We have a TWO year old.

You know how sometimes you daydream on your drive home, pull into the driveaway and then wonder how the heck you even got there? That. That is the past two years.

WHAT.

Violet is a real life toddler now and I can't even begin to tell you how mind blowing that is! From her new "no no", with finger wagging and all to her hearty, raspy laugh that sounds like she really GETS your joke, to the way she pats me on the chest and says "Mama?" as if she needs reassurance that I'm really there, she is just a little ball of perfection. Her short little life has made such a huge impact on our lives and I'd be lying if I didn't say I get choked up nearly every day at the thought of how we have such limited time with her just as she is now. A year from now, she'll be a much more talkative, (probably back talking), more adventurous, opinionated KID - more so than we could've ever imagined! So, I'm going to cherish everything about this two year old stage - terrific twos and terrible twos, all of it.

To my TWO YEAR OLD Violet. I feel like it was just yesterday that I was worried about you not moving much in my belly so I rushed in to the doctor, only to be told you'd be making your entrance that day! And just a few short hours later, there you were! It's been a whirlwind ever since and you have completely changed our lives. But as I always tell your daddy, I can barely remember what our life was like before you. Last year at this time, you were a month away from walking and now, we can barely keep you by our side. You've grown so much in just this one year and I can't wait to see how your little personality continues to blossom over the next year. You have so many new things to learn and understand, a ton of new words and sentences to conquer, songs to sing, foods to try, books to read, more paper (and probably walls) to draw on...and I can't wait to experience it all with you. You're my girl and I hope you never forget just how loved you are.

Happy 2nd Birthday, Violet Malynn!