She's 2!

She’s 2.

Yesterday the Light of Our Lives, the Sunshine in Our Hearts turned 2. Going on 10, but she turned 2.

I know a lot of blogger say a lot of endearing things about their children on their birthdays, and I want to say the same, but I also want you to know her. Actually know her. What she’s into, what she does that’s funny and makes her…Violet.

She can do buttons, put on her shoes, socks and pants. She is trying so hard to get the shirt and jacket on her own. She loves to brush her teeth on her own, have her hair done, lotion herself and would prefer a shower. She counts to 3. She’s always kind, thoughtful, the caretaker of everyone, but especially Alex. She takes his uncontrollable thrashes the best that a 2 year old can. She seems in her way to try to understand that he is “different” than her. She just seems…older.

Every time she runs, it’s as if her speed blows her away. She runs with her arms stretched out behind her, blowing in the wind; head bouncing like a little bobble head doll. She’s usually running to tell someone that she went “pee-pee in the potty”. Yes, that’s the older than her age part. She went ahead and started potty training herself at 22 ½ months. She’s potty trained now; something she prefers to do without you in the room, and with the door shut. #1 and #2. Not that you want to know, but you need to know. She’s exceptional.

She’s a bean pole. She’s finally 27 pounds and the height of a 4 year old. She almost always has food in her hands but detests formal meals. She plays musical chairs or finds herself picking up whatever Ben flings on the floor. She doesn’t hesitate to snuggle on you, pick off your plate, ensure that she has one of everything that everyone else has; then asks for more even though she’ll never eat it. She’ll politely sit on your lap for a more comfortable eating environment. Inevitably, at the end of a meal, she has stripped and is content. She is an actress, a flirt, an instigator of trouble. She absolutely loves her pursues, her cell phones, necklaces, bracelets, sunglasses, and markers. She is beautiful.

It’s not unusual to find her concerned to be sure that her baby dolls have their bottles, even when going to bed with her at night; her babies must have their needs met after all. You can often find her cradling her baby doll in her arm, bottle feeding with a sway and a hum. She loves her brothers; absolutely adoring Alex, his company, his antics, him.

She’s addicted to sweets. It’s not a pretty sight. Sweets are a drug to her and one of only 2 things that turn her into a little devil. The other is sleep deprivation. (Who wouldn’t turn!) She loves her sleep, just like her mom. She needs her baby towels, at least 2, and a bottle of water with her in order to send her into a blissful slumber…of course, you have to hope that she doesn’t strip yet again and throw her diaper out of bed (she only wears one at sleep time).

I’ve sung Santa Claus is Coming to Town 15 or so times in the past 2 months, getting the kids well-prepared for Christmas. She now sings it, to the best of her ability. She loves to sing. She loves music. All music. She dances in the most beautiful toddler way she can.

It’s ironic. The moment she was born I felt as though she added light to my heart. I felt that she put sunshine in my life. I hadn’t told anyone this until long after my mom began singing Violet “her song” (each child having their own). The song is Violet's favorite. You will often hear her asking to have her back tickled while you sing this part of this song to her, You Are My Sunshine:

You are my Sunshine,
My only Sunshine.

You make me happy,
When skies are grey.

You’ll never know dear,
How much I love you.

Please don’t take my Sunshine away.

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