The Ya Ya Sisterhood

At our house Riley is known as YaYa. That is what Maycie calls her and eventually we all started calling her that, even Riley refers to herself using this new name. Every morning I wake up to the baby monitor with Maycie yelling, "Yaya, UP UP" after about 10 times Riley will pull herself out of bed and help Maycie out of hers. She will carry her into my bedroom, Maycie clinging to her like a baby monkey.

Yaya is Maycie's leader. Maycie sneaks into her underwear drawer and secretly puts on her under roos, if Riley wears a dress then a dress for Maycie too, please. Riley is the finder of lost blankies, the comfort after a fall and the protector from a sword yielding brother.

My favorite part of the day is when we take Coulter to school in the afternoon. We wait by the cafeteria for the kids to come to lunch, Maycie will not budge. When the kids come in to sight Maycie will stand, little butt out, chubby hands cupped around her mouth shouting for her Yaya. Riley always makes sure to make a big deal, shouting and waving back and pointing out her little sister to the class. When Riley is gone she will nod reach for my hand and is ready to go.

So here's to you, our beloved Yaya for being the best sister a gal could have. And to Maycie for making her work hard for it.