Day 3,433

The Second Year of Molly Louise

She went to bed as a one-year-old and woke up as an official big girl! Happy birthday Molly Louise!!

And when I’m talking big girl, I really mean it. This skinny little thing is sharp as a tack and is constantly surprising us with the things she says and the stuff she does. I guess that’s what happens when you’re the youngest of four, but I’m not sure I was prepared for it!

I knew she’d be my ultra-wild one when she was 13 months old and I caught her climbing up onto the trampoline outside all by herself. She’d never used stairs before and yet, there she was scaling the three steps like she’d done it before. And  it’s only accelerated since. Molly loves all things fast, all things high, and most things generally intimidating for a two-year-old. She especially likes swinging high on the big girl swing, jumping circles on the trampoline, sliding down tall slides, walking on the balance beam, driving fast in the car, dropping from the high bar, swimming in the pool, and headstands against the wall. So yesterday when we took her to the trampoline park to celebrate, she was happy as can be. 

She’s the happiest, snappiest, loudest, but sweetest little thing I know. One second she’s cuddling you and gently kissing your face, the next she’s smacking you and hollering in your ear. The extremes out of this Little Lou are hilarious, frustrating, and so totally adorable. She keeps us on our toes not only in what she does but also what she says. She’s full of surprising questions, unexpected observations, long sentences, and a robust vocabulary that makes us laugh while look at each other exclaiming, “did she just say that?!”

She’s stubborn, she’s intense, she’s rational except for when she’s not—especially when it comes to her fear of “the trash truck, loud sounds, and any workers around our home. She’s polite, she’s gentle, she’s full of love and lots of fight. She’s learning (slowly) how to respond appropriately to her siblings, as hitting and biting and screaming to get her way are currently the resources she uses. See: above. 

But goodness, then she’s all this. Just totally everything you want to scoop up and squeeze forever. Ah! She’s amazing! I love watching her learn and play and interact. She’s all sorts of amusing and precious—the way she holds and cares for her babies, the way she reads her Bible in the morning, the way she helps Mama make breakfast, the way she asks for forgiveness, the way she sings hymns and recites the Pledge...I just can’t! It makes me SO crazy happy. 

She loves her Daddy, washing her hair, puppies, brushing her own teeth, getting herself dressed, lollipops, praying, chewing gum, Mama Millie, pee pee on the toilet, playing with babies, putting on her shoes, doing the laundry, gymnastics, swinging, swimming (not floating), walks around the block, watching baseball, going to church, singing ALL the songs, her grandparents, dancing, playing the piano, açaí bowls, and mostly anything you have or are eating. 

But I think most of all, she loves Mommy. And frosting. And chocolate and ice cream.  



And she especially loves all her big siblings who spend the majority of their time playing with her, fighting with her, praying with her, singing with her, learning with her, repenting with her, and loving on her. These four together are a force to be reckoned with. And I’m so thankful to be finally seeing Molly’s part in the beautiful chaos that is the Conley kids. 

The Lord has been abundantly gracious in giving us Molly Lou when He did—what a blessing she is. I’m eager to see the woman she grows into and pray the Lord uses her to bring Himself glory as one who loves Him fiercely all her days. Nothing would bring me more joy. 

Happy birthday Louie, Lou, Big Motor, Molls, Little Lou, Molly Girl Dude, Molly Lou, Molly Lou Melon! We love you endlessly and dearly and in every way we possibly can. And you make it so easy to do so. Ah! My heart is full.