Arden is Two!

6-16-08
Dear Arden,
Today you are two. I know this is the way it's supposed to happen, but can you please explain to me how you went from this



to this


overnight?

You are such a joy to us. From the moment you wake up, you're in a good mood and ready for the day ahead. You run and laugh and entertain all day long until finally (mercifully) you crash in your crib at naptime. I hope that you will always have your sunny disposition, that you will look upon each day as a fresh start.

To say you are spirited is an understatement. You are a girl with a mind of her own, certain that you are capable of doing whatever you feel like doing whenever you feel like doing it. Most of the time, you can. I hope that you will always be confident in your abilities, that you will stretch yourself to try new things and that you will not be discouraged when things don't work out the way you planned.

You love your big sister. She is your best friend, although you don't always show it in the most conventional way (note: biting is not an appropriate way to show affection). I hope that you two will always be close, that you will lean on each other as you get older and that the teenage years don't cause too many wrinkles for me.

You are loved more than you can ever know. Never forget that. Never forget that.

Happy birthday, sweet AK! We can't wait to see what this year has in store for you!


Scenes from a birthday party: