Monika

When Anna was 3 she asked me one night why she had to go to bed by herself in her room when Caleb and Ethan got to be together and Daddy and I got to be together.  She didn't like not having someone to share her room with.

And now she has Monika.  Monika is an amazing big sister.  She cares so much about Anna and they have a beautiful friendship.  I love to watch them play together- as they pretend to be mommas or teachers, grown up sisters or store owners.  When they play the 5+ years between them disappear. 

We couldn't have hoped for these 2 girls to have a more special connection than they do.  Monika is very tidy and she teaches Anna how to keep their room neat and clean.  They are constantly organizing and rearranging, vacuuming and then starting in again.  It seems to be part of their play.

Even on the hard days- and you know we have them- I am so thankful for both of these girls that they have each other.  I don't know how soon a day will come when Monika moves into a new stage of life and she and Anna stop playing the way they do- but for now it is a treasure and her relationship with Anna definitely helps to endear her to me.