Lucy Therese is two years old today.  How much she’s grown in just two years! Two years ago, we were glad when she slept, filled her diaper and followed us with her eyes. One year ago, we were impressed that she could stand up and make funny faces at us. Now, we’re amazed at all her new delights.

Lucy loves to dance: quick, slow, jumping high, bending low. She marches, stamps her feet, lifts her legs, crosses her feet, twirls around, and recently mastered the curtsie. She does it all, and gets her inspiration from Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, Disney’s Fantasia and Topol’s Fiddler on the Roof.

She also loves to read. Some books, like Fuzzy Teddy and Goodnight Moon (“Night-night Moon”) she knows so well she can finish the sentences for us. Others, like Pooh’s Pot of Gold, Merry Christmas Curious George and Millie’s Secret, she pages through herself and tells the story in words that make lots of sense to her, but none to us yet.

Lucy has also grown into a loving big sister. The first thing she says when she wakes up is “Elliot” (pronounced “Edit,” by Lucy) and she runs to find him, give him a tender kiss on the head and say, “Heh-whoa Edit. Nice nap.” (translation: Hello Elliot, you had a good night’s sleep.) When Elliot cries, Lucy announces it loudly to make sure Mama doesn’t miss it. Then she pats him on the belly and says, “What’s wrong, Edit?” She helps Mama burp him by patting him on the back, retrieves spit-up rags for Mama when necessary, and also holds up toys for him to look at.

Today, Lucy woke up to a special breakfast: Blueberry Birthday Pie. She opened some gifts (books and a stepstool from Mama and Papa) and then the whole family went to the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum where we ran around, made big bubbles, ran through mirrored tunnels, played instruments and played with tons of other fun things. What a fun day for our active two year-old!

Happy birthday, Lucy Therese. May you bear the light of Christ all the days of your life, and like Saint Therese of Liseux, may you love the LORD more than anything else.