My Favorite Age

So far, every age that Hana has been, has been my favorite age. Does that make sense? LOL It just keeps getting better and better. When she was an infant I loved to snuggle with her and it was amazing to watch her "wake up" and become aware of her surroundings. I loved watching her learn to walk and talk and use different parts of her body.

Now that she's turning two years old in a very short two weeks from today, not a lot has changed. I still love to watch her learn and figure things out. She's putting together what seem like paragraphs now, we're talking at least seven and eight words at a time! She continues to amaze me every single day, and I have a feeling this will continue on for the rest of my life. It won't be long until she's smarter than me! And once she surpasses me, I'll know I've done my job.

She remembers everything and asks lots of questions. I am so proud of her and how smart she seems. I'm probably biased, but I think to myself every day "This can't be normal!" I mean, seriously, is it normal to walk into your almost-two-year-old's bedroom in the morning and be greeted by her saying, "Good morning, Mommy!"? Is it normal for her to tell her stuffed baby Grover (who wears a diaper) that he has doo doo in his diaper and the doo should be in the potty instead? It probably is normal, but she just seems so young to know so much! She's learning to count, learning her ABC's, learning colors and she loves to sing songs.

Although I am so very proud of her and her intelligence, nothing makes me more proud than when she shows affection. She is the most affectionate little girl I have ever known! I experienced one of my most proudest moments ever as a mother just this past Tuesday at her gymnastics class. There is a new little girl who just is not sure about the class. From the moment class started until it was over she cried. The other kids didn't pay much attention to her fussiness, but Hana did. She was so concerned about her. As I watched the little girl sit there and cry while her Mommy tried to figure out how to make her enjoy the class like the other kids (I tell you, my heart goes out for the mom more than anything!), I couldn't believe my eyes when Hana walked over to the little girl, sat down beside her, put her arm around her and gave her a big squeezy hug! THAT'S MY DAUGHTER!!! That's what I wanted to shout, but I didn't. I just sat there silent, yet proudly smiling while a couple of the other moms said "Aw!"
For now, nothing makes me more proud than her love for life and for others.

Want to know something else I love about this age, or more appropriately Hana at this age? (You know, because I still am convinced she's an extraordinary little girl!) Unsolicited I Love You's. When out of the blue, for no reason at all she says "I love you, Mommy!" I feel complete and at ease. I know that no matter how often I doubt myself and my parenting skills, I must be doing something right.

Right now one of her most favorite games to play is the "night night game." Before we go upstairs to put her to bed, she pretends to be the mommy and puts us to bed. She asks us if we're hungry and offers us a bottle and then she sings us a night night song, often while stroking our face.


I mean really, can it get any better than that?