Dearest Behbeh,

Its past 1:24pm. Your father is upstairs frantically wrapping your presents and writing in your birthday card – its adorable how much he so badly wants your birthday to be “perfect”. You are in the living room with me, enjoying being allowed to watch 3 episodes of “Pingu” back to back. It IS your birthday after all.

And me? I’m sitting here on the couch, next to watch, watching you and wondering where the heck the last two years went and how we got here so quickly.  There are days where it seems so very long ago and then there are days like today when it seems like it was only yesterday.

You were so very very tiny the day you were born. All of 6lbs 8oz and yet even back then we knew the day you were born you were going to be a stubborn little girl. You came out when you were good and ready… You even went and rebuilt your water sac after the first one broke. Well done! You were born, surrounded by laughter and love. Ask us to tell you the story, someday of how I laughed you out.

I wish I was good with my words and write something poetic and poignant about your birthday this year… Everything seems to be all jumbled and fumbly in my head when I look at you. Not in a bad way, of course, but in a my heart feels so full that its going to burst at the seams.

You have taught me where the edge of my patience used to lie and how far it can stretch. You’ve shown me that I really am my mother and I understand now why she’d come into our rooms at night to check on us. Through out the night. I’ve learned to see the joy through your eyes at the smallest things. Who knew ladybugs, pieces of string, and clouds could be so much fun? You’ve shown me what it really means to dance like there is no one watching. And you know what? It is one of my favorite things to dance like a complete fool with you.

You have frustrated me like no one else on this planet and I would die for you in a heartbeat if there was ever a need.

Since your birthday last year (when you decided to walk for the first time on the DAY of your birthday) you’ve grown by leaps and bounds. You can say your ABCs and colors like no man’s business, pretty much dress yourself (and you have fabulous taste in outfits), you LOVE singing Adele and Airborne Toxic Event songs (I couldn’t be more proud), balloons are your biggest joys and while you’ve slightly outgrown the elmo craze you love all things sesame street. You love love love music and dancing and singing (we couldn’t be more excited about this!), and I swear you’re a budding picasso with your drawings. Oh AND you have been learning to speak Chinese thanks to Ni Hao Kai Lan. You multicultural behbeh, you!

I understand now why I would catch my father staring at us sometimes, for no reason at all. I get it. I’m in awe of you. This little person that (as your father says) went from being a “Blob” to an incredibly funny, caring, smart, stubborn, adorable little girl that melts my heart every time she yells out “LOOOOVE MAMA!!!”

You’ve taught me more about myself than anyone I’ve ever met… I gave birth to you two years ago today… but you… you gave me so much more. You gave me the greatest gift I could ever have gotten.

You gave me the chance to be your mother. Thank you!

Happy birthday my behbeh.

love,

Mama