Baby Mim - 2 Years

My dear lovely Mim,

Where do I even begin? On Friday you turned two years old. These last two years have been the absolute best of my life and you have been a huge reason for it. Never did I expect to be a girl mom or to love it so much. When I imagined life with kids, I just knew I'd have boys, so you were a total shock in the best possible way. You have brought so much laughter, kindness, joy and warmth into our lives. I am so incredibly blessed to be your mama and I thank my lucky stars everyday that you are mine.

As for personality, we hit the jackpot with you. You are such a little lover with a big heart and a gentle soul. Don't get me wrong, you're rough and tumble and wild as a banshee at times, but you love snuggles while we read and cuddling together under a blanket watching a movie. You love being surrounded (and adored) by your favorite people and anytime more than one of us is in the room, you'll grab my leg and pull me over to your dad or nanny and insist on standing between us and hugging both our legs, which you call "huggins." Seriously, the sweetest thing ever. While you can be shy at first around new people, you warm up quickly and soon turn on the charm with your little cheese-face smile and dimples. You love attention and the quickest way to your heart is to sit down next to you and read you a book. 

You are also starting to become very aware of other people's reactions and emotions. You don't like getting in trouble, which has been happening more and more these days as you parrot everything your big brother does (particularly the bad stuff). When you get scolded your little face gets so serious and you say "sawwe (sorry), mama" with ease and true regret. It's absolutely adorable and pathetic, which makes me smile and as soon as I say it's ok, you turn on the charm and flash that million dollar smile at me. Sometimes it's even accompanied by a "wub you" or "miss you." It's impossible to stay mad at you. You also want everyone around you to be happy and anytime you notice that I'm not smiling or upset about something, you come over to me, get right in my face, smile and say, "HI!" And then you give me a hug and ask "happy?" which warms my heart to the core. How such a tiny person can pick up on subtle emotions of others is beyond me, but you have a knack for it. 

You've always been independent, but the last few months have brought your a newfound sense of self and determination to do everything by yourself. "I DO IT!" is probably the phrase we hear most often these days and I love that you're figuring things out and showing initiative, but I'm also sad that my last baby can put on her shoes and brush her own hair without my help. And while you like to do things on your own, you also get easily frustrated when you can't figure it out and scream in anger, which is hilarious. Lately you've been letting Mac help you with things when you can't figure them out and it's so sweet to watch you guys interact. He loves being a helper and showing you how to do something and look at him with such awe and love. These have been some of my very favorite moments of being a mom.

Physically, you've made great improvements over the last few months with balance and coordination. We have seen fewer and fewer head injuries, forehead bruises and black eyes over the last month. You love to run, although you don't watch where you're going and easily get distracted, which has ended up in some skinned knees and a busted lip here or there. You love jumping on trampolines and can climb ladders to get to slides easily. The higher the slide the better. You now insist on walking up and down the stairs on your own, completely upright, which scares me to death, but you're very good at. You love gymnastics and can flip, twirl, jump and "ta da" with the best of them. But your favorite physical activity is swimming - you are a fish! You refuse to wear your puddle jumpers because you want to be under the water and you could swim back and forth to us for hours. You love jumping in from the side of the pool and recently discovered the diving board, which is your new favorite thing in the world. You're absolutely fearless in the water, which terrifies me and delights your dad (you get this from him). At the rate you're going, you'll be full on swimming before your brother. 

You're still an amazing eater and I'm nervous that's all going to change at any moment. Breakfast is still your favorite and sometimes you'll spend an hour in your high chair eating and eating and eating. Anytime we ask you what you want to eat you excited say, "CHICKEN! SAUSAGE! EGGS!" Other favorites include yogurt, ice cream, steak, mashed potatoes, peaches, Frosted Flakes, graham crackers, blueberries and cake. You insist on dipping everything in ketchup and sometimes you just eat spoonfuls of it at a time. You also recently discovered honey mustard, which you call "dip dip" and could eat it by the bucketload. You're definitely my child. 

Unlike your brother who can't sit still for more than a minute, you are patient and calm and love watching TV! Recently we noticed we have to be careful to monitor how much screen time you get because you have no problem sitting down and watching an entire movie. You have much better taste than Mac does in shows and some of your favorites are Frozen, The Little Mermaid, Wreck It Ralph, Finding Nemo, Daniel Tiger, The Good Dinosaur, Curious George, Mr. Peabody and Sherman, Minions and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Your dad also introduced you and Mac both to Star Wars and Superman recently, which are both been big hits. I think you may have fallen madly in love with Christopher Reeves (I can't say I blame you) and the look on your face when he flies around is one of total awe and amazement. Anytime he stops you get very upset and say, "More flying! More flying!" I got you and Mac both capes and you both wear them around the house and fly from room to room all day long to the Superman theme, which we play over the sound system. You're both crazy and adorable.

Your actual birthday was a bit of a bummer this year, as your dad and I got stuck in New Orleans for an extra day due to the Southwest computer meltdown and couldn't get home in time to celebrate with you that day. I was in tears most of the day and it killed me to have to cancel your little pizza party, which I know you would have loved. We made it home late Friday night and I scooped you up and took you to bed with me and sang you happy birthday in your sleep. To make up for it, we had a weekend-long birthday celebration, with no fewer than a dozen gifts, multiple singings and lots and lots of ice cream sundaes and purple kitty cat cake (your request). 

You've been so cute about your birthday and we've been so excited about it. We've been practicing singing "Happy Birthday" and blowing out candles for weeks. Every time we ask you how old you're going to be on your birthday you answer, "CAKE!" which is seriously the best answer ever! I took Mac to Target to pick out some things for him to give you and he did such a great job! He picked out a new Minions movie, an inflatable pool for the backyard, a Star Wars bubble blower, a book about owls, new pink sunglasses, kitty cat shoes and three Superman outfits! They're hideous, but he was so proud of them and you love them fiercely! You were so sweet about letting him help you unwrap your presents and after opening each one you'd say, "Wow! I wub it!" Melt my heart. 

My sweet little Mimmy Swimmy, you are my sunshine. I hope that this year is amazing for you, as I already know it will amazing for me. I love you to Krypton and all the way back to a galaxy far far away. 

Love,
Your mama