I want to take a moment to talk about little one - the wonderful little person who has been continually filling my life with sunshine for 27 1/2 months now.

She rarely gets top billing or the limelight at home these days, but she deserves it every day. There are a thousand little things she does that choke me up and make me the proudest mama in the world, and I hope she has some inkling of that and of how fiercely I love her.

From her walking up to our bedroom door and saying, "Knock knock! Who 'dere? Ahahahaha, dat funny!" to the way she bends over and peers between her legs at me, giggling and daring me to sneak up and grab her at bedtime, she can make me happy even on the crappiest day.

More amazing to me than that, though, is the incredible heart she has. When linebacker baby is fussing in his chair and I'm in the kitchen making a bottle, little one will often go up to him and pat him on the head - "It's ok, baby" - and proceed to jump around or hand him toy after toy (including her favorite lovey, Fuzzy Bunny) in an effort to soothe him. It works! Some of his biggest grins are for her.

I gave her a magnetic fishing game (wooden pole w/magnet on a string, wooden cutout fish in a big board and each fish has a little magnet on it) a few days ago. She was immediately enamored - but that didn't stop her from offering the pole to me after only a few fishing rounds (and successes) on her part. "Here, Mama, fishing poh!" I took the rod and slowly let the magnet 'hook' a fish. Little one immediately clapped and said, "Yay! Good job, Mama!"

She also offered to help me put it back. She's always like that, trying to help and praising me for little things like putting my shoes on. She thanks me for her food and tells me it's "'licious" - and then thanks me again.

Little one rarely complains - the other night, she got a ton of water in her face because she randomly looked up while I was rinsing her hair. She spluttered and then sweetly asked, "Wipe eyes, Mama?"

If she falls, I ask her if she's ok. Many times she's choked through tears, "I ok, Mama." If I say "Ow!" because I stubbed my toe or something, she's quick to hug me and ask, "Ok, Mama?" and she gets very distressed if I have a scratch or bruise anywhere she can see.

I just cannot get over how bighearted she is. Maybe I'm just silly and she's pretty normal, but she could not be more precious to me, or more loved.