Bye bye Tella

Before you could speak, Daddy and I used to talk about how you would one day call yourself "Tella". We knew that the s sound was a tricky one and it was likely that it would take awhile for you to say it. And, indeed, so it came to pass. For as long as you've been answering the question, "What's your name?" and talking about yourself in the third person, you have been "Tella". Well, the other night, you were sitting on the edge of your rocking chair, falling backwards into pillows that I set up (one of your current favorite daredevil stunts which you call "Fall Over" as in "Can we do fall over tonight?") when I reminded you of Grandpa’s only rule. I said “No hurting –“ and you said “Stella.” Not Tella but Stella, clear as could be. You knew you did it too and were so excited. Even though it was bedtime, we called Grandma and Grandpa so you could say it for them too. Could it be that the days of the itsy bitsy pider and eating soup with a poon and climbing up tairs are over. I’m sad. And happy.