Annie Louise is 2 years old!

My precious Annie Louise.

Wow, you are 2 years old today.  We have survived 2 years as parents – I can’t believe it.  

Let’s take a minute and look at how much you have grown in the past 2 years.

Here you are when you were just a newborn with your very first hairbow – the first of many.  

9 pounds and 2 ounces of pure chubbiness. 21 ½ inches long – tall like your daddy.

A precious newborn who nursed around the clock, very rarely cried (here’s a secret – we used to let you cry for a minute or two because you were so cute when you did), and changed our lives from the moment you entered our world.

You made us parents.  You made us appreciate every single moment we are given.  You made us grateful.

Here you are at your first birthday.

20 pounds, 30 1/2 inches long – you were skinny and tall.  

You took your first steps in front of everyone at your party.  And that’s so like you – you’re stubborn, but put you in front of a crowd, and you perform.

And now, here you are at 2 years old.  

I’m not sure your exact measurements (we go for your 2 year check-up on Friday) – but I know you’re right at 30 pounds and probably about 3 feet tall.

You are more the size of a 3 year old, but you own it.  You hang with the big kids and love every second of it.

You are so smart, my love.  You love to sing and dance.  You are bossy, and it’s nothing for you to tell mama and daddy to “git up and DANCE!”  Of course, we oblige.  Who can say no to a dance party?

You love to pray – we pray every night, and we ask you who you would like to pray for – your first prayer is for your cousins, Tessa and Tye – always.  Then, you pray for other family members and their pets.  And you always end it with a big AAAAAMEN!  

This year has flown by.  I think this is how each year will be with you.  Every day is a new and different day – everything is constantly flowing, changing.  

I used to get bored easily with my situation, or feel like life was “static”, but not anymore.  Some days, I cry out to our Lord and ask Him to make things slow down, to help me enjoy each and every second, to wake up each morning and treasure the day that has been given to me.

Every day is not always easy, but you have taught me the beauty and importance of GRACE.  

I’m so excited at what the next year is going to bring to us as a family.  New adventures, lots of learning and more love than we will ever know.

I love you so much, my precious doodlebug – 

Mama