Arabella turned 2 on February 7, 2013.
Dear Arabella
My sweet little lady bug! Oh, how you melt me. You are so loving. We love how you hold each of our faces and rub it and kiss it. You are all girl except when you aren't. You are quick to give your opinion about fashion. You are always up for getting your nails painted. Everything pink and purple is "mine" or "Bellaboo's." You are strong willed and don't give up just because someone tells you otherwise. We are thankful when we see this behavior around other big kids because we know you will stick to your convictions. Although you are all girl you are also quick to get dirty by playing in sand or dirt. You love Lighting McQueen (I think there is a little boy who you look up quick a bit who has influenced this love). Arabella, you are adventurous and are excited to try new things. You love to build things.
You love playing pretend with your babies and are a very caring and diligent "mother." The way I see you care for your babies makes me often wonder if I am too hard on myself for not being a "better mother." You love on those babies. Often you can be found with little "babies" wrapped carefully in your shirt. I am sure that you are God's way of showing me a mirror of myself. I love how you are little and love to be "little." You want to be held like a baby and enjoy being babied. I love how God teaches us in ways that could be easily over-looked. I am suppose to be teaching you and helping you grow into a Godly women yet you and your brother often teach me how to be more Godly. You both show so much love to others. You both love so many, unconditionally.
Your favorite colors have stayed fairly consistent since you ability to express "favorites." Green, purple and pink in that basic order are the colors you choose and claim as your own. You already recognize many letters, can sing the whole ABC song, plus count to 10. I think you may even understand some basic addition. You are so articulate. You don't generally use a word unless you feel you can say it well. You are very thoughtful of the words you use. It is so cute to watch you think of the exact right words you want to use in a sentence, practice to your self to make sure you can say them to your satisfaction and then say your sentence. I don't think I have ever seen someone young put so much thought into their words. You are so smart.
You love meat. Meat and rice. You often ask for it at every meal. You like spicy foods. You have your daddy's food taste. Meat over sweets. Often you choose more meat or veggies over a sweet treat, much to my continued disbelief and your Daddy's joy. You love veggie and fruit. Berries and oranges are the top fruits. You pretty much haven't found a veggie you don't like.
You are quite the mimic. You copy your brother most of all. Actually, I feel like if you weren't the mimic you are your brother and you would be as as different as night and day. Other than you are both quite the sweetie pies!
You still love your naps most days. Much to my joy and relief you nap 1.5-2 hours. You still like to snuggle a bit before naps and bed time. You are happy with both Mommy or Daddy being your snuggle buddy. Landon and you share a bed for night time. Landon likes to fall asleep on his own, so he can have some quiet time in bed with his books and a couple of toys. Once he has fallen asleep we bring you in his room (you are often asleep as well). Most nights in the early morning hours you climb in bed with Mommy and Daddy for an hour or more of cuddles, which we love.
I am still nursing you, mostly just at your sleep times. I think you love the one on one time with Mommy.
On your birthday, you weight 23 lb. and were 2feet and 9 3/4in. You are a beautiful little girl inside and out. People always tell me how beautiful and precious you are. Although, Mommy and Daddy see looks of differences you look like your brother. We have been asked more than once if you two are twins.
Your brother adores you. He is so sweet and loving to you.
The german meaning for your name is beautiful, loving, lovable, graceful. In Latin, it means prayerful. You are all those things. Arabella, you are such a blessing to us. We love you!
