two

Last week we celebrated Lily's second birthday.  I honestly cannot believe that two years have passed since the birth of this sweet little one...

The year between a first and second birthday is an amazing one to me.  Lily has changed so much since this photo was taken one year ago...

Soon after that picture was taken Lily took her first steps...and she hasn't looked back ever since.  This child spends most of her days running from place to place, mostly on the heels of her big sister.  My babe is tiny, weighing in at her 2 year check-up at 21 1/2 lbs, but what she lacks in weight she makes up for with her giant personality.

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Lily is very sensitive and oh so very sweet.  She is such a talker, loves the word "no" and really prefers to have things own way :).  This little one is opinionated about absolutely everything, from which cup she drinks out of, to what she wears (and who puts it on her)...

Lily likes hugs and kisses, but they have to be quick because she has things to do and can't be stopped for too long.  She loves to read books, play puzzles and play with her baby doll, but mostly she prefers to be outside in the swing, on a walk, or digging in the garden.

Lily goes back and forth between being outgoing and being a little shy around strangers.  She becomes little miss show off when she is wearing these...

We bought these shoes for her recently and if she has them on watch out.  Lily will stick her foot out in front of you and leave it there until you comment on her "parkly shoes."  She did this the other day while we were out shopping... stopping each person we passed by sticking her foot out in front of them and waiting for them to take notice of her shoes.  She can work a crowd for sure.

Probably my favorite time with Lily is each Monday and Wednesday when I pick her up from Mother's Day Out.  Lily and Hannah's school is affiliated with our church and so we are lucky enough to have our church building right next to the school. We have about 30 minutes before we pick up Hannah, so we slip into church and spend some time alone together in the quiet talking about the stained glass windows, statues of Jesus and discovering all that we see from a distance at Sunday Mass.  When it is time to leave, Lily blows Jesus a kiss and tells him that she loves him.  It is so sweet and I know he is there blowing her a kiss right back and telling my sweet girl how much he loves her.

My little Lily you are the world's sweetest little girl as well as the world's biggest stinker and there is not a thing I would change about you.  Our lives are so much fuller now that you are a part of our family and I am looking forward to continuing to watch you grow.  I love you so much and am so grateful that God blessed us with you!