She's 2 Today!

It's hard to believe it's been two years since Audrey made her way into this world. You will always here mother's say that time goes by to fast when you have little ones, and I'm starting to believe the more littles you have the faster time goes. It feels like just weeks ago I was laying in the hospital bed holding my beautiful baby girl, relieved that she was finely here and healthy. From the very beginning Audrey has not be an easy child. I spent seven and half weeks of my pregnancy on bed rest and medication to keep me from going into labor, once given the release and expectation that she would arrive any day I ended up being induced almost 2 weeks later. It's seems comical now, at the time not so funny!
I am so happy that I have photos, and old blog post, and videos to look back on because I feel like the last 2 years went by so quickly that there is so much I would forget if I did not have those items to remind me. Like the adorable pucker lip Audrey did from the day she was born,or how John loved to sit and sing veggie tale songs to her and she would smile and coo at the him the entire time. They fight a lot now, but they still adore each other. When every Audrey is learning something new he is right along side her showing her what to do, encouraging her along, and pouring the praise on when she gets it. She loves her brother so much that she wants to do and think she should be allowed to do everything he can do ( which I'm pretty sure is why the fight so often, I remember what it was like having a younger sibling always invading your personal space). I also believe it is why Audrey is as adventures and brave as she is. If John can climb a ladder why cant she? If he goes down the tallest slide on the park then she will too. As much as the bickering gets on my last nerves almost on a daily basis I couldn't imagine one without the other. Seeing them laugh together, or run to each other when they have been separated if only for a half hour, and embrace like it's been years since they where together last; it makes my heart swell.

This past year, was a difficult one health wise. Last fall Audrey came down with some virus that brought with it high fevers and very poor breathing. We spent one night in the ER because she couldn't take a breath with out whistling and what seemed like weeks on steroids, and and nebulizer treatments. Thankfully we made it through that and have not had to continue the with nebulizer treatments. At the same time we where dealing with ear infections month after month, and my poor girl was miserable most of the time and making life very difficult. Then in January we found out she was severely farsighted and was developing an eye turn. The same week, actually within 2 days of finding out about her eyes we where also informed she wasn't hearing well because of the build up of fluid from all the ear infections. It was a little too much for one week, not only did I have to put my beautiful baby girl in glasses ( that I feared would be hideous) but now she was facing surgery. My second though was, no wonder she's been so difficult she hasn't been able to see, she's in pain most of the time, and she's not hearing well, I wouldn't be a happier camper either. I couldn't not be happier to say that she handled the surgery better than I could have ever hoped for, and since having her ears drained and tubes put in her hearing is perfect and she hasn't had another ear infection. And the glasses, well she rocks them! I didn't think she could get any cuter, but they glasses took her to another level, and they are working! At our last appointment there was improvement in her eye alignment. It was a hard couple of weeks but God brought us through, and now it's like I have a brand new little girl.

Audrey has accomplished so much this year. She moved from a crib to a bed, from a high chair to a booster seat and she feeds herself 90% of the time. She would the other 10% but mom is a little picky when it comes to messy foods. She is also talking about a storm, and that's only been recently. She was talking a lot all year but we couldn't understand most of what she was saying. Then when she had her ears drained there was a difference over night, she began speaking more clearly and by clearly i mean as clearly as a two year old can talk. She has also started forming 3 word sentences, her favorite " John did it!"

My favorite thing about the last year is the development of her personality. Last year she was so shy and clingy and fearful. This year she is a happy, energetic, loving, spunky,adventures, and becoming quiet the social butterfly! She is still a very strong willed and opinionated little girl, who seems to be developing a bit of a tantrum lately. The tantrums we are dealing with, they are just not acceptable but I love that she knows what she wants and wont be forced to do something she doesn't want to. They are hard qualities to deal with in a two year, but I believe that if we give her a strong spiritual foundation now they will serve her well in years to come.

That has been our last year in a nut shell. Today she turns 2, and I think her feelings lined up with mine. She is eager to grow up, and met new challenges every day, but there is a small part of her that I think is missing being the baby. Recently she'll bring us one of her doll bottles and say "I baby mama'" meaning she wants you to cradle her like a baby, and coo over her while she pretends to drink from the baby bottle. I have also been setting up some of the baby items ,such as the high chair and porter crib back up in preparation for the baby boy I'll start watching next week, and the other day this is where I found Audrey.

She's having a hard time with the growing older thing. she torn between growing up and being a baby. I feel the same way! Of course I want her to continue to grow and mature if she wasn't I would be worried something was wrong. But it's hard to watch your baby grow up. Thankfully she's still a snuggle bug, and loves to climb up I'm my lap and snuggle or lay her head on my shoulder and drift off to sleep. It's just enough to keep me from crying over how fast time has gone. I look forward to all that the next year holds! I just hope it slows down a little, It's bad enough John's off to preschool this year, I'm not ready to see her go too.
Today we celebrate her precious life and the joy that it brings.Happy Birthday Audrey! I love you and am so proud of who you are today, and all that you have accomplished.