Happy Birthday Faith!

Dear Faith,

Today is your second birthday. I can't believe you're 2 years old already. It seems like only a short time ago that you tried jumping feet-first into this world. What a traumatic experience that was - but we were rewarded with such a mellow little girl. For a while, anyway. Then you started showing your spice.

You are such a daddy's girl. He is wrapped around your finger and lets you have your way with just about everything. You're a tease, too. You like to grab Michael's toys and run off, shrieking with laughter. Or you'll wait until he has his bowls perfectly organized and straightened, and then you'll move one just a little bit. And laugh. (I think you learned that trick from your grandpa.) And when he moves it back and we tell you to leave it alone, you'll stick your hand out and almost touch it. But not quite. You're just teasing and you think it's hilarious. So do we, except we're not supposed to let you know that.

You are learning so many words and you're starting to talk so well. You get excited about every heart, flower, and star you see. You point them out and repeat, "Heart! heart! heart!" until we acknowledge, "Yes, Faith, a heart." You call yourself "Fafie" or "Sissy" and you call Michael "Mach-um." Lauren is still "the baby." Other people important to you are "Bama" and "Bapa," "Bee-Bama" and "Bee-Bapa," and Abby, "Ave-wee," and "Kee-wee." Matthew is also "Mach-um" to you. You have a special love for "Bama Sissy," and you often bring me my wallet and ask to "See Bama Sissy, see Bapa." Then when I get the photo out, you act shy and pretend to not look at it.

You are a stubborn little stinker sometimes. When you don't want to do something, you flop down on the ground and go limp. You aren't very cute when you cry. You're just loud and annoying, and it makes my head hurt. You get impatient when something you're doing won't work the way you think it should. You scream louder and louder, and hit it harder and harder until it either works, breaks, or someone helps you. You're definitely a "get a bigger hammer" kind of girl. And that scream. Oh my goodness. No one told me how loudly little girls can scream.

You are a challenge, but you are also definitely one of our greatest joys. You are Michael's best friend, Daddy's little girl, and my sweetie. We can't imagine our life without you.

We love you, Faithie!