as i become the mother of a 2-year-old

this afternoon elenora and i went to zumis to split a chocolate ice cream cup. then we walked up to a bakery and she picked out three cupcakes for us to share tomorrow on her actual birthday (pink, purple, and green). as we walked back to our car we saw auntie h. walking along and she said she'd meet us up at the library, so we went there and ella played with the teddy bear and looked at books while h. and i discussed how excited we are for the birthday party on saturday. then elenora and i headed out to the farm to get our vegetables. our farmers let elenora pick some special zinnia and sunflowers to take home to decorate her room with.

on my way home j. called and we decided to take ella out for a special dinner at woodmans. we never really take ella out to dinner, since she eats so early. we either eat dinner with her, or do dinner separately after she goes to bed. woodmans is a seafood restaurant right on the salt marshes of essex, and we got haddock and baby shrimp. she surprised me by really loving the baby shrimp. it was a lot of fun, and i could tell she really knew it was a special night in honor of her.

when we got home it was past bedtime, so i gave her a super quick tub and sang her songs and put her to bed.

there will never be a year where she will change quite as much as she did this past year. she's gone from a (bald) baby who couldn't walk yet to a curly-topped toddler who speaks in full sentences, recites poetry, sings songs, and makes up her own jokes.

this past year has been wonderful. parenting has continued to become more and more fun and rewarding. our routines and friendships are established and bring us satisfaction and joy. i feel really lucky to have such a wonderful little girl.

this next year will probably bring various changes. j. is going to take his licensure exam and possibly make a career move. and we might start thinking about baby number 2 somewhere down the line.

but it's been wonderful to have such a stable year of growth and fulfillment.

thank you to everyone who has loved us, prayed for us, and encouraged us.

bring on the "terrible" twos!