I blinked and she went from this
to this.
I remember the day we met her at the birthing center in Korea like it was yesterday. When I look at her baby pictures, I see many expressions that we have come to know and love. Like this little smirk, which is super adorable but almost always means she’s up to no good. 😉
It seems like she grew up so much faster than Owen. He could only say a handful of words by his second birthday whereas she is speaking complete sentences with a vocabulary that astonishes everyone. She looks up to Owen and does/says everything he does…which can be a good and sometimes a bad thing. They can get into so much mischief together! But really, he’s such a good role model for her and their love for each other makes my heart sing.
Of course, they’re still brother and sister and they have their moments…
I have so much to say about Della at two years old, but I don’t know where to even start. When we are out and about, people who observe her will always make a comment to me about her. How cute she is, how sassy she is, how smart she is, how much of a handful she is, how well she talks…and so on. I usually reply with “she’s a girl who knows what she wants,” or “she’s something,” or sometimes even “she’s lucky she’s cute” with a laugh. In all honesty, she is all of that and then some. She has challenged me as a mother in ways I never imagined possible – it’s not a bad thing. I’ve learned a lot about myself and the mother I am and strive to be through her. And thank goodness for the internet because all the funny memes I’ve seen about toddlers all make sense to me now.
This is very similar to what happened in the Centurion Lounge in the Seattle-Tacoma airport when I flew home by myself with the kids from Korea. I may have shrieked when I saw her lick the floor. You should have seen the stares I got when we walked out of there…
Della, Della, Della. She hits, she bites, she whines, she cries, she’ll do whatever it takes to get what she wants. She’s 2 going on 13. While Owen was a total mama’s boy from day one (and still is) it’s her daddy that she runs to to kiss her owie, who she calls for in the middle of the night, and the only one allowed to clip her fingernails (not even kidding). When we go to the doctor, he has to stand on the scale with her, hold her while they check her vitals and do her exam. I absolutely LOVE their relationship. His role as a girl dad has me all swooooon. 🙂
My sweet Della. She makes me laugh every day. Her voice and the way she hollers “Ohhhwennn!” She is also absolutely hilarious and so full of sass. The morning of her birthday, we surprised her with this tutu and she wouldn’t take it off all day. She knew it was HER day and she was going to rock it with style, as every princess should.
We started out her birthday with her favorite treat, donuts. Which required a strip down – as every meal with Della does, but she insisted on wearing the hat.
Donuts were followed by a birthday nap. The cutest birthday nap ever…
She woke up to balloons and was so excited. It’s the little things.
We FaceTimed with grandparents so they could watch her open their presents and then we went out for for Mexican. Della requested chips and salsa for her birthday dinner. After dinner it was time for cake and presents!
She loved when we sang happy birthday to her and sang along with us. The video is probably my favorite part of the day. She couldn’t get the last candle out so when she reached out to touch it, I pretty much blew it out from across the room before she touched it. Mom reflexes for the win.
Dear Della Genevieve,
It’s hard to believe you’ve been in our lives for two years now. Being a mom to YOU is a dream come true, you are such a blessing. Some days it’s not easy being a mom and I thank God daily for trusting me to be your mama. You’ve grown and changed so much this year. You’re no longer a baby, you’re a toddler. But you’ll always be my baby girl…
You’re a talking machine, you love to learn, sing songs, read books, play with your baby dolls, help me do laundry and you would paint all day everyday if I’d let you.
You know your ABCs and numbers because Owen taught you. Hearing you sing them and other songs he knows from school makes my heart swell. I’m so proud of you and love being at home with you everyday to experience all of this with you.
You’re a beautiful girl, inside and out. You’re quick to make friends with anyone, especially animals. Oh how you love puppies and kitties! You’re so quick to turn on the charm and absolutely love being the center of attention everywhere we go. You know no stranger. You continue to put a smile on the faces of everyone in the room, such a light in our lives.
I’m going to add this part because as I write this several months after your birthday, you’ve become a big sister. You’re such a little mama. You have your baby dolls that you love on all day long. You feed them, rock them, read to them, sing to them, put them in the cradle for naps, and take them for walks in the stroller. You show all the same love for your little sister and I am so glad to say that all my nerves about your adapting to Greta joining our family were for nothing. You have adjusted so well and are doing amazing in your new role as a big sister.
You two are going to have so much fun together…and cause so much trouble. 🙂 I know in the long run, giving you a little sister is the best gift I could give you. Della girl, I love you so much. I can’t describe how much fun it is being a “girl mom” to you and Greta.
As challenging as your temperament will be for your dad and I and our constant quest to teach and discipline, we are so very happy that you are your own little person, even at this young age. You know what you want (even if you don’t yet know what you need, but that’s a struggle even for me sometimes), and you are not easily deterred.
There will be people along the way in your life who will try to tell you what you want to accomplish is impossible. That you aren’t good enough, that you are not strong enough, that you are not enough. Girlfriend, you can do the impossible. YOU ARE ENOUGH. I hope you stay as pure as you are now, to know what you want and go after it regardless of the naysayers. You can do away with the tantrums, but please stick to your guns and keep your determined nature. Be confident in yourself, in your body, in your talents, in your beliefs, in who God made you to be. Love God, obey Him, and talk to him a lot. He listens and is the best way to the life your heart truly desires. The power of prayer is so strong and so real. This all will serve you well in life. What I’m trying to say is, love God and just be YOU.
I hope you will nurture your loving side, too. You can never give too many hugs and kisses to the people you love. You can never tell them you love them too many times. Be free with your affection, with your smiles and laughs. Life is short.
I hope that one day when you’re old enough, you’ll consider me your best friend. Just the way that I consider your grandma mine. I hope you know you can come to me with anything and I will always be here for you. I will support you, encourage you, give you honest advice, and listen to you. For anything and everything you could ever need. You are and always will be my girlfriend 1.0.
I can only guess what adventures we will go on in the next year, the next decade, the next lifetime. All I know is that I am so excited to find out.
Love you always and forever,
Mama
Pri says
I teared up just reading this! I cant wait to have a daughter