Two Legit To Quit

Today, Audrey turns 2! That seems almost impossible because the past two years have flown by so quickly. I think I have felt more emotions than I knew were possible in the last two years., but that’s motherhood! We are big on celebrations in our household, but with Maxwell’s arrival only a few short weeks ago and us just having the baby shower we felt like we would do a low key celebration for her birthday. So we decorated the kitchen with balloons and Minnie paraphernalia, ate Mickey waffles, and sang “happy birthday” with a candle 5 times before 7:30. We are preparing for our next move soon, so we need to start downsizing some of the toys, books, and other useless crap we’ve accumulated the last 2 years while living the suburban lifestyle we’ve been living.

I feel like Audrey is changing daily. She is the most vivacious little soul I’ve ever encountered. She feels everything so intensely, from empathy for others to singing her favorite songs into toilet paper holders. Everything is done at a LOUD volume, with so much passion and heart. I continuously pray that she never loses that spirit and it will drive her to success. She has a passion for music and dance and will hear a beat in anything. She loves all animals but her favorite right now are dogs, and we have to say hello and hug each one we see. She prefers to shake hands over hugs or high fives. Loves to eat (no seriously, my grocery budget is outrageous). She needs to feel needed and wants to help in every single task that we are doing. She has a twenty minute attention span before things get iffy. Her temper is…intense. She adores her Daddy and their bond is priceless. She can use ASL and prefers that over talking. All things Disney captivate her attention these days and I have seen every single Disney parade You Tube has to offer at least 3 times each day. Her and I are similar in so many ways it can make the day in and day out antics challenging. Occasionally I have to remember that shes only 2 and that I can’t have a head strong battle with her. I can only imagine how our disagreements of which shoes she is going to wear on any given day will manifest as she gets older. Her language skills are picking up and we often know what she is saying but most strangers would have no idea; but it’s a marathon not a race and I am sure she will pick up talking in no time and then she will have actual vocabulary to tell me how she is feeling rather than ASL, grunting, and one word conversations.

While this age is a complete challenge for someone with no patience or experience (read: me) it is intensely fun. Watching the world through her eyes is so entertaining. Every new experience is a huge deal, Disney characters are her world, music makes her heart happy, and food is the key to her smile. It’s as if you get to relive your own childhood but from a vantage point that you will remember and understand what is going on. In years to come I want her to remember that she is SO loved. That on her 2nd birthday we filled the kitchen with balloons, went to the park for as long as she wanted, had ice cream (which is a special treat since we don’t let her have sugar), sang her favorite songs at excessive volume during our family dance party, ran through the sprinkler, and celebrated her. Audrey forever changed me. She jump started me into motherhood, gave me the name “Mama”, and gave my life a new purpose. To Audrey, I will be forever grateful for August 21, 2017.