an open letter to mackenzie on her 2nd Birthday

Dearest Mackenzie,

Today is the day we celebrate you're 2nd birthday. It was 2 years ago that at 12:40 am you entered my world forever. In the last two years I have fallen so deeply in love with you that it constantly amazes me.

You were once such a small being that I protected within me from the world. I carried you for a wonderful 38 weeks and 6 days, in which I came to know your personality, and character(you were just as stubborn then as you are now). I protected you, nurtured you, fought with you, and loved you all without even seeing you. I opted to 'meet' you a bit early as I was anxious to see the precious angel who resided in my obsenely small belly(seriously? couldn't you of gained a bit more weight?)

I remember the first time I saw you floating on that ultrasound screen, you were so small, and so fragile looking.

You, quickly grew into a very active and boisterous little girl!

In january we got a sneak peak at your face little did we know that it would be exactly two months later we'd really be looking at it!

You're daddy, was quite mean and made some comments about you're nose which you didn't appreciate at the time, and boy did you let us know!

The next two months flew by with mommy carrying the pictures of you EVERYWHERE. You came into this world with a class and flair that was all you're own. You couldn't wait to get out of that cramped space and show off all 5lbs 15.8 ounces that was YOU!

You came into this world amazing everyone, and have continued to do so. At three days you already knew that you DID NOT like that hospital bassinette and refused to have you're picture taken in it, instead opting to scare the living daylights out of mommy and bobble you're head around over your fathers' shoulder.

Mommy took you home, and promptly spent the next week shuttling you to the doctor's office(little did mommy know this would become a trend) because you were quite jaundiced. You spent a lot of time that first week sunbathing on the floor in the bedroom.

Of course mommy quickly learned that you had you're own feelings about all the pictures she was snapping of you...

You spent a lot of time cradled in mommy's arms sleeping or making funny faces.

You grew quickly sleeping a lot, and constantly expressing you're ever growing personality with flair and style.

You made a new friend shortly there-after and you two have been fast friends ever since!

You had another fast friend, that we sadly had to bid goodbye to, much too soon.

That summer was hot, and you spent a lot of time clothesless.

That is until you discovered the Pool!

You, kept growing like a weed, even after you're VUR diagnosis. Gaining new skills kept you busy and mommy too!

Through it all you expressed you're wonderful personality! (where DID you get that from?!)

Then you learned to SIT!

I remember you were so proud you couldn't stop smiling for days!

A few short weeks later you learned to stand, and amazed mommy!

We celebrated you're first halloween in style!

Christmas followed all too quickly.

You just continued to grow and grow!

Much too soon, it was you're first birthday, and mommy celebrated with you!

A short month later you weaned yourself and made mommy cry. A few short days later mommy learned that you were 'broken' and would need to be 'fixed'. She toughed out a surgery on her amazing little angel! You toughed that out better than mommy she was a nervous wreck!

That spring you became a sports fan, rooting for you're favorite team!

You learned how to style hair, using such techniques as the 'macaroni'.

You met a lot of cute friends(who you'll get more of in a few weeks):

Last summer you learned to walk by yourself:

Then mommy broke her camera and you rejoiced(until she fixed it).
You celebrated a Halloween, Thanksgiving, and a christmas, blessedly camera free(at least to you).

Than it snowed, and mommy insisted on dragging you out in it. You had a blast!

That is until she took you back inside where you retreated to you're closet.

You became a queen of you're castle as you have become more expressive!

You rarely speak(though we are working on that!) but you express just what you want quite clearly!

You made a new friend,

or two...

You've learned to be excited over cleaning(THANK YOU!)

You discovered slides:

You've also been UTI free since last MARCH! That means almost 1 full year! July will be a big milestone, when you'll have been off med's for a full year! You keep discovering new things, and blowing mommy's mind everyday. I am always amazed to see the world through you're eyes sweetheart, its so colorful and neat, just waiting to be explored. So today as we celebrate YOU, just know that I will always love you!

Love,

Mommy