My Bug

(Let’s just pretend I’m totally organized and on top of things and this was posted approximately TWO weeks ago on or around my baby’s birthday… Ok?)

My baby girl is TWO!

I know you hear so much about Lily Bug, but how can I let her birthday pass (oops, I did) without telling you some of the things I LOVE about this girl!

Lily is a girly girl. She loves watching me put on makeup, and carrying around purses and bags. She can’t get enough of babies – she loves seeing new babies and giving them kisses. She notices things that are “pretty” and loves to play house – cooking, cleaning, talking on the phone (or any minuscule object that will stick to her face and becomes her "phone") and of course taking care of babies.

I love hearing this girl talk. Even my Granny (who said my mom could talk an ear off a deaf mule) claims that Lily out talks just about everyone! (Good thing there aren’t any deaf mules around!) She will tell me about her day when I pick her up after work. She doesn't say yeah or uh-huh, it's YES! I love how whenever we ask her to say "thank you," she says "wu'come" and we're already getting the oh so annoyed "Mooooommmm" and "Okaaaaaaay." She cracks me up!

The other day we were in the car driving, and she held out her hand, opening and closing her fist and said "Mom, give me the keys!" I just looked back at her, and she kept motioning for me to give her the keys "Come on, Mom! Give me the keys!" I asked her why she needed the keys. "I'm going to drive."

I wish I was kidding....

Lily has always loved books and reading. She has to sleep with her minimum of 3 books and the “light off” – which really means the light ON. When we sneak back in there to turn the light off a tiny voice usually beckons “Turn off the light!” I’ll admit, there have been a few nights that light has stayed “off” all night!

Lily adores her cousins. Especially “Moah” When she sees him, she shrieks and squeals and jumps up and down. She loves playing with other kids, but doesn’t quite have the sharing thing down yet. Most everything is “Lily’s turn!”

How can I forget “Kickey Mouse”? Each night when we get home, we have a routine of putting on a cartoon (or two… or three) while I try to get dinner made and stuff going. It’s ALWAYS Kickey Mouse, Barney and Handy Manny. We will fill up sippy cups, have a little snack, and she’s good to go! This girl loves her routines. She loves knowing what to look forward to, and anticipating what will be next.

Unfortunately I think Lily has inherited my lack of coordination. She is so clumsy! She gets her little feet running so fast, they constantly slip out from under her! Her legs are all kinds of banged up, but one thing’s for sure, she knows how to play!

I love this girl’s spirit. She is feisty and mouthy sometimes, but she lives life to its fullest! She is determined and knows what she wants, but still will usually (sometimes after threats and coaxing) respect the rules. She is caring and loving but can turn on a dime and start screaming for who knows what reason. And man, does that girl have a set of lungs. If you live within a 20 mile radius, I'm pretty sure you've heard her.

Good thing she is discovering that those lungs don't have to ALWAYS be used for evil! We knew we had a singer on our hands when she was watching American Idol, found a toy that became her “microphone” and started singing herself! She is even starting to get that her voice can match pitches and is making up her own little songs. I LOVE it!!!!! She will ask for a song on a CD again and again until she can sing along with it. Most recently it was "The Friendly Beasts" (Yes, Wee Sing for Christmas is still in my cd player in the car...). She has quite the repertoire: ABC's, Twinkle Twinkle, Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam, I am a Child of God, Itsy Bitsy Spider, the Barney song - I Love You, which always turns out to be "You love me!" She always wants to hold hands when she sings that song - I love it!

Lily loves her family. She is always watching out for Tessa, making sure Tessa gets everything she has (hmmm – maybe that’s so she won’t have to share….) and will give her lots of kisses and hugs. Oh, they have their not-so-sweet moments, but she definitely does love her sister.

Lily is always asking for her Daddy. It’s a bummer that Seuao has to work such long hours and some days doesn’t even get to see the girls, but Lily soaks up as much time as she can with him when he’s home. She loves to “shoot hoops” with him and he’s the only person she’ll lay down with to sleep.

The other night Lily came up to me, gave me a huge squeeze and said “I wub you mom!” then ran off to do her thing. A few minutes later, she came back and did it again… and again… and again. It was the sweetest thing ever! Those are the moments that moms live for.

I love you too, angel. I love you too.