My little girl

I haven't blogged in a while. Even though a bunch has changed with us, I guess it hasn't been enough for me to muster up the last ounce of brain power to sit down and type it out. It also has occurred to me that I am most likely to blog when my heart feels heavy. Tonight I'm reflecting on my little girl. She'll be two on Thursday. Cliche I know, but it feels like yesterday she was in my arms coming home to meet her brothers. Light, sweaty from the car ride home layered with too many hospital blankets, a petite little nose, eyes closed and sleeping. I can honestly say that I could have never dreamed that having a little girl was going to be so stunning. The older she gets, the more I adore her. The connection has always been there, but I can only describe my experience with her like this....all of the regular joys and challenges of childhood, but with a girl twist. For example, the boys have always been okay letting me take care of them. From what they ate to how they dressed. It's not in their nature to help carry things or even figure out how to put on their own shoes. I've encouraged these things to which they have generally seemed uninterested. Riley however has innately been different. I supposed she has spent her last two years keenly observing me taking care of our family, because she seems to know just what to do and how to help. At the pool she will gather the wet bathing suits and towels, carrying them to the car. Without me speaking a word I should add. Coming home from the beach she will line up her brother's shoes and remind them to put them on. At the dinner table she has begun singing the blessing. She throws her trash away without being asked. She can follow more than ONE step commands (sorry Joshy and George). She buckles her brothers seat belts and then attempts her own. She hands me the clean dishes from the dishwasher. Each morning she carries Joshua's book bag to his classroom. When she notices any chair pulled out, she will push it in. If Kiddo spills water on the floor she will say "uh oh" and ask for a paper towel to clean up the mess. I mean the list goes on and on. She has turned this corner in her second year of life that has me thrilled wondering what is in store next. I've noticed a perfect balance recently between an energetic explorer and an intuitive little girl. There is such purpose in most of what she accomplishes. She is still a daddy's girl asking each morning after he leaves for work "where daaaady go?" And then hearing his door shut when he comes home from work running to the window to scream "daaaaaaaadddddy!" It's precious. She also loves her brothers, Dora, everything water, her bear, her pink blanket, bananas, cheese sticks, salsa, couponing (I'm not kidding. She calls them pon poms), bubbles, swinging, shoes and brushing her teeth. It's so fun to watch my daughter shift into this little person. I have this huge lump in my throat and I'm not sure if it is because I am overjoyed to be her mother and reflecting on her milestones makes me so proud, or if I'm so heavy hearted knowing that she will wake up from a nap one day and be 25. Both I guess. I'm thankful either way for my little girl.