On Being Two

*disclaimer: this is a long post. lots running around in my head. somewhat random. but important to record.

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I admit, being 2 has got to be tough.

I feel like I've written this post before.

Ok. Yeah. I have.

I think being two with twin baby sisters has got to be even tougher.

Because when they cry, we have to react.

When Addie asks for something, we can say hold on one minute or wait just a second because she can understand.

So maybe that's why she sometimes resorts to yelling. Or crying. Or screaming.

Or asking me the same question or saying my name 1,452 times before I even have time to answer!

I would, wouldn't you?

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A sad story: Paul was off work Friday, and we'd planned to go to the zoo. We finally got there, but I had to feed the girls first. That was it. It put her over the edge. Head banging. Warning. Feet kicking. Warning. Screaming yelling crying. Last warning. Threw her chic-fil-a chicken mini box at Daddy. That was it! I finished feeding AP, put her back in her car seat. And we.drove.away. She cried. I wanted to cry. But we kept going. It was an absolutely gorgeous day. I was ecstatic about spending it at the zoo with all 5 of us, but we knew we couldn't turn back.

We talked about it. She calmed down pretty quickly. And we had a delightful morning at the park. 

She immediately told RieRie about not being able to go to the zoo. When asked why, in perfect two year old logic, she said: Because I didn't get to see the animals? (We've got to work on why vs. consequences of the why.) When asked again, she said: Because I pitched a BIG fit and threw a box at Daddy. She got it. Whether she will remember next time or not, she got it.

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But sometimes, she's the sweetest, cuddliest, most loving, lovable little 2 year old ever.

And she's only two!

I often times, like just tonight, have to remind myself that she's only two and half.

TWO...

not 3 or 4.

I mentioned something about her being two to our general contractor (probably as she was standing at the kitchen door talking his ear off or asking him questions).

He said two? I thought she was at least 4 with how much she talks!

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A quick story: A few nights ago, we were getting ready for dinner. I brought her a cup and Paul a cup and sat them down on the table. She excitedly asked me if that was her cup. I assumed she was talking about her favorite purple cup and replied with a yes and walked out to grab plates (all of this is significantly more complicated because we have to walk around through the hall since the dining room/kitchen door is blocked off now). Anyway! Paul came in and sat down and grabbed his drink and she freaked out! You know, because she thought that was her drink! I calmly came back in and asked what was going on. She was distraught that he'd taken her cup, and they were going back and forth as to who's I said it was. I explained that that was Daddy's cup and the purple one was hers. She was so confused. Finally I realized we had been talking about two different cups when she'd asked if it was hers. Well...I said, I'm sorry I didn't understand what you were asking earlier, but that's your cup and this is Daddy's.

She very calmly looks up at me and says: It's ok Mommy. It's not your fault. It's Daddy's fault.

Clearly!

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We pretty much sing about everything around here. But it's all to the tune of Here we go Round the Mulberry Bush. Almost always.

Here we go to school today, school today, school today. 
Here we go to school today, on a Tuesday morning.

But now Addie makes up her own, and they're sometimes pretty funny. Often times they make sense. Sometimes they don't.

So on the way home from life group after she's already sang:  
Here we are at life group, life group, life group.
Here we are at life group, but not any more.

She busted out with this song. There are multiple verses, so bear with me here:
Cady is my best friend, best friend, best friend.
Cady is my best friend, a-at school.
...but she doesn't go to my school. 

She is my best friend...a-at her house.

She is a good cousin...to give hugs.
(although more like sisters, they aren't sisters OR cousins) 

She gives me kisses...a-and hugs.

(Here's where it gets confusing...)
But she doesn't come to it, come to it, come to it.
But she doesn't come to it, she drops me down-to-the-floor.

She doesn't let me go down, go down, go down.
She doesn't let me go down, go-o down.

When i come to gymnastics...I can see Cady.

Cady is my best friend, best friend, best friend.
Cady is my best friend, but she isnt.

??!!??!!??

By the middle we were laughing so hard that she could hear us, stopped and said: Don't laugh at me Daddy!!! ...and continued on.

I'm pretty sure they are as close to best friends as any two year olds can be...even when the song doesn't say so or even make sense!!!
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One last thing: I was picking up Addie from school one day and heard them practicing John 3:16. So I started reviewing it with her. She can almost say the whole thing by herself, even the neverlasting life part.

We started learning Mark 12:30...Love the Lord your God with all your heart (she points to her heart), with all your soul (to her chest), with all your mind (to her head), and with all your strength (and she makes fist and strong arms...her favorite part). She always concludes with where it's found: Mark twelve firty

I love my precious two year old.  

I love her willingness to share her thoughts with others. Her ability to convey what she wants/needs/feels or at least try. Her love of learning. Her love of others.

I love her passion for life.

What I love the most about all of these pictures is that she was pushing her baby sisters in the swings. Since this post is just about Addieboo, I didn't include those, but I promise to post them soon. Just another thing I love about our little girl!

Have patience. Have patience. Don't be in such a hurry.

When you get impatient, you only start to worry.

Remember. Remember.

That God is patient too. 

So think of all the times when others had to wait for you!  

Love is patient. Love is kind.

I Corinthians 13:4a

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Ephesians 4:2