Happy Second Birthday, Alexandra!

Today marks such a special day for my little family - the second birthday of our sweet daughter, Alexandra. We celebrated with cupcakes at daycare this afternoon - afterwards, Alexandra and I stopped at the bakery to order her birthday cake for her party this Saturday, and then headed to Toys R' Us to pick out a toy (a barking puppy narrowly beat out a Little Mermaid purse!). We had a quiet little dinner at home followed by another cupcake and a singing Thomas the Train balloon.

I wanted to share with you some of the pictures from today, as well as a letter I wrote to Alexandra for her birthday. At the end of the post, there is a little video I prepared of the past year in pictures - it's a little long, but I think you'll enjoy it!

Dearest Alexandra …

Happy 2nd Birthday, my darling girl. It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating the conclusion of your first year – how time slips past us so quickly and quietly.


Over the past year, you have matured from my baby, who was not yet walking, to my toddler child, running down hallways and conversing in sentences consisting of 3 to 4 words. You remind me of this metamorphosis on a daily basis, pointing out all of the “babies” that we pass in the hallways at daycare. Truth be told, this observation pains me a little bit each time I hear it, because I still think of you as my baby. I probably always will think of you that way.


Now, all mothers think this of their children, but you are oh so special, my little one. God has certainly blessed you in numerous ways. I have never encountered a child so in touch with what is going on around her and so observant! You catch little details that I would miss ten times over – it’s a refreshing reminder to your mommy to slow down and really take in everything.


You are incredibly smart, and your teachers at daycare are always remarking about what a bright little girl you are. The latest comment gave me a good laugh – when your teachers asked you yesterday whether you had seen any ponies this weekend (referring to the Kentucky Derby), you promptly answered, “yes, in the mud,” undoubtedly referring to the muddy track from all the rain on Derby day.


Developmentally, you are right on track with where you are supposed to be – you talk up a blue storm with a pretty extensive vocabulary, you can point to twenty some body parts, you know your numbers up to 20, you know your colors, and you are starting to figure out the ABC song (which I often hear you singing quietly in the backseat of the car). You have quite the sense of humor and love to laugh, often remarking “that’s funny!”


You also love, love, LOVE to giggle – I’m constantly trying to come up with new goofy things to set off a laughter fit between the two of us. Your current favorite is the “little piggies” on your feet. Other favorite things include Sesame Street, Thomas the Train, grapes, raisins, sweets, books, flashcards, your baby dolls and your “bakas” (blankets), and playing outside.


Oh, my sweet girl, I wish I could put into words just how very much I love you. You are my sun and my moon – you are everything to me that is good in this world. As a woman, I feel so incredibly blessed to have been chosen by God to be your mother – His is a divine purpose and I feel so honored that he entrusted you to us until the day you join Him. You are perfect in each and every way, and I celebrate your life every moment of every day. Alexandra, you have blessed me with more happiness than I could have ever hoped for in this lifetime. You are my sweet angel, my everything.


As your Mimi has always told me, I love you all the time, with all my heart.

I love you always,
Mommy