2.5

Dear Addilyn Jane, 
I can't believe you are two and half.  Sometimes I look at your tiny little self and I feel like you are still my baby.  Then other times I look at you and you look so grown up.  It's hard to imagine that you've been ours for two and half years, yet I can't imagine our life without you.  
You are so so funny.  I remember when you were little wondering if you would be funny or say funny things and you sure are.  You say things that make me laugh daily, and I love writing down them down so I won't forget.  
You have the best memory.  You can tell us what street you live on and what streets your grandma's live on.  You know your doctor's name and mamas too, the month of your birthday and lots of other random things.  You know three Bible verses now and we are working on a new one every week or so.  It's crazy to me what your little mind can soak up and hold on to.  You rarely forget our plans for the day in the morning, as I always tell you the night before.  You know Aaliyah comes on Thursdays and how to spell your name.  We could work on your counting some more and you usually say "1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9!"  You know the words to a few Frozen songs and we listen to them in the car all the time.  Your little voice is too cute!
We go to gymnastics most Fridays and you love it.  You are very coordinated and do a great job.  You especially love the trampolines!  
You're growing but are still a little peanut.  Your legs are so short that you still fit into most of your leggings and pants from last Winter, which is nice for me!  You wear 2T tops and size 6 shoes and weigh 25 pounds.  
Your new thing when we get to a place where you're unsure about or around people you don't feel super comfortable with is to turn around, hug me and say "I love you mama." You don't like to go do things alone, and still have a hard time when I leave you.  Sunday school has been better, but many weeks you still cry when we drop you off.  When we pick you up you are usually super happy and tell us about what you did.  Bible study is still a struggle and I think it's because there are way more kids and noise and less structure.  You get overwhelmed easily with big groups (just like your mama). It's taken work for me to stick it out in these situations but it's important to me that you know I will come back and that it's okay to be away from me for a little while.  I like the idea of sending you to preschool next Fall but the thought of it gets me quite some anxiety, so we'll see!
You are pretty clever when it comes to being disobedient.  You're like this sly little instigator that already knows how to push people's buttons.  Like around your niece you'll go up behind her and barely tap her on the shoulder while giving me this mischievous grin, just hoping that she'll turn around and hit you or pull your hair.  Apparently I used to do this to your uncle when I was little, so I guess that's what I get!  Or when I'm making you say you're sorry to someone you will purposely say their name a little off, as if to offend them.  Or add an extra sound at the end like "Sorry mama boo boop."  I don't even know what that means but the way you say it is like you're just trying to one up me.  It's hard not to laugh sometimes when I'm trying to discipline you.  
Most days you take a really good nap that lasts about 2 hours, sometimes 2 1/2.  I am SO thankful for this!  You go to bed around 7:30/8 and it often takes you a half hour to go to sleep and many nights we go in there at least once.  You wake up anywhere between 6 and 7, but not all too often until 7.  
You still love your pacifier and your little lamb.  We do our best to try to keep it to your crib and the car but I'm not fighting it as I'm not ready to go through that with a new baby coming.  I think this summer we'll be working on that!   I can't wait to see you become a big sister.  You are so sweet when you talk to or about your baby brother and it makes me so happy.  You love rubbing my belly and resting your head on it and tell him you love him at least five times a day.  I think you're going to be such a proud, loving big sister. I know there will be lots of things that will be hard about having another baby in our house and I do worry how you'll do, but I know you will love him so much! 
I can't express how much I love you.  The other day you weren't feeling well and I got you up from your nap and you asked to lay in mama's bed with me.  We laid down and you feel back to sleep right away.  I stared at your sleeping face for almost an hour.  I just felt so lucky to be your mom. Thanking God over and over for the blessing that you are to me.  I love you so much and think you are the best thing in the world.  Happy 1/2 birthday sweet girl! 
Love, 
your mama