My baby-girl is 2 years old today.
Here are a few of my favourite photos celebrating the past two years of Anne-ness. Captions are underneath.
Me and Anne, just hours after she was born on Friday 18 August 2006 @ 2:46 PM.
Just 4 days old here. She and I were napping together and she was just curled up, snug as a bug, when I woke up. It felt so odd to see her laying there, outside of me, but still curled up against my tummy.
Three months old here and in her Christmas party dress for Christmas card pictures.
Five months old…and so much personality. She always loves to smile and seems predisposed to love everything and everyone.
Here she is at 7 months old. Our beautiful, blue-eyed girl.
10 months old and in the pool. She’s loved the water her whole life.
13 months old. She was helping me unpack groceries and came across a bag of hot dog buns. For some reason, they cracked her up. She took off with them and started to laugh hysterically every time she’d look at it.
Christmas morning. Somebody loves what Santa brought!
First taste of ice cream! 23 months old.
22 months old – this is what happens when Dad is the one to take you to the sporting good section.
Anne with one of her favourites, Hannah.
Almost 2 and in our big-girl bed!
I remember people telling us how much our lives would change when we had kids. They usually meant it in a negative way – like “no more time together” and “no more money for you” and “boy, it’s hard work”. They were right on one point – our lives totally changed. But for the better! Anne has taught us more in her two years of life than we could ever have learned without her.
- I learned to enjoy the moment. Instead of rushing, rushing, rushing, trying to find something better or more valuable to do, Anne has slowed me down. She has taught me that nothing is more important than what i am doing right now and to really be present here.
- I learned that parents are one of the best archtypes of the Father heart of God. Even though I had to wear a bathing suit for that revelation.
- I learned that I am responsible for praying for my child, no one else.
- I have learned that the songs of our childhood matter.
- I have learned – or relearned – a deep love for Scripture.
- I have learned that it’s important to be uncomfortable now and then. To try to get outside of our “usual stuff”.
- I learned that there are 101 reasons to breastfeed. And I will never stop trying to make sure everyone knows about it.
- I have learned that it’s best not to cut a toddler’s hair when you’re a bit stresed out.
- I have learned that this – life, faith, all of it – is not my responsibility, it’s my response to God’s ability.
- I have learned that it’s hard to let go sometimes. Even when our whole role is to steward a person towards adulthood, it still stings when it goes so well.
- I have learned that the best mirror in the world is a toddler.
- I have learned that we have more in common than I remembered. And I’m re-learning who I am, all over again.
- I have learned that you will not escape parenting without at least one poop story.
- I have learned that I can have it all – just not all at the same time.
- I have learned that TV isn’t a great way to spend time together. And that my parents are very, very, very smart.
- I have learned that routines can become moments of great love and connection in a family.
- I have learned compassion and I have learned that each moment matters to God.
- I have learned that it’s true – kids don’t see race. And evidently, I have a family connection to Creflo Dollar.
- I have learned that kids are a lot smarter than we think, a lot sooner than we think.
- I have learned that, when there is music on, you just need to dance. And I learned it twice.
- I have learned that it’s better to be motivated by grace than to be motivated by fear.
Just a small sampling. Imagine how much more I’ll have learned by her third birthday and with the help of her new brother/sister!
