Yesterday we finally took Keira to her 2 year checkup with Dr. Jones (Dr. "Bones" as she says) and learned that she has graduated to 3 feet tall which is 95th percentile for height! We knew she had gone through quite a growth spurt, but she has never been over 75th percentile. She is getting so tall and beautiful that Art and I are amazed on a daily basis. It is fascinating how she took our cuteness and multiplied it times 10- just amazing and humbling to think that we created someone so perfect and special.
One thing I think is particularly special about Keira is not only is she 95th percentile height for her age, but she is 95th percentile sweet. She is especially polite and caring. When most 2 year olds say "NO!" she says "No, thank you." She says "thank you" at every appropriate opportunity and "bless you" every time we cough or sneeze. She says "please" to get her way and all this without any prompting to do so. When she wants to be held, she doesn't say "up," she says "hug." She shares her soft blankee with us and gives big hugs and "tisses," takes care of us when we're sick, and showers us with her love all day.
As I have confided with Art, the most important thing to me as a parent is to make sure that Keira knows how much we love her. She requires an outpouring of patience and love to avoid yelling at her all day so we really make an effort to treat her kindly and speak to her softly. As headstrong and energetic as she is, I knew it would take a special approach to bring out the good qualities in her. Not only does she reciprocate our kindness to her, but she magnifies it. Art and I are far from perfect and struggle more than we should to get along, but one thing that unites us is how much we love our little girl and we both agree that she knows it.
