Mama of Two Toddlers

My baby girl has become a toddler. I realized it last week when someone asked if my children were twins. At first, I thought it sounded silly, but the more I looked at my two children sitting next to each other in high chairs, it finally hit me that my girl wasn't a little baby anymore. They almost did look like twins.

She became a 1 year old a couple weeks ago and I feel like she's changing so much every day. Although she still has no interest in walking, Lucia is showing me that she's now a toddler with the words she's learning to say, the food she's become more interested in eating, and the way she now plays with her big brother. She has traded in her bottles for sippy cups and has transitioned to whole milk with her meals. It's bittersweet, losing my infant for another crazy, mobile, independent toddler, but life is finally becoming less foggy around here. The hard days of balancing life with a newborn and 1 year old are over, and I'm now realizing how awesome our life is with children this close in age. It feels really nice having two toddlers and watching them become the best of friends. 

Lucia: you've already taught us so much about being parents. When you came into this world, you showed us how much we didn't know about parenting. We thought we were pros, having done this newborn thing just a couple months earlier with your big brother, but you showed us how every child is completely different and not always "by the book." You are our spirited child, our drama queen, our emotional girl that has shown the importance of being sensitive to one's feelings and needs. You've taught us to be more careful and gentle as parents, and that sometimes a kiss on the cheek will just make things worse. You've taught us that rocking a baby to sleep is okay and sometimes necessary for everyone's sanity. You've taught us that some babies do like to cuddle and that some babies need to be sung to sleep. You've taught us about patience and sacrifice (i.e. sleep), and it's made us better people today. You've shown us a new love that has melted our hearts and turned us into a puddle of mush when we look at you. You have such a sweet heart, you are obsessed with your big brother, and you've got a love for music that we're excited to watch grow as you get older. We're so blessed to have you in our lives and know just how much of a gift you are from God. Thank you for bringing bows, ribbons, and pink into our life. We love you, Chia Rose!