Etta Mas is TWO

our dear girl is two today.  TWO.  

every year, every parent says it; but i honestly dont know how she is so big already.  i remember the day she was born so vividly.  i was five days late and losing my mind and i just could not wait to have all the questions answered.  

would i have enough room in my heart for two?  

would she be as wonderful as eden?  

would she and her sister be friends?  

would i be able to manage and care for two kids well?  i was so anxious to find out.

 

two years in and i have alot of answers.  there was plenty of room in my heart (i am currently getting ready to expand it again in august).  she is every bit as wonderful as her big sister, but in her own unique way which is incredible to watch.  she and eden are becoming friends more and more each day and their growing affection for each other is the most amazing thing to watch.  and i think ive done pretty well with the two of them, as well as a sinful and impatient mother could that is.

etta loves to sing and dance.  she remembers song lyrics with such uncanny perfection.  she asks for dance parties nearly every day.  she says things like 'i so excited' when she is anticipating something.  she has the BEST facial expressions to go along with every emotion.  this includes sad faces that just about break a mamas heart.  she loves 'edie beedie' and wants to show/tell her everything she observes.  she talks alot, though you would not know it unless you know her well and are around her when she is comfortable.  she is very shy in public but a crazy and expressive kid at home.  she says things like 'i so sad' when i ask her to come inside.  i call her my dirt child because she loves being outside for hours on end, is always dirty, and never wants to come back inside. and she never wants to have a sweater or a coat on.  she is always content to just be outside.  

she loves when i hold her and follows me around saying 'hold you please mama' when she is ready to be picked up.  she has nicknames like edamame and mae mae.  she does this excited face on command, which kills me.  oh and she loves her daddy,  when he gets home her face lights up and she leaps off of whatever she is perched on and runs to the door screaming.  their relationship is just really special.  i think she is his spirit animal.

and really she does have the sweetest spirit.  its funny because she and eden are SO different.  eden is crazy and gregarious and lights up a room.  shes fantastic in her own way.  and etta mae is also equally fantastic but in such different ways.  i have just been fascinated watching them both develop into such different people.  and i would say the number one thing that comes to mind when i think of this two year old is her sweetness.  from the way she talks to her smiles and the way she shows her love.  its all just so stinking sweet.  

oh and also as a note, she has this stance, which i term her rwandan mama stance because its exactly how a rwandan mama would stand after working hard all day and waiting for transportation home.  i die when she does this.  you must be so exhausted etta mae.  

she is so affectionate and loves a good snuggle and wants to have the lullabies i have made for her and eden sung to her ever night.  she loves naps and sleeps in a big girl bed.  she lights up our world in her own perfect way.  we love you etta mae.