big girl

Remember when I used to write monthly updates about Laci, just like I do with Mia now? It is likely a boring read for you, but I am so glad I did it. I have been going back through old posts as Mia grows, trying to remember when Laci got her first tooth, sat up for the first time, ate food. The blog has become our family record, since Laci's baby book sits in a drawer mostly blank and Mia does not even have one. I'm okay with this - I have big plans for a blog/photo book(s?)...just as soon as I have a house again. So, today, I'm writing just another page of our family story: my big girl at (almost) two and a half.

*****

Two is such a fun age. Challenging for sure, like when she threw a fit for 45 minutes because she didn't want to apologize to papa for hitting. Can you say strong-willed? But she's also sweet and funny and smart and pretty.

She times her sweet moments perfectly. Just when I think I can't take another second of whining or crying, she will say something cute or do something completely unexpected and I have to smile. Like today, when she pulled on a swim diaper over her leggings, slipped (deflated) water wings on her arms and said, "Go swim?" It was 30 degrees out.

She loves to count and read. She loves all things animal. She's not big on baby dolls, but she swaddles and pats her horses like a true mama. She still isn't thrilled about her little sister, but it's getting better. There will be many struggles between those two, especially when Mia learns she can have her own opinion about things.

She insists on "two ponies" in her hair everyday, and will check to make sure there are two when I'm done doing her hair. Sometimes I can sneak in some braids, just as long as there are two of them.

I can see her imagination growing. It is so fun to watch her play with her toys, and more often with things that are not actually toys, like buttons and movie boxes and dog food (gross!). She looks so absorbed in her little games and I have absolutely no idea what she is thinking.

 

She is my mini-me. The similarities extend beyond our eyebrows and complexion. I can see my temper in her, the desire to do things perfectly the first time she tries something, my stubbornness. I will do my best to cultivate these into positive qualities, though I know we will often not see eye to eye as she grows up. And she is awesome at coloring. She gets that from me too. What can I say? I'm good at coloring.

I struggle to capture all that I see in her in just a few words. She is an amazing little (very little) girl, who was my little baby just a minute ago, who insists she is a "bid dirl," who has grown up too much in the last few months, but who still loves to snuggle with mama. I love her and, though I'm often disappointed in my ability to be patient with her and to be the mother she deserves, I'm pretty sure she loves me too.