Dear Harriet, Age 2

Dear Harriet,

Today you turn two.  I am so excited to watch you grow up.

One was a fun year.  We got to know your personality so much.  You are growing and changing so quickly.  You are a good sleeper, a good eater, a good dancer, a funny girl.  You can run and jump and play with the best of them.

One thing that I love about you is your love of being outside.  We recently took you camping for the first time and you ate it up.  You loved running in the trees, playing in the river, getting dirty, and being free.  When we finally went to bed, you jumped in your crib as if you were asking why we were going to bed.  You could have stayed up all night!

You love people.  You love Alma.  You love your grandparents (especially your grandfathers!).  You are a watcher.  You will just sit with your hands in your lap watching what’s happening.  Then you are a doer.  You don’t sit for long before you’re joining in on the action!

You love music and dancing.  It makes me so happy to watch your sweet moves.  Your favorite CD is Cross Current and you get upset when there’s a different CD in the player.

Harriet, you are so tough.  You’re strong and brave and I am so proud of that.  You stand up for yourself.  But you also care about others.

You will start school in a couple weeks and I’m so excited for you.  I know you will love playing with your teachers and making new friends.  I can’t wait to see all the amazing things you will learn to do in the next year.

I loved this past school year and all the time we got to spend together, just us.  I loved dropping Alma off at school, and just walking and walking and walking with you.  It was truly a precious time for me.  I am excited for you to start school, but I also am sad because I know that I’ll miss you.  It won’t be the same.

So, happy birthday, my sweet girl.  One was great, but two will be even better.

I love you I love you I love you,

Your Mommy