Yesterday my daughter turned two. At this moment in time I am going to do a little babbling on about her. If you dislike parental bragging, skip this entry. If you are just not really into kids, skip this entry. I get to do this every so often. 🙂

It’s amazing how a child goes from being this tiny, delicate, fragile thing I’m almost afraid to touch

From Shanna

to being a person

From Play kitchen

She walks distances that wind me; she talks extraordinarily well; she is clever; she is kind. I am continually amazed by the degree of empathy she evinces. She really cares about the people around her. I expected to be dealing with a full time narcissist and she’s just… not. She’s interesting and spunky. I cannot count the number of people who tell me, “Normally I don’t like kids but she’s really neat.” I am deeply grateful that, while being somewhat airheaded, she tries so hard to have manners. She waits her turn. She offers to share. She can handle waiting in boring grown up lines. She is so very charming.

Just about every day I am grateful that I have gotten to be *the* person to see every single first she has ever had. If you add up every individual hour I have ever been away from her it is less than a week of time. I think it is wonderful that she is so very centered and self confident; I believe I contributed heavily. I have rarely seen a person so very happy with their place in the world. I want that to continue. People are already starting to talk as if it is inevitable that she throw tantrums. Outside of times when she was truly exhausted because I asked too much of her, we haven’t gotten anywhere resembling a tantrum. She is forceful in expressing her opinion. She whines more than I would prefer, though still very minimally. I feel like this intensive parenting thing has really paid off in creating a child I like being around. That’s not to say I never have moments that are hard–I’m like that no matter what. 🙂

I think it wonderful that she spends a lot of time rules lawyering. She is absolutely determined to find out the limits of what she is allowed to do and go riiiiiiiiiiight to the edge of those limits. I love that she is tough and strong and interested in trying to do everything for herself. I love the ways in which she continually surprises me by doing things I didn’t think she has figured out yet. I truly love that she has no concept whatsoever of “girls shouldn’t ___”. There is nothing she hesitates to do if she feels physically capable. She doesn’t worry about being quiet or demure or neat and tidy.

I am really excited about continuing to watch her progression as a person. I am really grateful that, thanks to Noah, I get to keep her out of the mind numbing system. She is truly going to be able to grow and soar however she desires. I get front row seats and I can’t think of anywhere I would rather be.