Happy Birthday, Marissa!

Rissi-Roo, Marley, Little One, Sweet Talker, Rissi-Girl, My Baby.  You turned two today.  Two!  Two wonderful years of discovering who you are and being blessed with more joy than I could have ever imagined possible before having you.  You amaze me with your sunny personality.  You have the rare quality of being full of sunshine even when life isn't always sunny.  I think you inherited my dad's unwavering optimism, and that is a very good quality to have.

Not that you don't know what you want, because oh, yes you do.  To the point that you were able to TELL us about it, quite clearly, and quite early on.  Yes, this was the year you learned to talk.  In phrases, then sentences.  You could mimic pretty much anything we said, and when you started mimicking your sister, you started believing you were her TWIN!  Oh, you make me smile. 

Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl!  We are so very blessed to get to call you our daughter.

   

 

Walking at nine months.

 

Little Miss Sunshine

 

 

First Birthday

 

 

 

 

 

Going from baby to big girl in 2008:

 

  

There you are with your curls and costume, getting ready to dance to "Good Ship Lollipop," of course.  If music is playing, you are dancing.  If you know the song, you will sing it!  (And you firmly believed that all tutus MUST be pulled up to your chest.)

 

The night before turning two:

This was the year of blond curls, ballet and learning to talk. In that order.

Dear Jesus, I pray you will bless this precious, funny child with all your multitude of blessings that you wish to bestow upon her.  I know that when you promise us that you have a lot of blessing in store for us, that you mean it, and I claim those for her.   Lord, we do ask that you will rain down upon her your protection, comfort, joy, peace, love and security.  Please keep her little body safe and guard her heart, that she will be able to hold on to her unflappable cheeriness.  As entertaining as she is, keep us from giving her the sense that making us laugh is her only purpose. Help us to find creative and special ways to let her know just how cherished she is.  Grant us wisdom in this upcoming year of being "Two" and all that means for her.  Thank you for your unique creation in her. Thank you for entrusting her to our care.  Thank you for the way she brightens the room.  Amen.