my “baby” is 2 years old!!!

everyone tells you that it goes by SO fast – and it does – not a day goes by that i’m not amazed by how much Sydney has grown, but with today being her 2nd birthday – i’m completely blown away – we watched the slide show of Sydney’s birth today (multiple times since every time it stopped, Sydney would say “again?” – )  and i can’t believe that the tiny, little baby that came out of my body has grown into a 3″, 26 pound walking and talking kid!!!  it’s unreal – one day she was completely dependent on me and couldn’t do a thing on her own and the next thing i know, she’s giving me the stink eye and saying, “NO – I DO IT MOMMY!” – crazytown.

i’ve heard from other friends and read blogs from moms that are sad when their kids hit milestones, because they feel like they’re losing their babies and they’re all grown up – but i’ve never felt like that – maybe i’ll feel differently when she starts kindergarten or goes on her first date – but right now, i have just thoroughly enjoyed every minute – well, except maybe for the tantrums and meltdowns!  i remember soon after Sydney was born having a conversation with Kellie Rasberry and she told me, “it just gets better and better” – she was SO right – Sydney is so much fun right now – she learns new things every day and every day i’m amazed at the things she knows – even when i’m mad at her, it’s hard to stay that way because she’s so sweet and snuggly – she’s recently learned the phrase “i’m sorry” but hasn’t really learned when to use it – so when i apologize to her, sometimes she thinks i’m telling HER to apologize and she’ll say it back to me – so cute!!  and the moments that i catch her and Kelley interacting are absolutely priceless – they are SO funny together and she totally has him wrapped around her finger – there are days when i wish i had a camera running because they are so cute together and i don’t want to forget any of it!

these days, my favorite part of the day is the few quiet moments that Sydney and i have together before she goes to sleep – i know she’ll never remember those moments and that i’ll remember them forever – and that even if by some chance she did remember them, she won’t understand them until she has a child of her own – the times that i tell her how much i love her and that no matter how bad our day was (or how crappy a mommy i was that day), that she still consumes my entire heart – she’s the child i’ve wanted my entire life and the one i waited for the longest – there’s a scene from the movie Coal Miner’s Daughter where Loretta Lynn’s daddy tells her “you’re my pride and joy, girl – my pride and joy” and that’s how i feel about Sydney – i have so many hopes and dreams for her – so many things i want her to accomplish – no pressure though 

and maybe that’s when my mommy sadness will kick in – i know that as she gets older, those quiet times will come to an end – she won’t want me to help her put on her pajamas and she’ll be too big to rock to sleep – before i know it, she’ll be freaked out if i see her naked and she won’t think i hung the moon – and then the secret will be out – she’ll know i’m not perfect and that i can’t fix anything – but i’ll remember those days when she thought i could – i’ll also remember the day i found out i was pregnant – the first time i felt her kick – the day she was born – the first time she said i love you – i’ll remember it all – and pray that one day she’ll have a chance to remember those things about her own child

as usual, i’ll post the link to my birth slide show (just click on the picture) – easily one of the best days of my life and while i may be biased (just a little!) some of the best work that Mike and ReJana have ever done! Happy Birthday Baby Girl – i hope this year is the best one yet!