Thoughts on Two

My daughter turned two last week. I've been so busy outside of work, celebrating her and just soaking her up. But I wanted to post about this moment before it passes by. Time is flying and I have a kid now; my sweet, yummy baby is no longer a baby. She is a person and she's separate from me. But also still a piece of me. It's a dichotomy deeply felt but hard to explain.

A 50-something-year-old Uber driver recently told me that when she sees her 80-year-old mother they embrace like mother and small child, hugging, kissing, the daughter atop her aging mother's lap. It sounded odd but also right. I can't imagine a time when I won't try to pull Liv close and just eat her up, even if she resists. :) Even now I come on too strong. She only lets me kiss attack her cheeks and neck and snuggle her on my chest before bedtime.

Liv's personality, likes and dislikes are showing through and it feels like magic. She's fully communicating and it's so satisfying. Of course it's also harder in some ways - having to say no at times to her sweetly said requests. Dealing with the occasional meltdown. When she does get emotional she tends to play it cool after. "I a silly goose," she says after a tantrum.

Liv also calls the moon a silly goose. When she can't see it she tells me it's hiding behind buildings. Every night (and sometimes during the day) Liv looks for the moon. She's a total Moon Goddess. When it gets dark outside and the city skyline lights up outside our windows Liv says "it's dark, means it's nighttime."

She knows so much and every time she reveals a new nugget of knowledge I feel a swell of pride as if she just got accepted into Yale. Now I know why parents are so annoying. I'm so proud of my little girl. My smart, sweet, thoughtful love bug silly goose; I love her to the moon and back.

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