Olivia is TWO!

Dear Olivia Grace,

My sweet, sweet girl... how is it that you are already two?!  Your Boppa and I both would like to bottle you up and keep you this age forever.  You are so fun!  We just love everything about you.  You are an amazing little girl and we are SO proud to be your parents.

You are an observer and a thinker.  You have been this way since you were itty bitty.  I can't even begin to count the number of strangers who have commented on this trait.  It amazes me that they can meet you for two minutes and see so deeply into the core of who you are.  But it's true.  You are always taking everything in.  You watch.  You process.  You interpret and read the situations around you like no other toddler I've ever seen.  You are aware of your surroundings and are conscious of your play mates.  While others push by on their mission (normal to toddler hood), you watch, wait, and move only when others are out of the way.

You are cautious by nature.  This probably goes along with being a thinker.  You think of the consequences before taking action.  You act with purpose.  You are sometimes slow in your movements/decisions, but they are almost always thought out.  Every once in a while you surprise us and act on impulse.  However, your risk taking is few and far between.

You have an amazing memory.  We got our first taste of this at 13 months old and it has just exploded this year.  I thought I had a "freak of nature" memory, but yours even shocks me at times.  It allows you to memorize books, songs, and educational things like your letters and sounds at a rapid pace.  You also remember conversations, where items are placed, and who people are.

Not only can you memorize, but you can process and apply things you learn with incredible accuracy.  You are so intelligent and have a love for learning.  We are constantly taken back by the way you can connect information in that little head of yours and then use it appropriately at a later time.

You are a talker.  You tend to be shy when new people are around, but at home you talk our ears off.  You consistently talk in 4 to 8 word sentences.  You started talking early and kept at it with a rapid pace.  Your vocabulary is incredible.  Not only do you have lots to say, but you say it rather clearly.  People are always commenting to us at how clear you speak for your age.

You are funny!  Most people perceive you as being "stoic", and you do have a very serious side.  But at home, or around people where you are comfortable, you are HILARIOUS.  You make us laugh every. single. day.  You know you are funny too, and try to make us laugh.  You even laugh at yourself and say things like, "I'm so funny".  (I have no idea where you got this trait from!)

You are compassionate.  You are concerned about anyone who is sad.  If you hear a baby crying in a store, you always comment on it.  You ask me "What's the matter, Mommy" if you think something looks off.  You even kiss objects in a book if they are "sad".  You want to make sure everyone is OK.

You enjoy order.  While others throw handfuls of bells into the bucket at The Little Gym, you place yours in the bucket one at a time.  While others are throwing balls all over the place, you realize that the hoop has two places for balls to go in the base and you fill the spots immediately.  You notice if a toy is put away on the wrong shelf and fix it.  You aren't a "neat" freak.  Nor are you obsessed with lining items up.  You just know that every item has a place and a purpose and you like them to be used in the proper manner.

You have a go with the flow spirit.  I'm pretty sure you got that from your Boppa. :)  You can adapt and adjust to situations quite easily.  Change or transitioning from one task to the next is no problem for you.  Unless, of course, you know that it is for a diaper change or nap.  Then, you are not so much a fan of my interrupting.

You have a longer than normal attention span.  You can play and entertain yourself for a very long time.  You can also focus on a task for a very long time.  This has also been noticed by others.  In fact, at one play date recently, a mom said, "Bethany, I want your toddler.  She has just stood  there and played for the last twenty minutes.  She's so focused and we haven't heard a peep out of her."  It's true.  I say it all the time, but as far as toddlers come, you are the EASIEST child I have ever encountered.  We are blessed!

You have changed our lives!  We are so thankful that God has entrusted us to be your parents.  You challenge us to be better people.  You keep us young.  You make us proud.  You are an amazing little person and we are overwhelmingly blessed to be your parents!!  We love you Olivia Grace.

  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SWEET GIRL!