Happy Birthday Rylee

happy second birthday my sweet little girl

Two years ago today, your father and I were in the hospital waiting oh so patiently for you to arrive. We were so excited to become a family and knew you would bring a special happiness to our world. The moment I first held you I knew we were on a grand adventure neither your father or I could imagine. I held you tightly and promised to keep you safe and make your days full of joy. You made me a mother. Your mother. Each year on your birthday I will remember this gift you gave me. 

You turn two today.

I look at you in awe of how fast time has been. The memory of the first morning in the hospital is so fresh in my mind. The sun was just rising, your father was still asleep, and I took way too long to change you into a sleep gown I packed weeks before fearing I would accidently pinch your pretty skin. Today I dressed you in princess underwear,  a shirt you insisted to wear, and brush your wild bed head.  I rushed you out to the kitchen to see the flowers and banners I placed just so for your special day. Alone in the kitchen, I sing you a happy birthday remix (when you become a mom, you can sing a song instantly about anything) and we dance. You pull out daddy's chair to stand on and smell the flowers. My sweet girl is two.

You turn two today.

The past two years have been full of so many challenges. I never knew I could change a diaper in the dark while silently praying you would stay asleep. Nor did I know I could become a master at pumping while rocking you back to sleep after a 3am feeding. Or how easy and tough the days can be when its just me and you when daddy is on shift. Most of my favorite days are spent with just you and me. {Granted some days I think about trading you to the ups guy delivering an amazon order when I'm hiding in the bathroom so I can just sit by myself for a minute}. Your daddy's schedule provides us so much time just us girls.  Im so thankful for those special moments. Our chick-fil-a dinner dates (because I forgot to make dinner) or picnics at the park (because its a break from the toy terrorized house). The hours we spend dancing in your room and the moments I watch you sleep with your bunnie snuggled close. As much craziness you bring to the table, you are always there to remind me how important my unconditional love is to your growing heart.

You turn two today.

At the end of a long day filled with presents and cake, I feel exhausted and little contractions start to flutter my belly. I bend down in the shower to wash your feet and you say "mama hug?". You reach your little arms around my back and say "uh you" {love you} and kiss my nose. I wonder in that moment if you could sense my pure exhaustion and just knew I needed something from you to remind me I'm doing a good job as your mother. To give me something that reminds me the long days are just as important to you as they are for me.

You turn two today.