Happy Second Birthday!

How can it be that TWO YEARS ago I was giving birth in my living room to my precious baby girl? Has it really been that long ago that I felt that intense, sweet relief at her living presence and the knowing that I DID IT and we were both okay?

Here’s what our world is like right now with this little treasure in it:

• Can talk now. I worried a little about her speech and whether she was “ever” going to talk. She does now, though not in sentences and not with fluency. But, man, she can say all kinds of words. Like…
• Says yes adorably (“jes” or “dash”/d-yes kind of)
• Says things like: thank you, dude, spicy, sparkly, birthday (also poop, butt, and boob)
• Says “um…” I didn’t know that started this early! And, because of our jobs, Mark and I have worked pretty hard to cull this from our own speaking, so I’m surprised she’s picking it up anyway.
• Still has sour milk/yogurt baby breath. I love it!
• Skip-hop-gallops to do or get things.
• Seemed to call me bratty yesterday when I was whining about her not going to bed! 😦
• In another “bad mom” confession, a couple of days ago she was being aggravating about going to sleep and was nursing really roughly, etc. and I was crabby at her and said, “what is wrong with you?” and she said, “Done, mama.” And, I said, “you’re done with mama?!” and she said, “JES!”
• Nurses around ten times a day–is pretty rough and I’m getting pretty fed up with being manhandled and abused!
• Loves having rituals and setting up candles. (Says, “ommmm” while doing so)
• Remains a night owl and is routinely up til midnight.
• Clearly self-identifies as one of the kids–runs to join in with everything. Will do yoga and gymnastics, carefully studying and imitating.
• Tuesday hit big girl milestone in that I left her (and the boys) with a friend for 1.5 hours in between me leaving for class and Mark picking them up. First time in nongrandparental care. She did a really good job and was happy and played like one of the kids!
• Rides scooter under own power, but also cackling with glee if someone else zooms her around!
• Knows some colors and can count to three (or, at least two). Blue is favorite.
• Has thing for “pretty” clothes and wants to change clothes, choose own outfits in dramatically different way than I’ve been used to with prior children.
• Loves dolls and real babies. Loves, loves them. I may actually have to have another baby just so I can give it to her.

Here’s what I wrote when she was born. And, about her birth. And, here’s what I wrote on her first birthday.

Video of first “dude” saying (plus, bonus “boob” thrown in for good measure):

I think it is officially time to stop saying I have a baby. I have a two-year little girl now!

Happy birthday, sweetness!