Oh sweet peanut, you are two!

You’re my baby, my last baby, my little little one! But you aren’t so little anymore huh? You have learned so much in the last year. You have such a big personality and it has been a joy to watch you change and grow.

I love how your little body is always on the move, you have no trouble keeping up with your big brother and big sister.  You just move right along with them. One of my favorite things about you is how much you love Canton and Liberty. When I walk into your room in the morning you are smiling and ready to greet the day.  The first thing you say in “Hello” and then you say “Canton?” I tell you Canton is getting ready for school. Then you say “Lou?” usually she is still sleeping. Liberty headed off to preschool this year a few days a week and you ask about her while she is gone. You light up when it is time to go pick up Liberty or walk to go get Canton.  You shout “Yay Lou!” or “Yay Canton!” as you run to get your shoes on and say “self” as you want to open the door to the garage to go get them. When we get to Liberty’s school you yell “down mama!” because you want to walk all by yourself in to retrieve your sister, you think no one can do it like you! You love to play princesses with Liberty and snuggle and read with Canton. You tend to lead the way as you all play outside. I love to hear you yell “Here Adleigh” when Canton or Liberty yell the “ready or not here I come” part in hide in seek! You climb those stairs and you love to make them laugh as you “push” them on the slide. You light up as we sign your Jolly Holliday song each night and watch with anticipation of the crazy dance moves Canton comes up with and what Lou will do to make you laugh. May you guys always love each other so fiercely.

You may be my little peanut, but girl is your personality anything but little! You are a determined child. You learned to climb the couch, the stairs, heck you even try to climb into the tub, you did it all before I was ready.  You now know how to scoot down the stairs on your butt and you push my hand away when I try to help you. You love to take your clothes off, a lot! Naps? Ha! Those are long in our rearview mirror! You tell me what shirt you want to wear in the morning and what snack you want. All signs that show me you aren’t so little anymore. You know what you want and you are not afraid to ask for it! I have no doubt you can handle whatever comes your way.

You love to read, you love Everywhere Babies and Brown Bear Brown Bear, really anything Eric Carle! You love the hide and seek books, especially Mickey Mouse ones. You love to say “In here? In here?” as you pretend to be surprised by each flap and you laugh that big laugh of yours! You used to hate going to the store or out at all, you definitely gave people the stink eye, we would say “don’t worry, she hates everyone!” But, now you enjoy going out and saying hello and waving to people. You loved going to the pool this summer! I have no doubt in a couple years you will be swimming laps around your mom and dad! You love to play “little piggies” and being tickled–your armpits and under your chin are your favorite spots! For Canton it’s his “meaty thighs” and Liberty is anywhere! May you continue to be curious and play!

You love to sing and dance! You know just how to turn on Moana “How Far I’ll Go” and sprint to me with your arms open wide because you know I will catch you. We spin through the chorus and you laugh and laugh and I fall on the ground at the end, you think it is because that’s what Moana does in the song but it is really because you exhaust me! (Plus, when you get old you can’t spin like you used to!) May you continue to dance till you fall!

You have learned to say a lot over the past year. I love when you say “come onnnnnnnn” when something isn’t going fast enough for your liking or you are trying to get someone to do something for you. “Come here bubbles!” is a great one, you and Liberty love to chase bubbles. You also say “oh” and “hmmm” just like a grown-up! You also will ask for a treat or to go do something and answer your own question, “Cookie? Yeah!” “Steps? Yeah!” My favorite is when you ask for hugs and kisses though! May you continue to say what you mean and mean what you say.

You have an infectious, hearty laugh that came make anyone’s day. You make sure to take care of others, I love when someone coughs or burps you pat their chest to make sure they are alright. As your song says “When Adleigh holds your hand, you feel so grand!” Even if you weren’t mine, I know I would hear that laugh of yours and smile. I know I would see you and want to play Hide and Seek with you. You bring such joy to so many people. May you continue to find laughter in all things

Your growing body doesn’t quite fit with same way as we cuddle each day, but it is the best feeling in the world to feel you snuggled tight and say “hi mama” or “kiss mama”. I will miss hearing “uppie” when you want to be picked up, because I know too soon I won’t get to pick you up anymore. They say that one day comes when you pick your child up for the last time, so matter how tired I am or how much I might be juggling, I will soak up every “uppie” I can get.

When you were born we had so much going on with Daddy become gone and moving, I made so many efforts to remember all the moments with you because I knew time was fleeting. I had a six year old, a two year old, and a baby. So, of course I had a lot of things to do, but instead, I made myself appreciate every moment, and I held you. I needed to do laundry, but I held you. I needed to unload the dishwasher and vacuum, but I held you. Now your little legs are down past my hips and it seems like yesterday they were below my chin and you snuggled in the crook of my neck. I needed to do a million things, but I held you. We certainly didn’t have a model home those first few weeks, but hearing your little breaths on my chest as I played with Canton and Liberty accomplished more than finishing a to-do list. All because I held you.

Adleigh, you completed our family. I cannot imagine our world without you. As you march toward three your vocabulary will grow, you’ll become taller, more independent, more curious.  Even though you push my hand away now, I’ll always be here to catch you when you fall because you will always be my baby.

WIth My Love ALWAYS!

Love,

Mom

9/29/2015

9/29/2016

9/28/2017

9/29/2017