I'm TWO!

Two years.  These past two years have been the best and funnest of my life, and hubby's too.  Everyone always told me that I should be living up my twenties, and not settle down with the one I fell in love with in high school. (Well, "everyone" except those who really cared about me told me that.)  But as I am 25, and look at the last several years, especially the last 2 with our babygirls...I am more convinced than ever that this is living.  Having our girls is the greatest blessing thus far in our life, right up there with finding each other.

And it all started 2 years ago, when our angel Reilly was born.  It really feels like yesterday.  And I can't imagine what my days would be like if I didn't get to spend them all with her.

Reilly,

You are the happiest little thing.  You start your day happily hanging out in your crib, literally singing to yourself, until you decide it's time to get up and you starting jumping and calling for Mommy.  It is the most joyful way to start the day, listening to you sing and talk to yourself in the morning.

You LOVE music!  The funniest thing is that  when we get in the car, she'll say, "Mommy, dance?", which means she wants me to put on the music.  Her next sentence is always, "Louder, mommy?" She's a little pip. Her favorite songs right now are Someone Like You by Adele (she calls it "You"), Moves Like Jagger, I'm Glad You Came, and We Are Young (which she calls "Fi-Yaa").

 

You are the best little eater.  Her latest thing is "Rei do it!" - she wants to do everything herself.  Even try to eat soup, which is challenging!  She loves all fruits (except pineapple), "Mommy cereal" which means cereal with milk, any and all veggies (she asks for them for breakfast), PASTA all day and everyday if she could, pizza, yogurt, edamame, avocado, eggies, and salad with "dip".  She also loves when we have "frozen yogurt" for breakfast with granola ("nola"), which is actually just frozen fruit in our Yonanas machine.

Your personality is unlike I have ever seen.  She is HILARIOUS and loves to entertain.  She loves being a ham, and thrives on making people laugh.  It's unreal.  She definitely has her Daddy's outgoing, bubbly, silly personality.  Listening to her and talking to her is my favorite thing to do.

You loves people, all ages.  She will engage perfect strangers in conversation, and say "How are you?!" to get them to talk to her.  She loves children, and loves making friends and playing with kids of all ages.  She has no concept of word "shy", so she'll just talk to any children and totally not get if they don't want to talk back to her.  She loves making friends!

You are the smartest little girl Daddy and I have ever seen.  You amaze us daily.  You love you letters and numbers, and lately you are obsessed with counting mailboxes and telephone poles when we drive anywhere.  You start laughing when we get to high numbers - your favorite is 46!  :)  You can tell us anything you need, and exactly how you are feeling.  It amazes me how you are using such full sentences already.  This morning, you said "Oh Mommy, I hurt my finger!".  I couldn't believe how grown up you sounded saying that sentence. You have the most insane memory ever, and you are freakishly observant.  If I tell you it's time to go to the store, you will remind me to put on my shoes.

You have the sweetest little soul.  You can tell when Mommy is mad or upset, and you will come over and say, "You okay mommy? You happy now?" and give kisses.  You know right away when you have done something wrong, and will say you are sorry right away.  You will even say, "Rei go to room, don't move?" which is where you go to "think" when you get in trouble.  When I go in to talk about what you did wrong, and say "Do you know why you are sitting in here?"  You will say, "Well, I think, because I no listen."  I have to stifle a smile when you respond like this to me, so seriously.  When Reagan cries, it makes you sad, and you immediately go to rock and sing to her.  You will pray for anyone and everything, and I can't wait until you can truly understand how important the words you say to God are.

You love your books - anything with Elmo or Sesame Street, "But Mama", Suppertime, Brown Bear and "Buggies" are your favorites right now.  You can read all of your favorites yourself, and will get upset if Mommy tries to read those to you - "Rei read it!" you will say. You love puzzles, your dolls, bubbles, and doing anything outside.  Your favorite thing to do is go to Mantown with Daddy, and your little adventures outside.  You LOVE water, I can't wait to see you in the pool and water table this summer!  You also love you iPad apps, which are limited to when Mommy is making dinner.  You love dancing, and watching your Wee Sing videos, which you call Big Bear, Candy Mountains, and Sillyville (Lori-Scott).

You as a big sister is the most wonderful thing I have ever seen.  Your first words every day are "See Reagan, watch Elmo?".  The two loves of your life are Elmo, and your sister.  I am so impressed with how you care for her and protect her already, and am so excited to watch you two grow up together and lean on each other.

Happy 2nd Birthday, sweet angel.  I hope you will always know how much we love you, it's more than we could ever ever express in words.  Seeing you happy is our favorite thing in the world.  Being your Mommy and Daddy is the most wonderful privilege God has even given us.  We love watching you grow.  Thank you for being sweet, silly, wonderful you.