totally two

Oh man, have we been put through the wringer lately by you miss Annika! Truth is the first half of the year was amazing...two year olds are just so cute. This second half however: different story. Yes darling, you are still cute and we do still enjoy very sweet moments with you throughout the day, but honestly I feel like the majority of the day we are saying things like, "Annika mommy can't hear you when you whine," "how do you ask nicely, " "we need to be kind/share", etc. I even find myself totally understanding how people flip out in public and yell at their children. Wow, people weren't joking when they said that as they grow older you start facing different, perhaps harder battles.

I am seeing more and more how God uses children to refine you. Annika you are teaching your mommy and daddy to be patient, to be consistent, and to persevere. Some friends of ours told us that they attended a parenting class in which the teacher said that there are no strong-willed children, only weak-willed parents. Well, darling girl, you have met your match.

I am writing down these not so fun parts of your life for two reasons: first, no one wants to read blogs about  people with picture perfect lives, it just makes you feel bad. (But I do realize we all do it because its those beautiful things that you want to record.) Secondly, Annika, when you have babies of your own I want you to see that your mama faced the same battles that you one day will face with your own. And for the record, it is those very same battles that make the sweet moments all the more sweet.

Annika, when I get you up in the morning we always start the day praying for obedience, contentment and a grateful heart. I have to say that hardly a night goes by that I don't lie in bed counting my blessings, recounting all of the beautiful moments we shared that day and just smiling at the sweetness of having a two year old...I love you darling girl. To the moon and back.

Here you are in all your glory:
2 years, 5 months and a few days:

p.s.
-you currently give the BEST tight hugs and kisses, have the most contagious belly laugh, and have the raddest hair ever.
-You love love love Dora, and I do support that as you will finally try saying Spanish words to mommy.
-You have reverted to eating baby food again now that I make it for Audrey (Hey, if it gets you to eat veggies...)
-you still love music of all kinds
-you are a little fish and ask to go swimming every day
-you love cashews and always ask for just two of them, you say "dame, dame" a lot, which translates into "gimme gimme" but because you say it in Spanish I let you get by with it once in a while
-I can finally put your hair in a "pony" without you crying, in fact you ask for it now.

And to end this post: Our sweet moment of the day today was when you asked to cuddle with mommy for a while before bed. You laid on my chest and let me sing to you and play with your curls until I had to put you to bed because I was falling asleep. You are a sweet sweet girl.