So YOU

Josie Lynn, at 2 years and 10 months, 

these pictures below are so you. 

Years from now, I want to remember 

why I liked these pictures so much.

So I'm making a point to remember the following observations:

1. You are wearing a dress.

On this particular day, we're not going to church, a party or anywhere fancy. 

But as you play around the house, 

you insist on wearing a dress.

A dress that you have named "Beauty", as in Sleeping Beauty.

And just to be clear, 

it sounds more like "booty" when you say it. 

And really, you have named all of your clothes and shoes.

They are each named after a princess.

2. Your smile.

So cute and so cheesy. 

It's a rarity that you smile 

and/or look at a camera on command. 

Unless you have my iPhone and are 

somehow managing to take a picture of yourself. 

Yes, you can do that already. 

Those smiles are the best, but the picture is usually out of focus, 

off-center, your hair is crazy and you have crusties all over your face.

Before having children, I always thought, 

"My children will always be dressed cute and their faces will always be clean." 

Famous last words. I used to be the best mom ever. 

That was before I had children.

 

3. You are playing with nail polish

You do love getting your finger and toenails painted.

A different color for each finger or toe.

Or sometimes, just the left hand, if that's all you're feeling.

Anyway, it's not that you're playing with nail polish, but rather, 

it's what you're doing with the nail polish.

You have a wild imagination.

I think you get that from your father.

You are creative and can entertain yourself for a period of time, 

longer than I probably should even admit.

4. 3 nail polishes on 3 filing boards

What you can't tell by looking at this picture, 

is that you are singing "The Wheels on the Bus" 

as you line each of your students, aka nail polishes, 

on each of their individual buses, aka nail files.

I sat there and watched as you repeated those steps almost 57 times.

Seriously.

Josie, always remember how much you are loved.

And how much you fill my heart with your passion for fancy dresses, 

cheesy grin, creativity, wild imagination 

and every other little wonderful thing that makes you YOU.