Lily is 2

Why is blogging so hard?  I could say it is because of being "busy" - yes life is "busy" - between work, keeping up with the daily musts (washing bottles/pump parts, washing diapers, regular laundry, "making" dinner, getting bags ready, feeding Michael, trying to keep the house somewhat clean and errands) and of course trying to soak in every minute of my two kiddos, enjoying the daily grind.  But so many other bloggers I read have just as many daily to-dos but still find time to blog.  Time just gets away from me.  Seconds turn into minutes and minutes into hours.  Before I know it, weeks are passing. 

Which transitions me into the real reason for this post - Lily Jane turned 2!  Two years old. 730 days.  17,520 hours.  1,051,200 minutes.  On one hand, it seems like yesterday I was rushing to the hospital when my water broke.  On the other hand, I can't even remember what life was before her bright personality entered our lives and forever changed me.

I think the word "spirited" it a good one to describe Lily.  She is SO full of energy.  Hates bedtime and naps. She wants to be a part of everything. She wants to explore everything.  She wants to play with everything, especially if someone else is looking at it!   She truly loves life.  I can't even believe how old she seems - we have real conversations now, about our weekends, her favorite movies and what she wants to do.  Her favorite thing to say lately is "how are you, mommy? how are you daddy?"  She loves to talk.  She loves to give big hugs, which is sweet for me, but not so sweet when she knocks her friends over or smushes Michael. I probably say the word gentle 50 times a day.  She doesn't always do what I say but I know she is listening.  She has a "tone" with the dog I sometimes use and it makes me cringe. It makes me want to be a better person because she is learning how to treat others and herself from me. 

So far, 2 is an amazingly fun age, for many of the reasons I have said - the energy and excitement of everyday things (we saw a train over the weekend and she can't stop talking about the "choo-choo"), the conversation, the sweetness.  However, I have already joked about the terrible 2s starting to make an appearance - between fighting sleeptime, taking toys from friends and using hitting or temper tantrums to get attention, we are challenged every day.  I don't know all the answers and am constantly questioning if I am doing the right thing, giving her enough attention, giving her enough boundaries.  All I know is, I am trying my best and feel so blessed than I get to be "Lily's mommy."