Happy 2nd Birthday, Alexandria!
I don't know how we are celebrating your 2nd birthday already. Life sure has flown! You have come so far in such a short time. I believe I blinked, and instead of a tiny preemie baby, you suddenly became this sassy and independent toddler!
Just since your first birthday, we have watched you stand up, walk, climb furniture and us, run, dance, play, follow your brother everywhere, more dancing, singing and making up songs, learning new words, letters, shapes, and even a few numbers. I love how after a song is finished, you always put your hands up or clap your hands and say Yay! Or when we ask you to tell us what a certain letter or shape is, and when you get it right, we tell you "Good Job!" And then you proceed to clap for yourself and say Yay! You love words of affirmation for sure! We've watched your sassy personality come out, and it's quite amazing to me because all of your NICU nurses called you sassy from the very beginning. You definitely like to test the boundaries, blatantly run away when we tell you not to do something, and usually you are giggling as you do it! Speaking of giggling, your laugh is seriously the best! It's such a big laugh, and your whole face shows your happiness! You are a good eater, and usually try everything at least once. The best thing is when you eat your dinner and say "Dah Done!" And so we get you out, and you run to your Daddy to sit on his lap and eat his food! You are a little social butterfly once you feel comfortable and get acclimated to the people we are around, and I truly love how you have to tell everyone Bye before you leave. And you wait to make sure they say it back! You are so smart, so strong, so sassy, so fierce, and I believe those parts of you are what God gave you to help you overcome obstacles.
When you are a parent of a premature baby in the NICU, you have all kinds of fears. I wondered if you would be able to do all the things you are doing right now as a two year old. It has taken you longer, and sometimes we required some physical therapy and ear tube surgery, but you got it. Much like your brother, you showed us in YOUR time. It was your timetable, and every step (literally and figuratively) you took, we were your biggest champions! Your brother loved to help and cheer you on! I so hope that loving bond between the two of you always stays. I love how much he cares for you, and how much you adore him!
To say I am proud of you would be an understatement. I'm not sure you can know how proud of you we are. And not just because you are our daughter. But we have seen you push through so much, even when you hated it. You cried and were scared that first time you held yourself up during tummy time, and you cried and were shaking as you stood on your own two feet, and you needed some convincing to make those first steps, but you did it! You didn't quit! You may have struggled, but darling daughter, you overcame! And even when things are tough in the future, I believe you will figure it out and accomplish whatever you set your mind to do!
Just know your Mommy, Daddy, and big brother Caleb are always here for you! We aren't perfect, but you can count on us being your biggest cheerleaders! I so look forward to watching you grow even more and learn new things, start to have real kid conversations with you, sing songs and dance, etc. And I really can't wait to have our first girly pampering time together. Like, I can't wait to paint your nails for the first time, watch you as you figure out all your likes/dislikes, have fun trips with you, and just make a gazillion memories along the way!
We love you, sweetheart! You are an amazing, smart, beautiful daughter, and we are so thankful today and everyday for God's protection over you when you were born and as you grow! You have a divine purpose that God wanted you in this world to carry out. And I'm so thankful we get to watch you do that!
As I finish this letter, I'm listening to you sleep for the final night as a 1 year old! You've been sick with the flu (so sad you've had to endure that), so we will slightly postpone the birthday celebration to next weekend. But know we love you, we celebrate you, and we are beyond grateful for you!
Happy birthday, darling daughter of mine!
Love,
Mommy
