2 years ago

2 years ago today I hugged Mama T for the first time. E's original due date was Oct. 24.  We were officially matched with T on Oct. 16. Mom and I flew to CA on Oct 26....thinking we were getting there just in time. Hah! God and newborns have twisted senses of humor and their own timing. Who knew we would fly home 2 weeks later without a baby.....but with grateful hearts for the time we were able to spend getting to really know T.  

Who knew just 10 days later I would gaze at the most beautiful face I had ever seen.....and promptly send out the pic above to friends and loved ones letting them know E was finally here and was absolutely perfect. How is it even possible that 2 years has gone by? That sweet, tiny, smiley baby has grown into a sweet, tiny, smiley, opinionated, smart, funny, beautiful and still perfect girl. 

Holding her for the first time I felt humble and awed at the gift I was being given. Every night, as I watch her sleep, I still feel the same way. 

Best night

Wow! It's been forever since I updated. I guess I need to stop worrying about adding pictures and just write.

Today's post is for me, I guess. I don't ever want to forget how much fun our first ever pajama pizza party was. How funny E was trying to decide between Frozen and Backyardigans.....her eyes wide, a little smile on her face, and her head shaking back and forth looking at the cases. How amazed she was that we pulled pillows off the bed and sat on the floor to eat dinner. Glancing over and seeing her sitting in her little brown chair totally enthralled with the movie. How worried she was when Anna was "nigh nigh". Seeing her dance along to the songs she's heard so many times in the car. Thinking, again, how lucky I am to be her mama.

I think back to those early days and I miss that teeny little baby. I think back to last summer and last fall and I miss that sweet, smily, cuddly baby. But, dang, I sure love the cool little person she's becoming.

Life is good.

We're baaaacccckkkk!

Holy cow time flies when you have a little one! I really think, to be fair, time WITH the long anticipated baby should go at least as slowly as it did while waiting!

E is now 17 months old and so much fun (most of the time). She's not just walking, but running, all over the place. She loves to climb and will climb anything or anyone that holds still long enough. She can entertain herself for long periods of time (hence the reason I'm able to get back to blogging!) as long as you don't mind a path of tornado like destruction. She loves figuring things out! She loves books....I often find her reading to herself in her room. She loves music and dancing. Her two favorite songs right now are "Wheels on the Bus" and "Uptown Funk"! 

Her current stats are 19 lbs 4 ozs (man, I was so excited at her last appointment to hear we finally broke out of the 18's!) and about 30 inches. She's in 12 month clothes still......and the waistband on most of the pants is still too big! Her feet finally grew...she's currently in size 3 shoes. She's tiny, but mighty! I work hard to not solve her problems for her but let her figure out how to do things on her own. 

She talks all.the.time but usually sounds like Boo from Monsters, Inc.-- right cadence and inflection but (usually) gibberish. She has a TON of words she CAN say but usually just uses her own language. We have heard her say "I don't know", "fix it", and "go bye bye" along with 20-50 single words (her favorites being Poppa and puppy). She's great at answering yes or no questions but gets this funny, irritated look if I slip and ask her either/or type questions :)

We are definitely in Toddlerland.....complete with dramatic meltdowns and occasional sassy behavior. E definitely knows her own mind and what she likes and wants! She really is easygoing and well behaved most of the time, especially in public. Just like the rest of us, her tough times are when she's tired or hungry.

We apparently got put on the fast track for teeth! She got her first teeth at 5 months old. At 17 months she now has 16 teeth! The last 4 aren't SUPPOSED to show up till after her 2nd birthday so hopefully we get a break for a while now! All those teeth mean that she pretty much eats whatever she wants. She's a great eater and can really pack it away! Her favorite foods right now are green beans, black olives, cheese and whatever someone else is eating :) 

As I write all this, I am still awed and humbled that I was chosen to be this amazing girl's mama. I will forever be grateful to and love E's first mama. I've told her before and I'll say it again.....you don't get a kid this smart, funny, sweet and just plain awesome without a whole lot of stuff being done right for those nine months. Given love, given life....not given up!

If you have ever loved a child or loved a mom then please enjoy a virtual hug from me and E....and have a wonderful Mother's Day.