I can't believe I'm the mother of a two-year-old. It has gone by so fast, yet I look back and see how far we've come from her newborn days. I'm sure all moms feel this way, and that I'll get all nostalgic and sentimental with every birthday we celebrate. I am just amazed at this little girl just growing leaps and bounds before my eyes. She is talking so much these days, learning new words and showing new interests. What gets me most is how good her memory is. She can tell me where everyone sat on our couch when we had family over for Easter. She still remembers how she cried "again! again!" after every ride at Disneyland. She can identify the different places around our home that she fell (even months ago) and who comforted her. Today at lunch, we were in a restaurant that we've only been to a couple times before. She pointed to the table we had sat at previously and told me about where each of us sat. We definitely have to watch ourselves around this little sponge, who holds on to everything!
At two Ella is singing and dancing and talking and running around. She loves bouncing on the yoga ball while singing "Old MacDonald" and dancing with her pom poms. She "calls" her puo-puo on the fake phone in her kitchen, and bathes her dolls and animals. She loves to gallop her horses around the coffee table and make tea for us (and makes sure to add milk upon request). She always asks to out outside to draw with chalk or blow bubbles or splash in the pool. She herds the pugs around the kitchen, sneaks them snacks, and tries to give them hugs and kisses. She's a good eater, and will try pretty much everything. Her favorite foods are ice cream, noodles (ramen especially), grilled cheese sandwiches, oatmeal, raisins, and jello (which she has to say twice--jello, jello!).
She's a creature of habit and can basically walk anyone through her daily routine. She loves stickers and painting and getting stamps on her hand. She's fallen in love with Olivia, Minnie Mouse, and Ariel (or her music, at least). When she wakes up in the morning, she pulls books into her crib and reads to herself or sings songs while kicking her feet up in the air. She reads books to her baby brother, gives him kisses, and asks to pose for pictures with him. She draws Mia wherever she can. She makes sure Adam gives us all kisses before he leaves for work. She gets her own bib and pushes her high chair up to the table for every meal. She says "no, thank you" (which makes me feel like I'm doing something right). She also puts herself in time out (we're working on that). She prays for her family every night.
She's still quiet and timid when around strangers. But she's boisterous and outgoing with those she trusts. She loves to laugh and is just the silliest kid I've ever met. What gets me... really makes my heart overflow... is when she says "Jesus luv" every night before heading to bed. It's her way of reminding us that Jesus loves us, and it humbles me to see the purity in her words.
Today we went to her 2 year well visit. We prepped her for what would happen (she's not fond of going to the doctor), how the pediatrician would check her ears, look into her mouth, and listen to her heartbeat. She did fantastic, which reinforces how much she's matured. There were minimal tears, with the help of Minnie Mouse getting examined first, and some gummy bears. She even asked the doctor for bubbles (and she promptly obliged). She is 23 lbs. 3 oz. and 32.5" tall. She's still petite but growing steadily. After the appointment, we had a mother-daughter day and had ramen for lunch, followed by ice cream. I got a chance to just sit and enjoy my baby girl, watch her eat her noodles, cleaning up the ones that fell from her bowl as she ate, and wiping her hands, mouth, and eating area down after. She's just this little independent person and I was reminded (yet again) how incredibly blessed I am to be her mother.
Happy Birthday, Babycakes.
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