Lil*y's Birthday

 

An amazing milestone happened in our house last Saturday. L*ily turned 2. At 2, she is all toddler all the time - she has started to walk, she climbs the stairs (and knows when someone forgets to shut the gate), gets into everything, makes us laugh, whines and tantrums when she doesn't get her way, jabbers with gestures, points her finger at you, reads books and plays with toys, has preferences, laughs, cries, sings, yells, and sometimes screams, kisses, and claps for herself. We spent her birthday with family and a few of Li*ly's close friends doing what you would imagine doing for a toddler's birthday...

 

 

 

... smashing cupcakes full of way too much sugar in our faces!
Opening presents and carrying as many as possible around, forgetting that there are several more waiting...


 
 
Opening more presents (and actually reading the card first!)...


...Getting excited about baby dolls...


Getting excited about our cousin's or sister's presents...

Helping each other out...

And even losing our shoes! 

Its really hard to imagine what life would be like without L*ily and yet still hard (and fresh) to think about all the struggles we had in pregnancy before we even knew her. Its not really possible to put into words the emotions we have as we balance celebrating her young life full of promise with the limitations - known and unknown - that her special needs will give her. Some days I wish it was different - for her sake, not mine. Yet we are so grateful for the family and the community we have  - she has - that have, along with our faith in God, carried us through the joys and challenges of having a child with special needs thus far. 

Happy Birthday, L*ily! You are a beautiful girl full of personality and determination, and we love you!