Birthday Number Two

Happy Birthday, Baby Girl!! I can hardly believe you’re a whole two years old. As you frequently tell me: “I’m not a baby, I’m a Kenzie,” I guess I just need to reconcile that fact. You’re indeed a Kenzie. There is absolutely no one quite like you.

In a nutshell, you’ve changed so much this past year. Not only have you grown into a 4T, but your vocabulary is incredible and you speak in sentences. You tell fabulous stories (although only half of your words are understandable) and boy...do you typically mean what you say!! You’ve got your own mind, and although it lands you on the naughty step a good few times... I hope that we won’t squelch your ability to be strong, vocal, and confident. Those are good qualities to have – just not when you’re running full speed down the street toward an intersection, ignoring our advice to STOP!

You imitate everything, and you’re a good little parrot. You study my daily doings and I have seen you pretend to hairspray your head. You love wearing pigtails or “piggies” most days, but others you clearly prefer your hair to be left alone. You’re always wishing to dress up in something princessy, or lionish, or just generally as gaudy as possible. You’re quite imaginative and I enjoy playing along with your creativity. You earn many giggles with your funny way of saying things: Help Me? {you}; Go to (pretend) sleep; Don’t touch THIS!; Get cozy (snuggle); Color Puppy? (draw), etc. Not to mention the coy facial expressions that accompany those words...

You’ve grown into quite a little helper, exclaiming: “Help me? Help me? Help me?” until I manage to figure just how to include you ~somehow~ in whatever I’m doing. Your favorite chores are putting the clothes in the dryer and making Daddy’s “Samiches” every day for lunch. You proudly pull out the incredients: mustard, cheese, meat, mustard, mayo, pickles, another mustard, salad dressing, bread, raisins... and don’t forget the noodles. We then layer on the sandwich pieces (minus a few of the unnecessary ones), being really careful to smoosh them into the bread really hard. Daddy just loves your sandwiches, and you glow with pride when telling him that you made it yourself.

We’ve had quite the year – moving away from your first home, state, and your beloved Mary. But, you’ve handled it well – proving that you have a very adjustable spirit. You go with the flow and remain pleasant no matter what we toss at you.

My favorite part of you is your eager face when you spontaneously invite us for a hug exclaiming “I wuv you guys!” We love you too, Doodle, and look forward to watching you grow this coming year..
(but that means you’re gonna have to eat your vegetables!)

You’re very special. You’re a Kenzie!!
Love, Mama

P.S. This picture was taken after lunch with Nana & Poppy today. I greeted you first thing this morning with the Happy Birthday song, which immediately prompted your request for Birthday Cake. How on earth did you know that?? You've only had one year of experience with this birthday extravaganza!! We're planning a cake for your little party on Sunday and I was unprepared for one today. Somehow, you knew that this event was to be symbolized by gooey globs of frosting on dreamy yummy cake. So, Nana ran to the market and got you a Birthday Cake after lunch. Sunday's cake will be a special one though made especially for our little princess, by Mama!!