TWO!

A post to commemorate Laina's passage into two-year-old-hood. I know it's a couple weeks late, but better late than never, right?!

We were outside playing and taking photos today and I was inspired to write a poem about my little girl. I haven't written poetry since college, so it's not great, and it's not even close to being finished. And no, you don't get to hear what I have so far. But you do get a couple pictures from the session.




















On her actual birthday, we had a little impromptu gathering at our neighbors Josh and Andrea's house, complete with a cake made by a different neighbor, Myka. Our neighbors are so awesome and we absolutely love living in this community!



















Laina also received birthday gifts in the mail all through out her birthday week and still gets excited when a package comes to the door. Many clothes arrived which are much appreciated (so she has something to wear this summer!) and a special tea set from her cousins. She is very into pretend play and loves setting up tea for her stuffed animal friends and also me and Jay.

I so whole-heartedly, absolutely, love the age she is at now. Some people complain of the "terrible twos", and maybe that is still coming for me, but Laina really has a great personality and is so much fun to be around and interact with. She is so curious and wants to know about everything and I love teaching her. She loves singing and dancing and spinning. She is running now and trying to jump. And she still loves cars, trucks, buses and tractors! In the car today she was singing a song she composed about Daddy, Mommy and Laina. She is also creative and artistic, loving coloring and drawing. She draws lines and circles and tries to draw letters and asks us what they are. It's so awesome to see her growing and learning. While there may be the occassional fit when she doesn't get her way, she really is such a joy to our family. It may have taken me two years to see it, but now I can really believe that children are a blessing from the Lord.

Here's to many more happy years ahead of us.