Today you turn two. Which is somewhat stunning when I think about it, because weren't you just born a few months ago?
I feel compelled to write some sort of post about who you are and what you do, so I looked back on last year's post to see what I'd written. I was somewhat shocked to see that I could have written the same post this year.
Other than the fact that now you are stringing words into whole sentences, you're very much the same. I have a feeling that on your fortieth birthday, we'll look back and all those first observations will hold true. You are a wise, old soul.
Your love for babies know no bounds. This year's birthday gifts were almost all accessories for your little ones—a snuggly carrier and a bathtub. You have immediately put both to good use.
Second to babies, you love Elmo, who adorned your cupcakes. I confess, I was ill-prepared when I got down to the business of baking. Those decorative balls cover an orange-y pink color that was a result of not enough red food coloring and the chocolate chip mouth was a last-minute substitution when I realized I had no black food coloring. You were delighted, nonetheless.
Oh, and I apologize for these photos. It was dark in the morning when we opened presents and again in the evening when we ate cupcakes. So they're kind of mediocre photos.
But I have a feeling this is how life is as a third. We're busier than when we did all this for the first two. And these events happen in the space and time when we're all in the same room, and the amount of that seems to be dwindling. We don't love you any less, we just have to make a greater effort to squeeze in the moments to profess it.
You are bright, wise, and fiercely independent. But in the midst of all that, you've developed a shy side. At story hour you now crawl into my lap and bury your head with a little whisper just to me, "Shy." I had my own shy side as a child, so this all feels rather familiar.
I have a feeling this shy, quiet part of you would be more present if it weren't for your crazy siblings. But they rev you up, and soon you're tearing around the house, squealing and making just as much racket as possible to keep up. We all may be a bit hard of hearing in a few years, but I think their effect on you is mostly quite wonderful. They adore you so much, I'm not sure I could keep them at bay even if I tried.
Happy birthday, little one.