Blake-a-Roo is TWO

 

I am having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that my youngest has turned two. There is an ache in my chest for the baby that we are leaving behind and I struggle to remember what life looked like before our little Blake. I was certain going into my second pregnancy that I had this parenting thing totally worked out. My first was colicky, so I figured there was nothing I couldn’t handle. I knew there would be a transition period for Layne and sleepless nights for Craig and I, but how different could my two babies really be? I know now, without a doubt, that no two kids are the alike. These little ladies have been opposite sides of the same coin since day one. Layne oozes girliness out of every pore of her being. She is delicate, sensitive, motherly, outgoing and independent. Blake, on the other hand, is the little girl I always expected I would have – busy, affectionate, shy, sassy, funny, and a total bulldozer!

Blake’s introduction to the world was speedy and exciting and we seem to have stayed the course in a similar fashion. It wasn’t until I became a mother of two that I began to appreciate all of the luxuries of having an only child. Having two children has taught me that it really is all about the small victories. If the kids are fed, the house is still standing, and you’re willing to brave the next day, you’re off to a good start.

It feels like the days and weeks are passing in an instant. Our lives, in a nutshell, are scheduled chaos. A carefully crafted montage of dance, preschool, art class, skating and regular playdates. It’s only recently that the majority of these events have become more than just spectator sports for Blake. She couldn’t be more thrilled. There isn’t a kid out there happier to participate. She is now on her second round of art class and can successfully skate. I’d like to take a motherly bragging moment to mention that she actually shouldn’t even have started skating lessons until two and a half. She is amazing!

This April was crazier than most. There was Easter, a massive influx of babies to photograph, and Blake had a birthday – all in a two week span. I, being a firm believer in celebrating all milestones to the fullest, was not about to let a birthday pass without the proper amount of fanfare. All of our efforts paid off the second Blake saw her decorations the morning of her birthday. “Wow Dada – how you do that? It’s beautiful! I love it, now.” SUCCESS! Who needed sleep anyway?

Happy Birthday to my Beautiful Blake. I fall more in love with you every day and I just know you are going to do great things. Look out world, Blake’s coming at you full force!