2 years ago I was in labor. Well, actually 2 years ago right this minute I was fast asleep because my contractions had totally stopped. I was woken up at 3am by them starting up again and Kate was born at 6:05 in the morning after a hectic “oh my god I can’t believe I waited at home that long” drive that I have no intention of repeating. It’s kind of bizarre to be sitting here with my very large belly, so close to going into labor. It certainly brings back so many memories.

Kate of course took the opportunity this evening to not fall asleep for 2 hours past bedtime. But tomorrow is her day so I’ll let her sleep as much as she needs so she can be in a good mood. I don’t really have anything planned. I’m going to put her birthday dress on her again (oh how I love that dress!) and take a million pictures outside to try to get some good portraits. (Everyone said taking pictures of a toddler is frustrating… I didn’t really believe them until we got there and she refuses to look at the camera and smile at the same time. Even getting her to look in my direction is ridiculous.) We put together her gift (a play kitchen) so it’s ready to be brought in to surprise her tomorrow. And then I got a very small birthday cake for us all to share at dinner. Of course that will lead to her asking for birthday cake for the next week, but like I said, it’s her birthday. ;)

I’m feeling really kind of protective of my time with her right now, knowing that everything is going to change so very soon. I wanted to do some special things just with her and I so I could spend my time really consciously with her. I get so tired, though, it’s hard to keep up with her when she wants to climb on the playground equipment over and over again. Thankfully she’s now quite coordinated and sure-footed so I feel okay letting her go up things and down slides by herself. She certainly has so much energy – though I don’t know how much of my viewpoint is skewed by my exhaustion and how much really is just her bursting with toddler energy. Though she is still really happy to sit on the couch with one of us and read books (over and over and over again). I try to make it interesting (for me, haha) by not just reading the book to her, but then going through and asking her where the ___ is, or what sound does that make, or what is that there. She gets so excited when she points things out or calls out answers; I love how she kicks her legs happily and looks up at me with glee.

We just love watching her grow and learn. There is just so much going on in their heads all the time! It’s utterly amazing to watch how fast she picks up new words now, now she can point out all these animals in her books and recites the alphabet and counts. She’s this fountain of new knowledge and it really is just fascinating. She’s now developing an opinion about things and wants things done a certain way (she wanted that handed to mommy first!). Having a two year old is going to be a challenge at times – as evidenced by the bizarrely huge tantrums that she throws once in a while – but I also think it’s going to be a whole lot of fun.

Two years. That’s just amazing. It’s really hard to believe it’s been that long already!