I can't believe it's true, but it certainly is. You are officially TWO YEARS OLD! What a year it has been. You are a real life sour patch kid, equal parts sour and sweet. You keep us on our toes at all times, but we love it. You are already such a strong, independent little lady -- honestly, the more independent you become, the more content you are. As much as it makes my mind spin, I admire you for it; I guess you remind me of someone I know. I hope you never lose your fight, and that you learn to fight for the right things in life -- the good things. You are a force to be reckoned with, my girl. I already know that even just two years in.
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This past year has been full of fun, fun, fun. We have laughed, hiked, walked around our town more times than I can count, frequented the library and the grocery store more than any other places (yes, food and books are basically life around here), run through sprinklers, splashed in the pool, gone to the fair, and went on soooo many adventures. A few special adventures include pumpkin picking, apple picking, trips to the beach (some spontaneous, others planned), dressing up as SuperGirl for Halloween, etc, but the most exciting thing we have one this past year is when we set sail on a Disney cruise! One week on the sea with stops at three tropical islands was a wonderful treat for us, especially since we were with Daddy's whole family. We even went down to Florida a few days earlier to visit a couple new-to-us beaches to make the most of our vacation. I think this goes without saying, but I'll say it anyways -- we loooooove the beach around here!
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You love to dance and run, and wide open spaces are your favorite places to be. You are still learning to talk, but we've gotten pretty good at interpreting what you're saying. We call it Bethany-ese, LOL! Regardless, we just love to hear your sweet voice. Now when you're pterodactyl voice comes out and you go to screamin', on the other hand, it's not so pleasant. Girl, you've got some pipes. I just hope that one day you'll use them to sing duets with me instead of hollering.Whew. My eye twitch is stroooooong when you let out those sounds. Ha!
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You've got a big appetite (God forbid you ever develop a dairy or gluten allergy, because you love bread and cheese) and you love to sleep (which is much appreciated after a whole year of no sleep before you turned one). You love Mickey and Minnie Mouse, unicorns, princesses, Elmo, and animals. Your favorite animal is a puppy, hands down. You melt when you see dogs, and it is the cuuuuutest thing. So cute that I've tried to convince your daddy to get us one, but I don't think it's going to happen. We'll just keep playing with Justin and Becca's pup next door indefinitely! ;)
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We had your birthday party yesterday, and it was the most fun! About fifty of our closest friends and family came to celebrate you, and we basked in the presence of all-things-Minnie-Mouse together. We are going to continue the celebrating today by going to church together as a family (a rare treat to have me along for the ride!), and then eat a yummy lunch together. Your gift from us will have to wait a couple of weeks, but I promise it will be so fun. We are all about experiences over things, and this gift will further prove that. We're just so excited to spend your special day with you!
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This day will always bring up big emotions for me, and I want to share these same words with you as I did your big brother on his second birthday -- "Jesus has been so sweet to me since that day, though, gently teaching me that it's okay to bring my brokenness to Him, that I can trust Him to heal my heart." Both of my children's birth stories involve intense trauma, and as much as I wish that wasn't true we're all learning to thrive and choose joy in the midst of hard things. Sometimes I still picture you hooked up to all those wires and breathing machine, the way you spent your first few days of life. I wanted to hold you on my terms and let you feel my love, but I had to get creative. I hope you felt my presence with you then, and I hope you still do now. Your life is already more significant in just two short years than many others who are much older than you, I believe that with my whole heart. I know what an overcomer you are, my girl. And I'm so grateful to walk with you through all your days, the good and the bad. Even more grateful that it's not just me walking with you.
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Happy birthday to you, Bethany Victoria. If I could only have one of my prayers answered for you, it would be this -- that you know how much you are loved. Because when you know that, you can really grow and become the person God had in mind when He made you. We love you so very, very much!
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