You sit quietly in the corner murmuring under your voice. It’s a cute song, a short conversation with the toy your playing with or the reading of a book. To an unfamiliar eye, a quiet, soft-spoken, mild mannered child is happily entertaining herself. Yet, to those of who know better, it’s just one side of the fiercely independent little girl you are. It’s a girl who is doing what she wants on her own terms.

There is a spirit in you Elle. A confidence and security beam from you. There is a sense of self and strength not seen in some adults. You walk your own path in a way that suggests maybe the rest of us are walking the wrong way. Yet, you never look back. You never say follow me. You walk, and the rest of us follow.

I love you Elle

You have a love that is deliberate. There are no superfluous hugs, or cute little smiles with an agenda. Every kiss, hug, smile,squeeze and every “I want you” radiates with authenticity. You’re hugs are weighty with love, as they are never dolled out with disregard.

Elle, Daddy cherishes your hugs, the big squeezes, the “I love you the mostest’s” and your sweet kisses. I cherish everyone, for how deep they come from inside of you. I feel honored to be the recipient. I feel special, because you chose me. I feel happy, because I know you’ll kiss and hug me again.

Elle, you’re diligence amazes me. Your raw, humble confidence teaches me. You have a mature soul. Not an old soul, but a mature soul.

Yes, you are still a child. That reality is never lost on us. You let us know everyday. You are a special child, Elle. You have a fire in you. You have a shriek and they are piercing. Why you shriek is still a mystery. Sometimes, it’s because you are unhappy and want us to know it. Other times you just seem to want to yell. Oh, lucky us!

Your voice is LOUD, it carries through out the house, and your not shy to throw it around. You have presence, it is growing every day.

To call you spunky is trite. But, ya got more gumption than the average kid.

I admire your strength Elle. I admire your sense of self. I admire your confidence.

You sing and dance over and over to “Hard Knock Life” and “The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow.” You are the first to want to go play in the snow when we wake up in the morning. You get excited to go skiing every time we are in the mountains, even though you’re still on the bunny hill. All the ski instructors know who you are and have all fallen in love with you. You have your own Vail Ski School fan club.

You have a special something deep inside you. It’s a spark, a flicker, a fire, that drives you. It sets you apart. It’s molding you. It’s molding me.

It’s amazing to watch and I’m excited to watch it turn you into an amazing young woman.

I love you Elle and thanks for calling me Daddy.

Happy Birthday!!!!!

“I want to give Santa a hug.”

Elle, after opening her last present.

Elle and I went skiing today for the first time. We had a blast. We rented her, a pair of her very own skis and then headed to the gondola at Beaver Creek.

I learned a lot about Elle today. She is a very focused young lady. I dont think she spoke but 10 words the entire time, and half of them were in response to me. She was completely focused on the task at hand. No emotion on either side of the emotional spectrum.

Once on the slope she did awesome. Elle has unbelievable balance. Gliding down the bunny hill all by herself was a cake-walk. She looked like a pro!

One of the few things Elle did say was, can I go over there, pointing to a steeper hill.

We gave it a try. She was doing great until her head of steam became a bit much and she did a face plant. Ouch!

Like a pro she just jumped up. I was blown away to watch a two year old face plant and just shake it off.

I had a blast with her. She was unbelievably low maintenance. No crying, no complaining (it was snowing and windy) just skiing.

Ellen asked how did you know when she was done. It was simple, at the end of a run. I walked up to her and she said; “Can we go home now?” That was is it, nothing more, nothing less.

So we went home.

Palindrome-pal⋅in⋅drome [pal-in-drohm]
–noun
1. a word, line, verse, number, sentence, etc., reading the same backward as forward

Elle’s name is a palindrome and I think she has taken it to heart. Elle has this very interesting habit of doing things backward or the opposite. She reads books upside down. She says green light “stop” and red light go. She asks to have her window put up, when she wants it down and down when she want is up. She wants her jacket off because it’s too cold and wants her jacket on because it’s too hot. ellE does a number of thing backwards and just maybe, it’s not by mistake.

They say names have no impact on the a child’s personality or lot in life. With this palindrome, I’m not so sure.