mischaela, today you turn two. for the last little while, I've thought lots about how to celebrate your birthday. I waffled between making it big or keeping it small, giving you big gifts or choosing simplicity, but in the end, my heart was overwhelmed with gratitude at the thought of your life - so your daddy and I decided we needed to celebrate well.
I love your incredible sense of focus when you immerse yourself in a task. those beady little eyes show such concentration and determination as you work hard to command your tiny fingers to perform exactly as you please. and when you accomplish what you were aiming for, those same eyes beam with pride and joy as you explain to me how you purposefully stuck that snowman sideways because he's sleeping.
and my heart smiles at your creativity, imagination and sense of humour. somehow they're related when it comes to you, mischaela. you'll often come running up to me and tell me be quiet because you've just put some tiny figure down to sleep, and after we've spent 5 seconds in silence, you tumble back to your slumbering friends and "boooo", wake them up, laughing and smiling at the thought of their wake up time.
during that tiring week of potty training attempt #1, I learned how much resolve you can have, and at such a young age. and how much expectation you seem to hold for yourself. both of these things were eye-opening and left us a little scared. for me, it felt like a mirror into my life, and I was scared both for teenage hormonal years, and for you, because I want you to be resolved over the right things, and hold realistic and proper expectations for yourself. be less like me in this regard and by Grace, I hope to direct you to a better way of life.
though you are quite the resolved and determined little girl, I am thankful that you are also easy-going and flexible. you hardly protest when we have to leave the toys at the library, after a short negotiation of "mon mo minute" (translation: one more minute) of course, and respond with easy obedience when we show you your boundaries. this I will try to remember when we inevitably go through our bumpy days, months, and years.
I've enjoyed being able to hear a little bit of what you're thinking this past year as you've grown so much in vocabulary and talking. I laugh to myself every time you ask for a cookie, or pretzels, or popcorn, when I've offered you a snack of either cheerios or raisins. and how lately you've become obsessed with putting on your mittens so you can "pick up NOOOOO!" (translation: pick up snow) you've surprised me with how much you retain and learn every day. one day you opened your right hand towards the ceiling and exclaimed "reeach... guy!" (translation: reach... sky; translation of the translation: reach for the sky) and proceeded to tell me it was from the video, toy story. why, so it is, so it is.
I love how you say "hi, mommy" to get my attention, your soft kissable cheeks, how much you still love to cuddle with me, that you ask for craft time, how you know what you want and aren't afraid to express your desires, how you make both daddy and I happily sigh at the end of each day as we recall all the cute little things you did and how much you squeeze our hearts.
I am thankful every day that we get to hang out with you. that God gave us the task of raising you. that by His grace I'm learning how to cherish and teach you. that I get to be your mommy, and you are our little shay-shay. thankful for the yesterdays that filled a year, and looking forward to whatever tomorrow brings.
happy second birthday miss mischaela.
love,
mommy
I love your incredible sense of focus when you immerse yourself in a task. those beady little eyes show such concentration and determination as you work hard to command your tiny fingers to perform exactly as you please. and when you accomplish what you were aiming for, those same eyes beam with pride and joy as you explain to me how you purposefully stuck that snowman sideways because he's sleeping.
and my heart smiles at your creativity, imagination and sense of humour. somehow they're related when it comes to you, mischaela. you'll often come running up to me and tell me be quiet because you've just put some tiny figure down to sleep, and after we've spent 5 seconds in silence, you tumble back to your slumbering friends and "boooo", wake them up, laughing and smiling at the thought of their wake up time.
during that tiring week of potty training attempt #1, I learned how much resolve you can have, and at such a young age. and how much expectation you seem to hold for yourself. both of these things were eye-opening and left us a little scared. for me, it felt like a mirror into my life, and I was scared both for teenage hormonal years, and for you, because I want you to be resolved over the right things, and hold realistic and proper expectations for yourself. be less like me in this regard and by Grace, I hope to direct you to a better way of life.
though you are quite the resolved and determined little girl, I am thankful that you are also easy-going and flexible. you hardly protest when we have to leave the toys at the library, after a short negotiation of "mon mo minute" (translation: one more minute) of course, and respond with easy obedience when we show you your boundaries. this I will try to remember when we inevitably go through our bumpy days, months, and years.
I've enjoyed being able to hear a little bit of what you're thinking this past year as you've grown so much in vocabulary and talking. I laugh to myself every time you ask for a cookie, or pretzels, or popcorn, when I've offered you a snack of either cheerios or raisins. and how lately you've become obsessed with putting on your mittens so you can "pick up NOOOOO!" (translation: pick up snow) you've surprised me with how much you retain and learn every day. one day you opened your right hand towards the ceiling and exclaimed "reeach... guy!" (translation: reach... sky; translation of the translation: reach for the sky) and proceeded to tell me it was from the video, toy story. why, so it is, so it is.
I love how you say "hi, mommy" to get my attention, your soft kissable cheeks, how much you still love to cuddle with me, that you ask for craft time, how you know what you want and aren't afraid to express your desires, how you make both daddy and I happily sigh at the end of each day as we recall all the cute little things you did and how much you squeeze our hearts.
I am thankful every day that we get to hang out with you. that God gave us the task of raising you. that by His grace I'm learning how to cherish and teach you. that I get to be your mommy, and you are our little shay-shay. thankful for the yesterdays that filled a year, and looking forward to whatever tomorrow brings.
happy second birthday miss mischaela.
love,
mommy
7 comments:
these reflections and photos are beautiful =) love your observations life's simple things.
ditto what sajoy said. especially love the one of you guys looking at eachother :)
GOD BLESS YOUR FAMILY, oh my goodness :P
How beautiful a letter from loving mommy to cute and smart two years old girl! the pictures are precious!
Beautiful post (I still creep you sometimes). You and Mischela are VERY blessed to have eachother (and Josh too of course). <3
:)
Aawww!
*said with tears in eyes*
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