When Did That Happen?

My kid is turning two on Friday.

TWO.

When did that happen?

I still remember when her little hair bow was practically as big as she was. . .



And when she could almost disappear in her daddy's arms. . .



. . .

I can still remember her first birthday where she was proudly rockin' her little purple crown:









. . .

Now, she is virtually unstoppable in cuteness {and trouble} and changes every single day.

She loves cruising around in her dad's shoes. . .



And imitating mom's morning ritual. . .



When did that happen?

. . .

When did she get big enough to sit on a chair by herself?

When did she get big enough to prefer jalapenos over clementines and saucy enough to let me know about it?

When did she get big enough to throw a tantrum that could level a small village when she doesn't get her way?

When did she get big enough to start to understand the concept of "The Potty"?



When did that happen?

. . .

When did she get big enough to use a fork and spoon without my help and sleep in a "big girl" bed?

When did she learn how to brighten my day and everybody else's with her perfectly-timed "Hi!" and "Thank you!" and "Bye!" at the grocery store?

When did she start to grasp the concept of humor and laugh at the funny parts in her favorite movies without prompting?

When did that happen?!?

. . .

My little bug is turning two.

When did that happen?  

It must have been when I blinked or tried to catch that catnap on the couch. It must have been when my back was turned or when I ran to the bathroom only to see little fingers reaching under the door in search of me.

I figure I had better tape my eyelids to my eyebrows so that I don't miss anything else, because something tells me that she'll outgrow the heartfelt "wuv you!" and slobbery kiss at bedtime long before I'm ready to see it go.

Before long, she'll be pretending to put on make-up and strutting around the store in clippity-clappity princess shoes. She'll come running in the door to tell me all about the new friends she sat by at lunch. Then, not long after that, she'll be requesting a cell phone and car keys. Soon thereafter she'll be calling for advice on what crib mattress is best for her own little bundle and I'll probably still be sitting here thinking. .  .

When, oh when, did that happen?  



. . .

I love you, Miss Mae. You are such a sweetie-pie and I can't imagine what I would do without you. You are a handful {some days, though, it's more like an armful}, but you always make up for your toddler shenanigans with your bright spirit and genuine love for life. You get compliments everywhere we go on your beautiful hair and sky-blue eyes, and you know just what to do to put a smile on even the most ornery of faces. You are an honest-to-goodness delight, my dear, and I am so blessed to be your mamma.

You mean the world to Pappa and me and we can't wait to see what the next year brings!