Happy 2nd Birthday Carson!

Like all parents who reach this milestone, we can't believe we have a two-year-old.  We also can't believe how amazing the one we have is.

Here are a few of the things we know about our daughter Carson:
*She is smart about a lot of things, including her emotions (which she not only recognizes but puts into words these days and is also learning to regulate), her academic-y stuff like shapes, words, colors, & numbers, and her surroundings. She is very aware of where she is, and it appears she might have (hopefully) gotten her daddy's sense of direction. She'll recognize we're getting close to home after a long car ride when we are still a few miles away from the house.

*She is very tender-hearted and compassionate. Her emotions lie just beneath the surface, her feelings are easy to hurt, and generally the only discipline needed is a stern look or walking away from her before she is a puddle on the floor, begging to do what you asked her to do. She is more upset by Lila being in time out crying than she is when she receives time out herself. She cares for her babies and comforts them as if they were real people. And she works so hard to make them "feel better". If a child is crying in a store, she becomes visibly upset and worried about him or her. She frequently asks Brandon and I, "How you doing, Beans?"

*She's fairly girly in a lot of ways--and yet so not in others.  She would definitely rather watch Daddy wash the car than help him do it.  She runs like a muppet or like she's drying her nails--hands up, wrists floppy (but man, she is so freaking cute when she runs!).  Finger painting is okay, but once it gets to a certain mess level, she is finished.  

And yet, she could care less about tutus and dressing up.  She'll do it if Lila's doing it, but Jana says she never initiates or really cares if she has one on.  She loves her baby dolls (those are her favorite toys these days) but she also loves to play with cars and trucks.  Overall though, we're pretty sure we have a (wonderful) priss on our hands ; )

 

*She has an independent streak, leading Brandon to call her "Katie Jr."  At a friend's pool this summer, she was going back & forth between the big and little pools.  I, of course, was accompanying her.  On one trip back to the baby pool, as I walked closely behind her, she suddenly stood still, held her hand up in the universal sign for "stop", and said, "No!  Carson in the little pool. Mommy in the big pool."  18 months old.

*She is hilarious. She already seems to have a good sense of humor and to realize what makes other people laugh. Sometimes it's just being goofy and saying silly words, like repeating the word 'avocado' over and over until we all giggle. Sometimes it's singing or dancing a certain way. And sometimes, all it takes is a funny look.

*She has a song in her heart.  I am fairly certain she is always singing inside her head, because she often bursts out into song midway through a particular verse, like she had already begun singing it silently.  She meshes songs together (there is a Wheels on the Bus/Old McDonald mash-up that I have got to write about) and will sing anywhere, anytime, for long periods of time.


*The girl loves homemade breads, soup and noodles (not at the same time though.  Gross).  This is awesome, because I can sneak just about anything into bread, soup or pasta sauce.  Seriously, I can use those 3 foods to cover any part of the food pyramid with a fair amount of diversity.  Well, except dairy b/c she can't eat that at all.  She also thoroughly enjoys bananas, strawberries, and lemons. 

*She is beautiful. Inside and out. Her smile is and has always been huge, sincere, and infectious. When she is happy, her entire face shows it. Her eyes are so expressive and gorgeous and can speak so clearly without her saying a word. Her hair has perfect curls and color.

*She makes me a better person. She teaches me about being more patient, more clear, more loving, and more generous. She is teaching me how to be a mother, a better wife, and a better friend.

*She is amazing and fills our hearts with such joy and peace every single day. We cannot believe it has already been two years, and yet at the same time we cannot imagine our lives before she was in them. It feels like she has always been such an important part of our family.

We love you Carson!  We thank God for you daily and pray for the continued blessing to enrich and guide you as you continue becoming the incredible little girl He made you to be.