Evie,
Yesterday was your second birthday. We got to sleep in because you are like no other kid I know and you do not wake me up before the crack of dawn. When we did wake up, I gave you your gifts and we sat in the living room watching you unwrap them. You were excited for the toys, not so much for the clothing. I have to laugh at that. Such typical kid behavior. Your first and only request for activities for the day was to go to the playground. Yeah, it was chilly and overcast, but we bundled up and took you down to the park. You swung on the swings, wandered around the grounds and we found a bridge to stand on and look down at the water, a shelter where you checked out the fireplace and a big magnolia tree where you stood with Daddy for a picture.
After the playground, you fell asleep in the car and slept on Daddy's shoulder while we grocery shopped. You didn't wake up for the snacks or the stickers. We must have tired you out! When we got home you played with your toys and after a couple hours we went to pick Mummum up to bring her to your birthday party at Granny's house.
Your party was so much fun! Granny made you an amazing cake with Anna and Elsa dolls and you got a bunch of really cool presents, mostly Frozen-themed, that you adore. Seriously, you haven't stopped pressing their various play buttons since we got home. I joked that we'd take your singing Frozen balloon outside for you to "Let It Go". But it makes you happy, so I'll deal. Granny, Pawpaw, Nana, Grandad, Uncle Johnny, Uncle Ethan, Aunt Emma, Mummum, Daddy and I were all there for your party. You spent a little time with everyone and had a great time. You fell asleep on the way home from dropping Mummum off.
We heard a bunch of fireworks outside from New Year's celebrations. I pretended they were for you. You didn't seem to notice or care yet. Still, you stayed up very late and finally around 1:00 am you asked to nurse and promptly fell asleep. I carried you to your bed where you slept for most of the night! I hope your birthday was all you could ever dream and more. I look forward to celebrating many years to come.
Love,
Mommy
*~*~*~*~*~*
Evie at 2 Years
At 2, you are able to hold up a pretty good conversation. Little things, like coming up with your own responses vs parroting responses you've heard, amaze me. I may be easily impressed, but you have such quick wit sometimes, for being so young.
Your humor is astounding, too. You crack jokes, know just what to say to de-escalate a tense situation, and you're quick to tell me your opinion on matters. Most of the time, these matters do not need your input, but we consider it anyway.
You are obsessed with all things Frozen. I thank H for that, but I have to take some of the blame. I let you watch the video to Let It Go way too many times on the ride home from work. May this be a short-lived phase. While we're at it, may you finally gain interest in your wooden toys.
You haven't quite gotten the hang of potty training, but that's okay. We haven't gotten the hang of constantly reminding you to go potty anyway. I have hopes that this will be the year, though, that we get you into big kid panties.
You haven't gotten picky about outfits yet, which means I get to match ours quite often. We could probably match every day of the week, but I won't subject you to it that often. ;)
Your favorite activities are coloring and leaving the caps off markers, chasing and hugging the animals, reading books and singing. You have a real love of books and that makes me so happy. I try never to turn you down when you ask to read something.
This year we will be working on putting you in your own bed for the night (again). Eventually you're bound to take to it!
You have slowed down nursing somewhat, but I don't think we're done yet. I'll attribute it to the holidays and even though I'm very ready to be done physically, emotionally I haven't quite gotten there and I know you are far from done emotionally too.
In 2016 you had a lot of firsts. Your first haircut was one of them. I trimmed your bangs and I didn't cry (much)! You look super cute with bangs but I can't bring myself to do it to the rest of your hair.
So many cute moments I wish I'd documented immediately, but I'm sure they'll pop into my head as you get older and I yearn for your innocent comments. Just tonight you caught me scratching one of my fresh tattoos and you chided me, "Mama, dont pick!"
I am so glad you are so well-behaved, but I know we may have some trying moments in the next year (or 20, or 40). I hope you know that I love you always and no matter what, we will be there for you.
