And just like that...

Our baby girl is 2.

It's hard to believe it! Mark and I were able to share some wonderful pictures together of the past 2 years with Claire, and we talked about how different our lives have are, now that we are parents. We just have trouble putting it into words!

I'll post b-day pics, cake and activity pics later this week, but I just thought I'd leave today with the things I love most about this girl right now... at 2.

1. She is so talkative. This girl says it all, and I love it... and her accent.
- "I do it by self."
- "Yahren. Wan me to read it Yahren. Brow bear, brow bear. Wha you see? I see puuhple cat oooking ah me."
- "I uv oo Mommy. I uv oo Daddy."
- "Is berry hot." (Talking about her new play kitchen)
- I nee go potty.

2. She is currently a "lap sitter." She wants to sit in one of our laps to do puzzles, eat dinner, read a book, watch "foooball." It's just precious. Even though there are times when we just want our personal space, we just eat up the times when she wants to sit in our laps.

3. "Aaaaamen." Claire says  "Amen" so adorably at the end of her prayers, but it's the funniest because she says it every time she closes a book. I'm not sure if it's because she thinks it means "the end," or what, but it's hilarious.

4. Potty training- this kid took about 3 days to potty train the 2 weeks before she turned 2. She was such a fast learner and now we are one step closer to being a "no diaper" family. :)

5. She loves life. Claire is a lover or life. She loves playing outside, playing with her sister, going to the grocery store. She even loves taking a nap sometimes. She is just a pure joy. Anyone who is around her can see that little things make her ecstatic. Coloring, "dwahing," playing games on the ipad, chasing the dog, playing with her sister... She just has a ball, and I find myself wishing I could remember a time when life as that fun. When seeing a bubble made your world brighter. Do we ever get as excited as a 2 year old, when they are being pushed in a swing? If I can just hold on to an ounce of it, and remember that this is the life that God gave us. Uh. Special. Love it.

We could not be more thankful to God for this gift. Sometimes I think how undeserving we are to have her as our child. I can only hope that we remember that she is first and always belonging to the Lord. Thank you Jesus for letting us have these glimpses of time with her. She is such a joy.