I love it how...

I love it how…

This is dedicated to my sweet and spunky two year old daughter. It is an ever present intention of mine to delight in the smallest things in life that bring joy. I think there is so much gratitude to be found if you focus on all of the little things rather than chasing some an elusive enigma of happiness. Happiness is a byproduct of joy. Gigi brings us joy every moment, and I want to look back and remember some of the sweetest things that used to bring us smiles - because even though this represents so much of our life today, I never want these memories to fade. 

I love it how you have these little favorite things, like bumble bees, lady bugs, ants, puffer fish, and butterflies and when you see them in books or clothes, or any place really - you shriek with excitement. I wish I could bottle up the pure joy that you feel in these moments and experience it for the rest of my life. 

I love it how your imagination is ripening every day and you are learning how to ‘pretend’ - yesterday you told me that the kitchen floor was water and that it was filled with puffer fish.

I love it how you like to help me cook, and your enthusiasm in the smallest things like wanting to help me stir or put an ingredient in the bowl shows me the joy and beauty in every day life. And then, to watch you mimic me in your toy kitchen - mixing imaginary ingredients, is too precious for words and shows me how much you are watching and learning from me. 

I love it how you are learning new phrases, stringing words together, and using them in the right context. Like when you ask for fruit snacks 100 times a day and I tell you that you don’t need them, in your highest pitch little voice you say, ‘YEAH I DO!’ And you’ve started to claim things as yours by saying ‘Gigi’ in front of the word. 

I love it how you like to play with the tiniest of little toys. Like handfuls of itty bitty erasers, or tiny plastic toy bugs or animals. It’s so cute to see your small little hand grasping all these teensy little things that you collect, re-arrange, or carry with you in the car or on our walks. 

I love it how we go on an evening walk every night and we point out the moon, stop to look at ants, you laugh hysterically holding Jeter’s leash, and I talk to you about the different colors in the sunset and how every day it’s painted differently.

I love it how you like to take showers with Daddy or me. You love to play with soap, shaving cream, and you stir up your mixtures in cups and bowls with plastic spoons and you would play in there for hours if we let you.

I love it how you collect treasures outside. You are constantly picking up sticks, leaves, rocks, and acorns and you are very discerning about which ones you want - it’s not just any one, there is some sort of evaluation you process before you select which ones you want to put in your tricycle basket. When we get to the garage you never let me throw them out, instead we have to carry them inside to the back yard and you put them in the little wooden treasure chest that you painted on the table. 

I love it how you are always painting or coloring. You tell me “Paint Paint Paint” and you mimic the motion of a paint brush on the patio. I fill you palette with different colored washable paints and brushes and you carefully paint and repaint your wooden bird houses, always carefully selecting a color and strategically painting the borders or roof. I know I’m partial but it feels like the artistic qualities you exhibit are advanced for your age. 

I love it how I can bribe you to do literally anything if I offer your fruit snacks. I’ve never seen anyone obsess over fruit snacks more than you. And between you and your dad, no one can polish off a 100 pack of Sam’s Club fruit snacks faster. 

I love it how you drive your battery operated Mercedes in the yard and you know how to put your foot on the gas but haven’t quite figured out the coordination of the steering wheel, so instead you put your hands above your head in the air and lounge back and laugh, with your radio blasting. A total baller at only 2 years old!

I love it how you love to read. Books about anything and everything, but especially those with flaps, pop ups, and animals of all kinds. I hope the excitement you feel over a brand new book never leaves you. 

I love it how you evaluate the size of items or animals and then carefully tell me which one is the dada, mama, and baby - largest, medium, to smallest.