The big 2!!! Tatum's glow in the dark birthday dance party!

For Tatum's second birthday, we spent it with Jeremey's family in Arizona, celebrated a day early, and had a glow in the dark dance party. Glow sticks, strobe lights, disco balls, dancing, food, presents and lots of kids. Turns out, this was the very perfect party for Tatum. She loved every second of it, especially dancing. At the end we played freeze dance, which was a huge hit, not only with the kids but the adults as well. I would say the idea panned out well and fun was had by all. See the videos below. The last one is of the kids playing freeze tag, notice how Tatum freezes, haha. The pictures don't give justice to how fun the glow in the dark theme really was, or show any of the strobe lights. It was much darker, but I hope you get the idea. (At the very end of the blog is my yearly letter to Tatum. I wrote one to her last year on her birthday, and plan to continue the tradition till at least she's 18 ... I love her!)





Tatum's Second Birthday (freeze dance) from Jeremey Wilson on Vimeo.

 

Tatum, I plan on writing a letter to you each year on your birthday ... heres to two beautiful, life changing years.

My sweet girl, happy 2nd birthday. I've tried to start this letter several times, but nothing seems fitting, nothing seems special enough to encompass my love for you. You are the sunshine of my life, in fact "you are my sunshine" is your very favorite song to sing, and it fits you so well its almost funny. You truly are like a ray of sunshine to everyone around you, and in every room you walk into. You have a love for life, that I have never seen in anybody else I have ever known. (Your dad is a close second, but  you still beat him, shhhh, don't tell). In this last year, you have developed into the most wonderful spitfire of a child. With just learning to walk the day after your first birthday to just tonight, counting to 5 on your own. My how you have changed. Tatum, you enrich my life every single day, you teach me far more than I teach you, and you bring joy into my heart that is unspeakable. Even at 2, you are becoming such an independent child. You want to do everything on your own, dress yourself, read to yourself, even play by yourself at times. So many little things that I once had to do for you just last year, are now your own areas of independece. When I ask if you would like for mommy to help you do certain things you respond by telling me "no momma, I'm fine." In many ways this breaks your moms heart, but in the grand scheme of things, I am so proud that you are growing up so beautifully, and developing so rapidly.

If I had to choose one thing that really stands out to me in this last year about you ... well, I would have to choose 2. The first being, your sense of humor ... the apple doesn't fall far from the tree on this one Tatum. You are your daddy. You are a kick in the pants, and life of the party just like him. All kids are funny in their own way, but you are not just funny, you are like a pint size comedian. You tell jokes and stories to people just as if you were an adult. Except I laugh at your jokes far more than I do the normal persons. You have facial expressions for days, the most contagious laugh, and the most enormous personality. The second thing would be, your sensitive, tender and sweet heart towards the Lord. Now I know you are only 2, and you more than likely don't have much of a clue as to what praying is, or what Jesus is really all about. But I think you understand far more than we give you credit for. The Lord works through you little people, even before you can develop sentences enough to explain to us all that you do. But just by your tenderness, your gentleness, and your sensitivity for others, I can tell that Jesus is working through you. You love to pray. You often remind your dad and I too, when we forget. Whether that be before we eat, or when things get stressful, you are usually the first to say "momma, daddy, pray???" You love to sing the song "Jesus loves me." especially with hand motions, and just a few nights ago, when your daddy and I were praying with your grandma, you stood with your eyes tightly shut, and hand on her leg for a good 10 minutes. By the end you were mumbling things under your breath and saying "Amen" to get us to stop, but that has to be some sort of world record or something for a 2 year old. Wow you make me proud!

Soon Tatum, you will not be mommy's only little baby. Your brother is growing fast, and is set to arrive in just a few short months. I already know you will be a tremendous big sister. You love your baby dolls, you love giving mommys belly squeezes and kisses all throughout the day, and you especially love real life babies. You love to stroke the side of their faces and say "niiiice baby." Your little brother will look up to you tremendously, and hopefully he will learn from your actions as well as ours to love the Lord with all his heart. Don't ever think that since a new little baby has come along that I love you any less, my love for you will grow and flourish even more as I see your love for him develop. Hopefully with the arrival of your brother, you will have a best friend for life!

Overall sweet girl, you are more than I could have ever dreamed of. I mean it when I say that I would have 100 little girls, if every one of them has a personality and heart like yours. You are something very special and very unique. I have believed that ever since you were in my belly. Thank you for pushing me so hard, through all my sickness, and all my pregnancy symptoms, you have been my greatest encouragement. And in many many ways, you have aided in the healing of my physical body in this last year, giving me some of the greatest and healthiest months I have had in over 6 years ... you will always be my miracle.

Your favorite things as of your two year birthday are ... Dancing, The Fresh Beat Band, praying, your daddy and grandma and grandpa, your cousin Ryan, jumping on your trampoline, reading, making people laugh, jumping off high things, swings, anything with lights, dip and chips, mommy's singing, going on walks, shoes, and cats.

Things you don't like ... being strapped into anything, having blankets in your crib, having anybody do anything for you that you can try/attempt to do for yourself, having your clothes on (You would live in a diaper if you could.), having your shoes on in the car, and being told "no" to something you really want to do (you have become quite the stubborn girl.)

I can't wait to see what the Lord does this next year ... with so many changes about to happen in our family, I'm sure it will be challenging on all of our parts, but I am excited to see you continue to grow into an even more beautiful girl than you already are. Thank you for being my daughter. Happy 2nd birthday!

Love, momma!