Our Oldest Girl Turns 2

Before Church Selfie

"Mom, no more pictures!"

She wasn't pleased to be awoken from her nap in order to attend her party.

Cute Buckabu and Papa

The boys are involved every second of the celebration. They ooow and ahh over her gifts to make her happy and speak in uplifting voices to hopefully spark some enthusiasm into their baby sister.

A smile arises as she hugs her dress from Buckabu and Papa.

Finally when she unwrapped her new baby doll she kind of felt like getting her party on.

A baby doll + stroller+ big brother Moo = best birthday ever!

The Beloved made a fire in the pit for us to roast hot dogs over after presents were opened.

We cuddled around the warmth together sharing campfire stories well into the night. 

Dear Sweetheart,

How did you become a toddler so quickly? As soon as I got pregnant with your little sister you grew up so fast - like you knew you had a different role to play now.  When she was first born it was a little hard for you because we had just moved 3 days prior, you were super sick so you couldn't be around the baby, and I couldn't pick you up to comfort or care for your needs very well because I had just had a C-Section. Your world was rocked upside down in a major way. It made me sad to see your confusion and unhappiness.

Luckily Daddy, Buckabu and Papa were here to coddle you and help you adjust to life as you now know it. In all honesty, having Daddy's full attention is exactly what you desire. He's your best bud and you have him wrapped around your little finger. Little C comes in a close second to Daddy for being a sucker to your demands. You'll sneak a 3rd cookie or steal someone's toys and he doesn't have the heart to take it away. Little C will try and then he'll say, "Mom, I can't. She's too cute." And you are. With your big brown eyes and soft voice- we think you can do no wrong. 

You'll grab our hands and say, "come on" leading us to wherever your mind has determined you need to go. You also say thank you like a champ (it sounds like Thaaannnkkk you - the "you" being exclaimed quickly with an upward inflection)  but the word "please" only surfaces when you're truly desperate. 

You love clothes and say, "Oh cute!"  whenever we get you dressed or you receive new clothing. 

Before you head to bed Daddy takes you around to everyone in the family so you can bestow a goodnight kiss. You say, "kisses" right before you grant us with one. Sometimes this ritual occurs two or three times before you're content and you give Daddy the okay to lay you down. 

You are the twin - resemblance wise, appetite, and personality wise to your brother Ruckus when he was your age. You LOVE you some sugar girl - give the stink eye to EVERYONE outside of your immediate family - and have the prettiest, biggest brown eyes in town.

For Christmas you received a Hello Kitty bus set. It included a bunch of kitties who sit at desks in the bus and various furniture items you can move around. Two days ago I sat down and played Hello Kitty with you for awhile. I had so much fun watching your imagination roll. I had forgotten how great it was to play with girl things and I felt like a little kid all over again. Thanks for being my pal sweetheart.

You LOVE shoes. It's a crazy, passionate, mad love my friend. Right now you are in a boot faze that sometimes needs to be accompanied with a beanie. While I was in the hospital you stumbled upon the BSU beanie Ian Johnson made for all of Papa's grandchildren. You didn't take it off your head for about a week. Even when you were so sick - the beanie had to be adorned. 

You are fearless, thinking you must jump from everything high and do a somersault into every beanie bag.

As I type this you are wearing one high healed princess slipper, standing on the futon in my room, preparing to land a magnificent jump onto the beanie bag below. I like you.

You are a busy human and keep me on my toes more than any of your other siblings. Good thing there are so  many of us around to watch you. You really love to pull out everything from the drawers and draw on any surface available. 

Last week Daddy found you in the bathroom standing near the garbage can you had pulled out and then dumped all the shampoo/conditioner 

bottles in. Also, littered around the floor were Ruckus' clothes you had removed from his drawers. You stood there with baby shampoo gracefully dripping from your head looking at Dad like, "what's the big deal?" 

The biggest question being -What great plans did we interrupt for Ruckus' clothes? I thankfully know not.

Sweet girl, I love you. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!

You have now warmed up to your little sister and watch out for her needs just as your older siblings watch out for yours. What great examples you have in your life. Always remember how much we love and adore your perfect self.  

You have softened our hearts in a way we didn't even know we needed. We are so thankful to our Father in Heaven for knowing that the Patton family needed you- specifically you - in our home. You fill our lives with immense joy.

Love,

Mom