Happy 2nd Birthday, Sweet Maria!

Permit me to reminisce ...

Our baby girl in Guatemala: February 2008: 11 months old
I hope this is not indicative of her future driving habits: August, 2008

Christmas, 2008: This is a typical look for Maria. Adorable, huh?

Celebrating Valentine's Day, 2009, with her classmates at her preschool/daycare. It's so much fun to watch the vast difference in abilities in a room full of 2 year olds:

And our most recent pictures of snow in SC in March, 2009: Maria was not really happy with trying to walk in 4-5 inches of snow.

I can't believe my baby is TWO! How the heck did that happen?!?!

To Maria:

From that first glimpse through emailed photographs in March, 2007 to our first meeting in Guatemala in February, 2008. To our reunion at the airport with big sister Maya, who doted on you from the very beginning. To the first time you sat up by yourself, crawled, walked, and talked. I'm glad I was there to be part of it all. You have brought incredible joy to my life, and filled an empty spot that no one else could possibly fill. You have made my family complete.

I love to watch you grow, even though it is painful to see you grow up so quickly. I love to watch you learn new things. You furrow that little brow and concentrate so hard on anything you do. You can spend hours just putting on and taking off socks. You love to color. You love puzzles. You love your cat, Marlowe. You love to do anything that Maya is doing, and I'm constantly having to watch to make sure you don't try to jump off the couch just like she does! You are learning to talk, and it's just the cutest thing ever to hear you tell Maya "I sawry" (translation: "I'm sorry"), and to watch you clap your hands and yell for Marlowe, as if he's really going to come running over to you. At 11 months old you could not even turn over or sit up by yourself in the crib. And now at two, you can do it all (or at least seem to think you can do it all!) You are becoming more independent, yet still remain such a mommy's girl, and even more of a daddy's girl. Your first words in the morning are usually "Daddy! Daddy!" But that's after you have had some time to adjust to being awake, as you do not appear to be a morning person like Maya is. You're such a night owl and late morning sleeper, just like your dad. You are a wonderful snuggler. You don't like for anyone to help you eat or drink anymore, unless you are really hungry and you can't get the utensils to cooperate fast enough. Everyone is so amazed at all you have accomplished in your short time here. Gran says it's hard to believe you are two already, but that it also seems like you have been a part of us forever. Poppi says you are something else. Omi calls you her little sweetheart. Papa, if he were here, would call you "a living angel." I call you mine.

You've come a long way, baby.