On Memorial Day, our little family of five celebrated Lucy's 2nd birthday, and the whole event was a reminder to me about why I love this age.
You see, two-year-olds will be impressed with the puppy cupcakes you spent hours making the day before. The instructions are here if you are so inclined. (Oh yes, I got my Martha Stewart on. Just don't tell her I used boxed cake mix and pre-made frosting.)
Two-year-olds can be stubborn and uncooperative, but they are so cute it's hard to really care.
When you say "Happy birthday!" to a two-year-old, the two-year-old says it right back to you with unbridled enthusiasm. She's just happy to be celebrating; she doesn't even realize that it's all about her.
Two-year-olds are blissfully oblivious that cupcakes and presents are waiting for them, so they don't whine or complain when you make them take pictures with everybody in the family before the festivities begin.
When the time finally arrives for singing "Happy Birthday" and blowing out candles, the two-year-old will start beaming about being the center of attention. Especially if that two-year-old is a third child.
A two-year-old doesn't care if her mother makes everyone re-enact the singing and candle-blowing because she wants to get the moment on video (see below) and in pictures (and she can't do both with the same camera). In fact, the two-year-old will absolutely love it and will make you light the candles and sing to her over and over again. And you will happily sing and cheer until your vocal chords start to feel sore because it makes her so, so happy. By the way, the two-year-old will get very skilled at blowing out candles.
A two-year-old isn't expecting presents, so when she does open the one gift you have for her, she will be over the moon about it. She will hug that puppy, kiss it on the nose, and drag it around the house by one of its floppy ears for the rest of the day.
Yep, two-year-olds are pretty incredible.
Especially mine.