Happy Birthday 2 Year Old!

Today, my newborn baby is two. That just blows my mind. Little Annelie Cecelia is no longer a teeny tiny baby.... I shouldn't feel so surprised, but somehow I am.

After having the quietest pregnancy, she came into the world even quieter. Nothing made her happier than a cuddle, and she pretty much slept for the first four months straight.

But she isn't quiet anymore. She woke up one day, and woke up with a vengeance, and has been keeping us on our toes ever since. Last months black eye - from nosediving off the back of the couch - and last weekends lip stitches - from using a tricycle as a stepping stool - shows me that Annelie is fearless, always ready for adventure, and that I'll probably expect... a few more adventures that will leave us all in the emergency room.

And though I've been saying that she's had the 'terrible twos' for months now, as biting and scratching and shouting the word "NO!" after every question she is asked and every cuddle or term of endearment she is given, has been the story of her life, it doesn't make it any less shocking when I go to the store to pick out her presents and realize that I'm not shopping for generic baby toys any longer. I'm actually picking out toys because I know she'll like them.

She has a strong personality, full of passionate loves and powerful dislikes. She LOVES Barney, farms, Barney on the Farm, bubble baths, and baby dolls. She dislikes green beans, wearing socks, cuddling unless it is on her terms only, and not being allowed to color on the walls.

And though I spend the majority of our time together saying "No, Annelie!" and "Stop, Annelie!" and "Say you're sorry, Annelie!" and "Pulling hair is NOT NICE, Annelie!".... it still makes me happy that she is growing up into an adorable little girl with a fiery personality.

As she turns two, and enters a new stage of life with plenty of discovery and more than enough 'no's,' 'dont's' and 'stop's' being called to her - I can't help thinking of the Shel Silverstein poem,

"Listen to the mustn'ts, child
Listen to the don'ts.
Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts.
Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me...
Anything can happen, child.
Anything can be."

Life is an adventure with Annelie, and I can't wait to see where her journeys take her and what kind of girl she will grow up to be.

Happy birthday, baby! And many, many more!

xoxo,