Terrific Two!!

Dearest Sunniva,

Today is your second birthday, and you've had the best celebration imaginable (although there are more to come soon...). You went to bed singing and woke up the same way, all smiles and laughter, the excitement building because you knew that this was your big day. After a cozy breakfast together in the kitchen we all got ready to leave, and you were eagerly eyeing the 20 chocolate cupcakes with rainbow sprinkles that Mommy made for everyone in the barnehage.

You were greeted in the barnehage by Tuva and Tufa, good friends who will both be at your kids' party on Saturday, and May-Britt and Quang were very happy to see you because they knew how much you had been looking forward to getting your first Norwegian Birthday Crown!

So I left you in high spirits, as I have all year, knowing that you were in the safest of hands and were going to have a wonderful day. And sure enough, 'round about lunchtime at work, Mommy and I got the sweetest picture of our darling little daughter wearing her crown and looking 'over the moon' that it was finally her turn to eat cake and have everyone sing for her. But you, of course, led the singing, and then sang yourself to sleep in your stroller by singing 'Happy Birthday, Sunniva' and 'Hurra For Deg.'

When we came to pick you up, Hilde was proud to tell us that you're the only kid in your class who's been so aware of and overjoyed by her own birthday, something that naturally made the celebration much more fun for all your teachers.

At home we opened presents (a tricycle, a board game, new clothes) and passed the time in the bliss of play, following your lead and feeding off your infectious energy. Amidst all the laughter and silliness, you discovered that you can now open doors by yourself (preferably when we're in the bathroom) and turn the light switch on and off, too.

A quick dinner of hamburger, roasted potatoes and peas was really just a prelude to the main course of...more cake and ice cream! But for this you had to wait until Uncle Andre and Elise came to celebrate with you. We had a very pleasant time with them, and you also received video calls and more singing from Mamina and Bhapu, Olivia and Chris, and Morfar and Mormor.  

Now Mommy and I are sitting on our more-stained-by-the-day couch, happy as can be and sorting through all the pictures and video from today, this most special of birthdays, which you may one day look back on and faintly remember, but which we will always remember for its vividness. What wonderful gifts you have, Sunniva, and what an indescribable joy it is for us to watch you grow into them.