You are from God. I tell myself  as you are climbing out of the shopping basket, into other people’s strollers, on the counter or the kitchen table. You are a blessing. I tell myself as you are stomping your feet in frustration, hitting your sister or making growling noises in anger. It is only a stage. I tell myself as you are running through a parking lot ignoring my plea to stop or shoving your food across the table and refusing to eat. And I say, oh, how I love you as we rock before bed, watching you name the objects you didn’t know a year ago, and singing Twinkle Twinkle together. You tell me “no bed, mommy”, you whine for  milk, and then we rock. You eventually lay your head on my shoulder, trying to adjust so that your big 2 year old body can fit in my arms, and finally give in. It is in that moment that I can truly thank God for you and your zeal for life. I can thank God for knowing the end while I was stuck in the pain of losing Noah. I thank Him for completing our family in a way that only He could. Little Audi, you wear me out,  you frustrate me beyond words. But you are precious to me. My baby. You make the whole family laugh. You make your Daddy smile. You bring fun and joy into this family. You stand out in the crowd with your white hair. Your beautiful grin each morning makes me want to cover you in kisses. I love you. And a year from now, as I post your 3rd birthday, I will miss the sweetness of this age. And then quietly thank God again for bringing me through it.