Hallie is TWO!!!

 

 

Oh My Dearest Hallie Belle,
 
You are 2! I cannot even believe that it was two years ago today that I finally got to meet you. And I have been blown away every single day at the amazing creation that you are. You are absolutely hilarious and make us crack up on a daily basis...even when you aren't with us we laugh as we reflect on you. You are highly spirited and have a very strong opinion about most things - which adds spice to everything in our lives. There is just something amazingly special about you. You light up any room you walk into. Your smile and sly smirk make us bend over backwards trying to see it just one more time. You have us wrapped around your little fingers and it is our greatest joy and honor to see you loving life and growing into our amazing and beautiful Hallie Belle.

 

 

This last year has been full of adventures! We have learned that you are our fearless and wild little girl. You love the water, sand, and dirt. You love jumping on your trampoline and doing cannonballs - even with the big kids. You LOVE your baby dolls and any (and all) accessories that come with them. We end up buying a baby doll at almost every store we go to because you say that its crying when its in the box so we have to buy it to save it. You love tutus, shoes, jackets, and boots. You are very insistent that you pick out your clothes almost every day - including your shoes. And if you don't get the right ones, you aren't afraid to yell it out until you get them. And you also love your pajamas and your sleep! You are my little night owl and love to sleep in until the late morning or sometimes even the early afternoon! You have learned to climb out of your crib and I'm sure it won't be long until we set up your big girl bed. Your favorite books right now include "I Love You Stinky Face", "Jamberry", "Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed", your Bible, "The Belly Button Book", and "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer". You also make sure we know which books you want to read and when. I really just cannot get enough of your spunky personality. I absolutely love being your mom!

Hallie, there is absolutely no way to capture every moment that I want to. Each day with you passes way too fast and I have to hold myself back from waking you up to snuggle almost every night. I am so amazingly blessed by you. There are still times that I sit back and watch you and try to contemplate the wonder of having you as my daughter. I love the way you walk around expecting everyone to follow you - and we always do. I love the way you hug and kiss - each one that we get melts our hearts (and especially your daddy's). I love how you get excited about everything even when you have no idea what it is. I love that you always say you are handsome when we say your are beautiful. I love how you laugh uncontrollably when we tickle you and eat your belly...or when I sing the "Itsy Bitsy Spider'. I love how you sing songs and sound a little bit like a siren when you sing 'your song'. I love hearing you pray and every time its "Jesus. Superhero. Amen." I love that you insist on doing everything all by yourself and aren't afraid to yell, "DO SELF" to let us know that. Hallie, you are precious...and lovely...and beautiful...We absolutely LOVE you!!!

So my dear Hallie, on this wonderful day - your 2nd Birthday - this is my prayer for you and your life...

Jesus, thank you so much for this gift of life that you have blessed us with.  What an amazing honor it is to be her mom. I pray that your grace would pour out over Hallie's life and that your Holy Spirit would invade every part of who she is. I pray that she would know and truly understand that she is amazingly beautiful. She is the picture of perfection created in YOUR image. You created her as an artist creates a masterpiece and looked upon her and said, "It is good!" Jesus, I pray that Hallie would grow to exude confidence and grace. That she would be amazingly strong, courageous, and dignified, yet incredibly gentle and kind. I pray against any outer influence that says that she is not good enough, or that she is lacking in any way. Lord, I pray that all of her worth would be found in you. God, I pray that Hallie would dream big and love deeply. And Jesus, please guard her heart. Set her apart for you and your will. I pray that your love would envelop her and consume her and she would find herself in you. Lord, protect her heart, her mind, and her body. I pray that your protection would follow her all the days of her life. I am so excited for the days ahead and to watch my baby girl grow into a woman that is chasing after your heart. Before I know it, I will be walking her in to preschool or watching her walk down the sidewalk to kindergarten. And I'm sure my tears will flow as I drop her off for her first day of Jr. High...and then High School. And I am so excited to hear her name announced as she walks across the stage to receive a diploma. And see her Daddy walk her down that aisle - glowing with your love as a beautiful bride. Or to watch her hold her baby in her arms for the first time, and gaze into his/her eyes as I know it is at that moment that she may finally get a glimpse into how much I love her. Jesus, thank you for this precious gift! Please give me wisdom to be her mom...To love her every single day of her life, to encourage her always and to be her biggest fan. I pray that you would be apparent in all of my words and all of my actions. Lord, help me to strive to demonstrate your love for Hallie in a tangible way in hopes that it will give her the smallest peak into who you are. Just as her name means "Praise God", all I can do is praise you for this precious life. May Hallie grow into the amazing woman that you have called her to be!
 
Amen.

Hallie, you are a gift. Your life is a blessing to me and I cannot wait to see the ways that you change this world. Happy 2nd Birthday my precious daughter. Cannot wait to see what your future holds...

I love you,
Mom