Kinley Tareena Gates is TWO!!!

Dearest Kinley, 


In just one short sleep, you will be two years old. I feel like it's going to be a great year for you, because "TWO" is your favorite number. Just ask anyone who knows you well. This is the number of everything that you want. Dolls, suckers, cups, blankies, and especially passi's. (Yes, you are still ever-so-attached to sleeping with TWO pacifiers). You get so excited when there is two of anything because you can yell, "Two!". Yes Kinley Gates, TWO, will be a great year for you. 


I was in our room looking for a book to lend someone tonight and I came across something that brought a huge smile to my face. Just seeing this book made me instantly think of you. My Kinley Bear, my first-born child of my heart. Well, it made me smile, then laugh, then cry tears of joy...

Although you're too young now, you will appreciate the humor in this concept someday, so I wanted to share it with you, in case I ever forget. This is how your dad and I set out on our journey to have a family. With two determined personalities, two very strong spirits, and a, "How to Choose the Sex of Your Baby" book. 6 months after I read this book, God humbled us. 12 months after I read this book, God broke us. TWO years after I read this book, God restored us, and laid a new dream on our hearts. The dream of adoption. Four years after I read this book, a tiny little miracle was born. 

May 18th, 2010, you were born from your birth-mother's belly, straight into our hearts. Words cannot describe how much we have loved you from the first moment they place you in our arms. And you continue to light up our world, EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. 

Kinley, you make so many people happy. You bring so much joy to our world. You still have the best giggle of all time. You have one of the best smiles of all time. And you are definitely our all-time-favorite TWO year old. 

You love playing in the water

You love love love love LOVE cake!

Your second "Gotcha" Day

So intense. You love going to Peter Piper.

You constantly climb into or onto anything
you can.

You still LOVE to read. 

You love Emery so much. I can't tell you
how many times per day I hear, "Sissy!"

This month we welcomed your first cousin
into the family.

You love Baby Charley

She makes you smile :)

This is you in your tent, with all your stuffed
animals, on an important phone conversation.
This is a frequent occurrence.

This is you hugging every Disney character that comes
on the screen. :)

You and Emery are growing up to be such beautiful girls
who love each other so much. It's my favorite thing.

Baby girl, you make me so happy every day. So proud to be your mom. I can't wait to see what this year has in store for you. Another whole year of adventure that God has given us the privilege of walking you through. I'm so happy God showed us a new plan. I'm so happy he showed us YOU. 

Happy Second Birthday Kinley Tareena Gates! 

We LOVE you!!! 

-Mommy