Happy SECOND Birthday, Nan Louise!

 Nan Louise,

Two years with you have brought so much laughter into our hearts. You've grown and changed so much this past year, as I knew you would. I ended your one year letter saying that I knew I would look back on those pictures and think your face looked so baby-like-- and it does! And while you don't have MUCH more hair [which is definitely red], your big personality has only grown bigger and bigger by the day.

When you began this second year of life, you weren't yet walking [which didn't stop you in the least from getting what you wanted], but very quickly you started walking and by day two you were running. You are easily our most active child-- you climb and run and get into things and onto things your sisters would have never dreamed about, but that just seems to be your trademark: making sure we don't compare you and that you are your OWN person. I think often the third child can just be lumped in with the rest of them, but due to your special brand of spunk you've made sure that's been impossible for us.

We found out at your one year well-check that we needed to schedule you with an eye-doctor. You handled that appointment well, and our doctor decided to see you around age two. At your last appointment we discovered you have astigmatism and will need glasses. Since it wasn't super severe, our doctor thought we could wait one more year before getting you fitted for those, so this will be your last year without glasses. I think you're going to be so adorable in whatever glasses we find for you. If you have any issues with your vision, you haven't shown us anything in the least bit.

Nan, you make the craziest sounds! You growl and screech and even your normal talking voice is a gravelly little thing. You can mimic just about anyone-- the tone of their voice and the look on their face. When your sisters are crying you either fake cry with them, or you hug them and try and make them feel better. However, when YOU are upset and Becks tries to hug YOU, you usually shove her away rather fiercely. Generally you accept hugs from Blythe at any time.

You and Blythe have always had a special relationship, easy from the start. But you and Becks have grown so close during this school year while Blythe is away. Sometimes I find you sitting on Becks's lap, or you're playing "moms and kids" together. One of your favorite games to play together is to try and sneak up on robins in the yard and catch them. You haven't been successful yet, but I'm afraid you may be one day! Overall you seem to like animals, at least from a distance. You can spot any bird in the sky [calling most of the "eagles"], or any horse or cow in a field.

You communicate very well, and say a million and one things. You aren't super easy to understand [to others], but even if someone doesn't understand you exactly, you make sure to get your point across! When someone picks you up, if you want something, you grab their shoulder and say, "Go. Go!" or "Over there!" or "Come!" And for some reason you are really hard to resist. You also understand about 98% of what we tell you or ask you, and I think the other 2% is already just "selective listening." The other day we were at the grocery door by the cold section that is just open-- with butter, and yogurt, and juice. While I was grabbing what we needed you looked at your dad and told him to "shut the door!" You kept repeating it, waiting for him to do what you commanded, but we just stood and laughed and laughed. There was no door to be shut, but you were cold and demanded someone take some action!

You really love to be outside. You like to play in the sandbox, or ride your little bike/car, or jump on the trampoline with your sisters. You like to swing, but now refuse the baby/toddler swing and have to be in a big swing like Blythe and Becks. I'm convinced you would be this way even if you were the oldest and didn't see them-- you just like to live on the edge a little. You are doing things way before they ever did: in part because you're our third and we just kind of let you/need you to, but also because you adamantly refuse most help or assistance of any kind.

We are just getting ready to move you into a room with your sisters. You've had your own room for two years, but now your soon to be baby BROTHER is kicking you out. We are really excited to watch you become a BIG sister. You don't have a great track record for having "gentle hands", but I have learned that little ones seem to catch on pretty quickly. We are praying the same will hold true for you.

Some of your current favorites include being outside, playing in Papa's truck and crunching on his coke ice, playing with your sisters, looking at "bideos" of yourself on my phone, horses, running naked through the house, having PopPop "hold you, hold you,", suckers from the bank,  being scratched and having "Jesus" [Jesus Loves Me] sang to you, and jumping off the couch into a pile of pillows.

You stomp your foot and cross your arms and pout and holler, but you are sweet as pie inside. We are praying that you grow in patience and grace, that your little soul will know its need for our great big Savior. You have taught me a lot about that need, little one. Growing to a family of five was an adjustment, and while some things seemed to naturally expand, my capacity to be everywhere I am needed did not. And you're addition to the family has continued to teach me my natural need for a Savior is a good thing to be aware of. Many days while I read my bible at the counter, you climb up in my lap and you "pat the Bible" and we say together, "God's words are true." I pray you grow to cherish those words all the days of your life.

she saw a fly...and was "all done...foo fly"

 We still pray you are generous and that you are faithful in your relationships and actions. We pray you are attentive to others when in their presence, and that you walk with humility throughout this life. As I have ended all birthday letters, I want to end this one to you, sweet Nan, as well: We hope you understand the why behind our no-s. We hope you feel safe in the boundaries we set. We hope you feel freedom in the wide open places we leave for you. We hope you see God in our actions and in our words. We hope when you leave our little home for good and go out on your own that you'll look back on this simple little life we had together-- chaos and mistakes and messes and all-- and see that it was Grace that held us together; that you see that is was God's daily bread that provided it all.

We will fail you Nan, but know we also love you with no end and that we enjoy your presence and who God has made you is making you. Year two to three is one of my absolute favorites, and though this year will hold many many changes for our growing family, I plan on fully embracing this year with you as well!

Happy second birthday, Nanny Lou!
There is nothing you can ever do that will keep us from loving you.