Lily's 2nd Birthday Party

My Sweet Lily,



Yesterday* you turned two years old. I still can't believe I'm saying that. Wasn't it just last week that you and I spent an intimate 31 1/2 hours together in labor?

Last Saturday, you had your second birthday party. In attendance (at your party, not your labor) were your Oma and Opa; Grandma and Grandpa; Grosse Oma and Grosse Opa; Aunt Lori, Uncle Jay, and cousins Kirsten and Jeffrey; Aunt Heidi; and of course Mama, Daddy, and Jacob. Quite a smaller party than last year - but also quite less work and just as much fun.

[The Babelfish just translated Grosse Oma into "Large Granny" - I hurt my tummy laughing so hard.]

You wore your new purple jumper over a white longsleeve onesie and white tights with your fuzzy brown thrift store Mary Janes, which have been your favorite shoes lately. Those and your boots. Any boots, especially with handles. You could walk around the house in your boots and snow hat all day, happy as a clam.

Pants optional.



Your Opa held you on his lap and snuck you sweets while your Mama finished making the cake. It was a white Betty Crocker box cake with homemade strawberry frosting. This was my first time ever making frosting or stacking a sheet cake, and thankfully, your Aunt Heidi supervised. Together, we made you a cake that was super tasty, and - by the way you shoved every last crumb into your mouth (and asked for seconds) - I'd say you approved.



This was your first real present opening experience. Sure, you've already celebrated two Christmases - barely - and one birthday, but this was the first time you were really old enough to get the hang of things. This was probably the first time you were encouraged to rip anything, and after you got over your initial, "Seriously? Just tear? I won't get yelled at?" you were off and running.



Nothing made me happier than watching the excitement on your cute little face each time you spied the next gift peeking out at you beneath torn paper. After opening each present, you wanted to unpackage and play with it instantly, which was super-gratifying for the gift giver.



If your audience "ooh"ed and "aah"ed, you did likewise, and it was the funniest thing coming out of your mouth. When you opened the dress from your cousin Kirsten, you wanted to put it on instantly, then walked around so proud of yourself, patting your chest, like, "Look at me! I'm so pretty!" And you were ;)

When you opened a card with no present (just that un-fun money stuff), you quickly tossed it aside and said, "Done!" which was hysterical. You sure you don't want it? OK, I'll take it.





When you opened your Aunt Ilse's card that played music, a huge grin spread across your face and you started bopping your head from side to side. I'm so sad the video of your presents stopped RIGHT before you opened this card!



Then came cake time. I was a little leery about you blowing on the cake with your cold after much throwing up the previous week (by me) from another infected birthday cake. So we took the candle off your cake and held it out for you to blow. The only problem was, you didn't realize how hot the little flame was and put your mouth right up to it, hurting your poor little upper lip a little.



But the hurt was immediately forgotten the moment you tasted your cake. You little stinker. Just the year before at your first birthday party, you were trying sweets and sugar and cupcakes for the very first time. Now you're an old pro talking about "Tate!" (cake) and eating seconds!





You have grown up so very much in this past year. You are tall and skinny like a string bean - like your daddy! Your little bald head is now covered with long, blonde hair. I'm so happy that I can finally put clips in it now, so there's no WAY you can be mistaken for a little boy like when your hair was short, no matter how much pink you were wearing.

You are funny and silly. You love to show off and make us laugh. You love to dance with Daddy and read books with Oma. You say, "I love you!" when we tuck you in at night, and it makes my heart melt when I think of how much we love you back. Sometimes you wake up at night, and I'm so happy for the chance to slip into your room for an extra hug and a kiss, to tide me over 'til morning. You are becoming affectionate. You give kisses freely and hug your friends when they leave.

You always think I'm talking to your Oma and Opa on the phone. No matter who it is, you ask, "Oma? Opa? Awake? Asleep? Home? House? Seeeeeee?"

Your best friend is your cousin Kirsten. You ask about her constantly, and so many things remind you of her. "See these boots I'm wearing? They're Kirsten's." Or, "See the pantry? We hid in there together and shut the door and knocked and giggled loudly until you found us."

OK, so you can't say all that, but when you point at the pantry and say, "Tay-tum?" Mama knows what you mean. It's amazing how much (I think) I understand you. With just a word, or a point, or a glance, I know exactly what is going on in that little head of yours. Where your train of thought is going or from where it has come. That's probably why you didn't feel the need to start talking...because Mama already understood.

Lily, I promise to always make an effort to understand. To give you extra hugs and kisses and your "ra-ra-ra-ra" (pacifier) when you need them late at night. To listen when you're trying your hardest to tell me something and I just don't understand. To laugh when you're running around in your bib, snow hat, and rain boots, all of which you've put on yourself just for my amusement.

You are an amazing, sensitive, sweet, fun-loving, inteligent, busy busy busy little girl. You can't know how much I love you or how blessed I feel every day to have you in my life.

Much love, Mama

Read last year's Letter to Lily

*This letter was started December 20th...but things got a little hectic.

Lily's 1st Birthday Party

Dear Lily,
This weekend, we celebrated your first birthday.

The party went by in a blur. Similar to our wedding day, I wish I could rewind the weekend and take more time to just sit down with you and enjoy it. To explain to you why all these people are here just for you. To hold you on my lap and give you a big squeeze, whether or not you'll sit still long enough to take it. I'm your Mama and it's my right to try.

The timing of your naps worked out perfectly. You fell asleep at 10:30 a.m. for a party that started at 11:30. By noon, your Oma and I snuck upstairs to wake you up — it was your party, after all, and we didn't want you to miss it! We put on your pink corduroy dress from your Grandma over a long-sleeved white onesie, and paired it with your pink tights and white socks and pink/brown Marie Janes. You looked like the sweetest little girl ever.

You were such a happy girl at your party. You smiled and played and charmed the socks off all the guests. You showed them your new tricks: clapping and waving and sticking your tongue in & out after I did it first. Every once in a while, you would stand up and do the twist, eyes and mouth and hands wide open in excitement.

Your favorite "toy" at the party was all the helium balloons. You get so excited whenever you see them when we're out, I figured for just one day we could take a risk and get you your own balloons to play with. All the fun you had pointing at them then shaking and chasing them around!

You cried twice during your party, both times because you got hurt. The first time, another little boy pushed you over and you banged your head on the carpet. You cried for a little while in my arms until we gave you a balloon — then all was forgotten. The second time, someone was trying to readjust your party hat that said "I'm 1!" and they accidentally snapped the elastic against your face. You had a big red line across your cheek and chin the rest of the party, and burst into tears every time we tried to put that hat back on you. You sure have a good memory.

You weren't too interested in opening your presents. I tried to get you to help me rip the paper off, but you're a gentle girl and would rather play with the shiny strings or go off and play with your toys. We couldn't get you to stay with the presents for too long before you'd wander off again, so your Daddy and I ended up opening most of them for you instead. Little David and Laura sat right next to me the whole time as we opened presents, and your cousin Kirsten was also interested to see what was being unwrapped. Boy, did you get lots of good loot!

You ate your first cupcake ever at the party. You, our little healthy, organic baby, had never had anything like that before. Your Aunt Lori and your Grandma made them at our house the night before (with some help from your Mama and your Aunt Heidi). You were still pretty shaken up about the elastic incident, but one taste of frosting and your eyes widened and you said, "Mmmm!" and that was the end of the crying! We put you in your highchair and you had fun squeezing the cupcake through your fingers, eating off the icing, and stuffing the cake into your mouth. You were a complete mess by the time you were done, which says you thoroughly enjoyed yourself.

I still can't believe what a big girl you are, how happy you are, and how easily you smile. You love to be smiled at (and smile back), to point at things and be told their names, to talk to your toys, to be teased, to be chased, to have attention in general. You are sensitive and thoughtful and silly and playful all at once. You are so pleasant to be around and so curious about everything going on around you. We have to place you in the corner with your back to the wall when we go out to eat so you're not twisting around in your seat looking at everything going on behind you the whole time. You never miss a thing!

This curiosity is what complicates nap time. We can't make ANY noise, or you spring to your feet and cry, reminded that you're in your crib in your room, and we're outside having so much fun without you. Your Daddy and I have gotten quite good at staying very quiet while you're sleeping, but when guests are over, all bets are off. Sometimes they wake you up at the slightest noise; other times, you can sleep through a party going on — like your own party! — we just never know what kind of nap it will be.

Lately, I've been ovewhelmed with how much I love you. I just look at your sweet face and your sweet little smile, and my heart does flip flops. I never knew being a mom would feel like this. It makes me excited and yet scared out of my wits all at the same time. What if something happens to you? What if God's timetable for us to be your caretakers is over before we're ready? I don't know what either of us would do if that happened. You've filled a spot in our lives in a way I never thought possible — can you see why we were so eager to have another little one?

I guess all we can do is be completely thankful for every minute we spend together — even those bleary ones at 2 a.m. — and for the wonderful year we've spent getting to know you and watching you become less little baby and more silly little person. I can't believe how quickly a year went by! I look forward to watching you grow up and grow into a woman of God. Thanks for such a wonderful first year, my little munchkin. You couldn't possibly have two parents who love you more.

Much love, Mama