Happy Birthday Brailyn!

I think I'm going to cry. Okay, I won't, but my little girl is 2 years old!! I can't believe it. You know all of the cliches- time flies, they grow up so fast, seems like only yesterday- but they're all true. Two years ago today are sugar pie joined our family, and changed our lives. I always knew I wanted to be a mother, but through school and my young adult life, I was trying to find some other job that I would like- should I go to med school? should I work in the fitness industry? should I teach piano/swimming lessons? But when Brailyn was born, all of those questions disappeared. I was finally able to just tell myself, and everyone else, that I was a mom, full time, and that was what I wanted to do. I don't want to sound corny or molly-mormony, but for me, right now, this is really all I want to do. I don't have this nagging career voice in my head. I don't have to struggle with career v. family. I know there are plenty of women who do it all and do it well, but for me, I just want to be the best darn mom I can. I love teaching Brailyn and watching her learn. I love taking her to activities and playdates. And I love being the boss of my schedule (of course it revolves around Brailyn) and doing what I want. So, happy birthday Brailyn, and thank you for giving me my callig in life.
Okay, enough smushy stuff. Things about Brailyn:
1. She LOVES Minnie Mouse and will test her Daddy's patience every hour of the day with "Wa do?" a game where she wants him to talk for Minnie and play Simon Says or something.
2. She loves puzzles and books. And I'm going to brag because she loves story books, long ones, not just the kiddie books, and she's pretty good at 9 piece jigsaw puzzles.
3. She (still) loves broccoli and other veggies. I'm very proud of her healthy diet, something that is very important to me (almost to the point of obsessive).
4. She loves to cuddle in the morning. She usually crawls in our bed before the sun comes up and finishes sleeping. But when we wake up, she just wants to snuggle
5. She is very sweet with other kids. She doesn't boss, push, bite, etc. She's meek yet she knows what she wants.
6. She loves her uncle Kenny. Always asking where he is.
7. She has a great imagination. She loves to play with her kitchen set at Gamma's, or the Playmobile figures (supervised, don't worry) even though they're for bigger kids. We also "make" meals with a bowl and spoon, then enjoy "eating" them.
8. She loves to color.
9. She's doing pretty well on the potty training. Every day she'll go #1 and #2 at least once, more if we're home all day.
10. She listens to Momma, and rarely gets into trouble. If I tell her a cupboard is not for her, she won't play in it. I noticed this difference when a little boy was playing with her at Gamma's house and he got into the hutch in the dining room, every one in the kitchen etc. It's probably her first child syndrome.
11. One more brag- she already can recognize some numbers and letters and we sing ABC's pretty well. She loves to play "where's the" with anything- Waldo, letters, any picture in a book.

Brailyn, we love you so much, and can't wait to see what we do this next year!!