Happy Two to my Sweet Josephine

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Happy 2nd Birthday Sweet Josephine!

Happy big two to the two of us!  My daughter just turned two on July 2nd this year.  Truly amazing how fast time goes by. I didn't do much for her first so made it up by hosting not one but two birthday parties this past month.

Two in itself is such a huge milestone (big HELLO to terrible two's)!  Up until recently, in my pre-parent mind, I naively thought that the "terrible twos" were over-hyped and filled with hyperbolic toddler stories. Boy was I ever wrong! Josephine had showed signs of independence and strong determination since birth.  Although I know these next few years will be filled with battles, lots of tears, tantrums and exhaustion, it is deep joy to witness this little human learn, discover and welcome new skills of doing more things on her own.  She is learning to count in German and Vietnamese.  She is forming new sentences everyday, my new favorite is "mommy is preetty!"   And she is even cracking jokes these days.

How can your heart not explode?!

As many can empathize, our journey to this point was not easy.  There were many obstacles and heartache to overcome.  July was a very emotional month as I process and put behind the many low-points of postpartum depression, crippling anxiety and loneliness as a single mom.  (I still do but it's getting easier).  So to some extent, this second trip around the sun also feels like a celebration for me as mom too.  I am just starting to enjoy parenting all over again and feeling ever so grateful to be a mother to such an amazing child.  It's a feeling I will never take for granted.  My love for her multiplies everyday and we are incredibly blessed to be surrounded with so much love and support.

I am so excited what the future holds for her and us as a family.   She starts a co-op preschool this Fall and I feel so lucky to take an active part of her first years of school. So many incredible memories and adventures to be had together in the next coming years.  To add more color to our nontraditional family ---Sneak peak to 2020, Josephine may welcome a younger brother in her life!













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