009

You share temper tantrums at school! 

You also share snacks and hold hands!  Halloween 2009

You shared your 1st trip to the fair in November 2009

...and held hands on the way home!  With parental supervision!

And now....its just a lot of fun!  

Easter Sunday 2010

How times have changed!  You started off as little babies who spent your days lying on blankets side by side, slowly you both began to crawl and walk and talk, you initially played separately but side by side, we have seen you scream and cry because you didn't want to share a toy, we have seen one of you pull the other off of a riding toy so you could take it over for yourself...and then the other would get back up and do the same, you have now started to play together...even if that means Payton puts on your necklaces and carries you pocket book now!  Now, you have turned 2 together! 

The future will be interesting as we watch the two of you grow together.  My best friends have always been boys (thanks Marty and Eric for putting up with me), so in my mind the fact that you are boy and girl makes no difference.  I wonder what will happen when you reach the stage where you think "Boys are gross" and "Girls are stupid."  Only time will tell and I can't wait to see what happens!