Last Saturday afternoon I drove to Tennessee to attend Addyson's second birthday party.  The thoughts, "I can't believe she's only two" and "I can't believe she's already two" rival for most unbelievable in my head.  She's a little person.  She can walk and talk.  She feeds herself.  She has an incredible ability to make people laugh.  She is compassionate and comforting.  During the last few months, when my mom or sister have shown sadness because of my grandpa, she has been known to come along side them and say "You okay?  It's okay."  Kids learn that, I think.  She's learned it from watching people care for each other.  And like me and so many people I know, she has learned to really 'dig her heels in'.  She is stubborn.  Saturday night she wanted to come upstairs to my room because Sydney, her older sister, and I were watching a movie.  I consented so my mom sent her up the stairs to watch.  I know she can understand reason, sometimes, so I said to her, "Addy you can sit with the big girls if you act like a big girl.  We're sitting still and watching the movie, okay?"  "Okay," she said.  So I thanked her for listening.  "Welcome," she responded (a precious expression I must say).  And she did sit with us quietly.  I was astounded.  My sister came to pick her up a little later, but she became distracted by the stairs.  Toddlers love stairs which is pretty scary because they're capable of handling them, but sometimes they wobble like little drunken people.  From my room I heard her pitch the biggest fit!  Then silence.  Three minutes later I hear my mom with her on the stairs.  Addy won that fight.  I played on the stairs with her for a few minutes then I told her that she could play for two more minutes.  Two minutes later she quietly agreed to go home.

We all choose our battles I suppose, but when you're two the battles consist of playing on steps and not pulling the cat's tail.  We want what we want sometimes no matter the cost.  God is the parent, I'm the kid and no matter how many times I throw a tantrum and try to play on the stairs without him, he still loves me.  Addy is learning about grace and love through her family when we cover her with hugs and kisses only minutes after she's been disobedient.  Thanks be to God.  I loved being home.  And I think Addy really enjoyed her birthday.