Two-rrific!

Happy 2nd Birthday Miss Em!

It's so cliche but I just can't believe how fast time flies!  Only two years ago you were snuggled inside my tummy, perfectly formed and created by the Master, ready to come out and join the world.  I loved being pregnant, it was precious and amazing to have you developing and growing inside of me.  I enjoyed your little (I mean BIG) kicks and going to the doctors to hear your beating heart.  Your fast and furious entry into this world (I was ready to push as I was signing the intake forms) was a good indication of your spitfire, passionate personality.  You are my daughter after all. :)

Actually you were an incredibly easy-going, quiet baby, sweet as could be.  I even wondered once, when you were just a few months old, if something could be wrong because you rarely ever cried.  You were (and still are) a dream sleeper - Mommy prayed for a good sleeper after all the long nights with your brother and the Lord totally delivered with precious YOU!

Now here you are a two-year old and you are talking up a storm.  Still quiet around people you don't know too well, you are a little chatterbox here at home and with close family and friends.  For months now we've been asked, "How old is she?"  When we tell them the response is always, "Wow, she really talks very well for being so young!"  I'm not sure if it's because you have a big brother who likes to talk or because you're a girl (and everyone knows girls are talkative), but we've really been enjoying communicating so clearly with you this last year.  I especially adore when you sing.  You have the sweetest voice and you love to sing along when Mommy sings.

You also love to dance and are a fairly physical girl with ball throwing skills, self-defense instincts and I just love to see you run.  You can often be found playing with the boys and have yet to really get into girl toys too much.

You have the most naturally comedic personality I've ever seen and love to keep us laughing with your antics and many faces.

You are sneaky and like to mooch food from other people...

...yet try to appear innocent when caught.

You look cute sitting next to Luke....ahh those blue eyes on the two of you!

You are artistic and are often heard saying, "I want to color!"

Sometimes you can be a bit of a drama queen and have the pouty lower lip thing down!

You're not afraid to have fun with fashion, insisting on wearing your brother's blue down vest in the pic above, putting all sorts of things on your head (hats, underwear, blankets) and overall taking each outfit and adding your own sense of style

Favorite foods: cheesesticks (cheese of any sort really - you take after your Daddy), chicken nuggets, multi-grain crackers, strawberries, bananas (McGee calls them "Da-nanas" b/c of how you used to pronounce them), cereal, yogurt, peaches, mandarin oranges, corn (you had FIVE helpings the other night), broccoli, cauliflower, bacon, you REFUSE to eat eggs (and threw up a few times after eating them about a year ago), chocolate (sorry babe, you got this from your Mommy)

Favorite songs: Jesus Loves the Little Children, Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, ABC song, Michael Rowed the Boat A Shore, Away in a Manger, "My Song" this is what you call it when you want me to sing it with your name ("I love you Emily, oh yes I do, I love you Emily and I'll be true, when you're not with me, I'm blue, oh Emily I love you.") but you also request me to sing it with your brother's name, This Little Light of Mine, How Much is that Doggie in the Window, Jesus Loves Me

Favorite cartoon (although you won't really sit still to watch a whole show): Mickey Mouse, Chuggington (about trains), My Friends Tigger & Pooh

Possible future vocations:

Comedian - you my dear darling girl are HILARIOUS!  You make the funniest faces at all different times and really know how to work a crowd or audience.  You LOVE to do silly things.  You have a true love for life!

Super Spy - you are one sneaky little girl!  Often you are found doing things you shouldn't or being in places you shouldn't be...and you are so quiet about it!  Grammy once found you in their master bathroom turning the tub faucet on.  As all of my "Not Me! Monday" posts can attest, you are frequently found getting into things or being places you shouldn't be.  The thing is, you KNOW you are being sneaky and will look out of the corner of your eye to see if someone is watching.  When caught you have a very sheepish, "Who me?" look that will charm the socks off anyone!  Plus - you still suck your thumb and who would EVER suspect a thumb sucker of getting into trouble...

Lobbyist or Leader of some sort - sweet and endearing, you are also one very independent, strong-willed girl who knows what she wants and won't settle for less!  Stubborn (sorry but you get this from both Daddy & I), you fight for what you want and aren't afraid to get your hands dirty.


Favorite color: Not really sure, but you look adorable in all colors and especially pinks

Favorite shoes to wear: Your fuzzy boots or any shoes or Myles, Mommy or Daddy's

Favorite books: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see? (you ALWAYS want me to read this one), Where is baby's belly button?, ABC book (a book w/ pictures of different items that begin with each of the letters of the alphabet)

Favorite things to do: copy whatever your brother is doing or try to take (I mean play) with whatever your brother is playing with, coloring, help bake cookies (or help with anything), make funny faces at people and play "peek-a-boo", you LOVE to swing (and usually throw a fit when it's time to get off the swings), play with your cousins and brother, cuddle with Mommy and rock (you say "Mama rock you" when you want to be rocked and lay your head on my shoulder w/ your thumb in your mouth), cuddle your "baby" which is really a blue puppy that Papa John gave you when you were a baby, listen to music and dance (you have had amazing rhythm since you were first born), put your brother's clean underwear on your head

As you turn two your imagination is continuing to grow and it's fun to hear and see the things you come up with to amuse yourself.  The other day you had a play phone up to your ear and this was the conversation I overheard you having:

"Yes.  I driving in a car."
"Oh?  Uh huh."
"Okay.  Ben-Ben says "hi"."
"Ben, you want to talk?"
"Yes I'm driving Myles around town today."
"Uh huh.  I colored today.  It was pretty."
"Uh huh."
"Hello?  Okay, goodbye."

Note:  Please in no way extract from this that Mommy ever talks on the phone in the car, or passes on "hello's" from the children or ever says "uh huh". :)

As you are moving beyond being my baby girl (although you'll ALWAYS be my baby girl), your starting to become more and more of your own little person, with your own thoughts, ideas, feelings and ways of handling things.  My verse for you this year comes from Jeremiah 1:5,

"I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb.  Before you were born I set you apart." - Jeremiah 1:5

Always remember my dear girl that Jesus set you apart BEFORE you even entered this world!  He formed you, each and every hair on your head, every breath you take, comes from the Lord and He has great plans for you!  Stand tall, content, secure in your place as a beautiful daughter of God.

Daddy and I love you SO very much and cannot imagine our lives without you, your joy and your love.  Thank you so much for your precious cuddles - remember you are NEVER too old to give your Mommy a hug and hold her.  Have a wonderful 2nd year my dear daughter!