Can it really be true??

Dear M,

Can it really be true that today you are three?  I can't believe it.  Three years ago today I was lying in a hospital room staring in awe at my beautiful baby girl (all burrito wrapped in blankets).   I was so excited that you were finally here that I couldn't sleep much.  I just kept smiling and staring at you.  And...three years later I still stare in awe at how much you have grown, what a beautiful little girl you are inside and out, and that God chose to bless me with you...My precious first born.

As we have approached three a rhyme that your Gramma Vicki used to say to me has been coming to mind  frequently.  It goes something like this, "There was a little girl who had a little curl.  And when she was good she was very very good, BUT when she was bad she was horrid."  This rhyme makes me laugh because it is such a good representation of your age right now.  Everything seems to come in extremes.  One minute you want to be snuggled and the next minute you are pushing me away and saying you can do it all by yourself.  You are stretching your boundaries, daring to be more independent, and having to learn how to share your opinions in nice/constructive ways.  On the downside it means lots of time outs for yelling when you should have just told Mama or Daddy that you were upset about something, more time outs for stomping your feet and shouting, "NO!!!" (something that makes me laugh inside because I can not tell you how many times I was told to not stomp my feet as a child...just ask Gramma Vicki), and lots of telling Mama that you do not need a hand and will walk by yourself through the store and then getting put in the cart because curiosity got the better of you.  On the upside, I LOVE that you are not afraid to tell me how you are feeling.  It has been so fun to watch you begin to identify different emotions and work to verbalize those feelings.  You are exploring your world and you are putting the pieces together.  Very amazing to watch!!

When I think back to what you were like at three, I want to remember that:

You love to sing both songs that you made up (and you do this a lot) and songs that you've been taught  You love anything princess (and Daddy is always the prince), but you also love dinosaurs and cars
You like to be on the go and staying at home for too many days drives you crazy
You love Pooh and his heffalump friend, Lumpy (and elephants are called heffalumps and why anyone would choose to use the word elephant is beyond you)
Dressing up (you still love any and all hats) and tea parties may be some of the best games in the world right now
Your favorite color most of the time is PINK
You think that being a ballerina would be pretty cool
You typically DO NOT want your picture taken
You still suck your thumb, but mostly just when you are sleepy at home or in the car (and it is still cute despite the orthodontist bills that I know are coming our way)
Although you have never been fishing you are fascinated by it
Your favorite movies or TV shows right now are:  Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Agent OSO, Cinderella, Mary Poppins, Little Mermaid, Pooh's Heffalump Movie
You have begun signing again and you are picking the signs up quicker than me
Reading is a favorite pastime and you could do it for hours.  Some of your favorites are the Berenstein Bears, Little Critter books, and shorter Dr. Seuss books

I love you bunches and bunches!!!  Happy 3rd Birthday Little Girl!

Your Mama