happy 2nd birthday kiki

Oh, my baby love, where to start.

You are an amazing creature, kind of a cross between a sprite and a toddler. You have this magical way of making each person in the room feel like they are the most important person to you at that time and place. I just don't know how you do it, but it is a skill, a very enviable skill. You have so many words too. Not only are you magical and cute, but smart as well. We can onlly hope that you use those gifts for good and not evil.

Today was a marked day for you in the word department. It is like someone whispered in your ear when you woke up that today you are no longer a baby and you are officially a toddler, grow up! Today is the day you stopped saying "da" for "yes" (like a good little German baby) and started saying "yes." We had not been correcting the "da" when we heard it, but actually encouraging it. We encouraged that just like we encouraged the Muss to continue to say "fagel" for "squirrel" and for Boo to continue to say "planet urf" for "planet earth." We love the little interpretations of English that you all come up with and we let you use them as long as we can. Or until someone with better sense tells you the correct way to say things.

You are just a wee thing still, only 24lbs, but you eat like a champ so I can't complain. Well, I could complain that you would rather eat chips and french fries for every meal instead of something nutritious, but you do give in and eat green things and other good for you stuff when forced. You often pound on your table demanding green beans and "noonles." Then we give them to you.

Watching you grow over the past year has been one of the highlights of my life. And I'm not just saying that. The age of 1 has been one of my favorites for all 3 of you, but knowing this was my last 1 to be 1 made me savor it. I held you in my arms until you fell asleep when you needed me to. I carried you around while doing everything when you wanted me to. I answered the same questions hundreds of times because you asked me to. I kissed and hugged you a gazillion times because I needed to.

My favorite thing you do (and I promise it was hard to pick just one) is when you climb on my lap and take my face in your little hands with the sweet dimples where one day knuckles will be and you look me straight in the eyes and say "momma" in this little voice that is so full of love I can feel it in my soul.

You are full of love, hugs, kisses, touches and light.