How are you 3 years old already? As everyone says, that went by in a blink of an eye and the years will continue to do so. I never allowed myself to get annoyed with the phrase "the days are long but the years are short" when I looked parents in the eyes as they spoke. I could see the regret, happiness, fear, longing, and a myriad of emotions tangled up. I knew it was a lament intertwined with a plea and words of wisdom to a parent of a young child. For that reason, your daddy and I have mustered up energy and sparked enthusiasm on many tired days to provide you with as many experiences and opportunities as we have been able. We have aimed to say "yes" to all those times that we can including longer bubble baths, walks outside when we are tired and want to rest, playing that game "one more time," letting you help in the kitchen when it slows us down, staying out into naptime, lying with Mommy instead of in your bed, turning off the turn signal to go home and heading to the library instead, etc. We want to extract every ounce of life out of each day to provide you with more ways to meet the world and make it tangible so that we can better launch you one day into it.
As you will one day learn, you celebrated this year's birthday in the midst of a pandemic. COVID-19 pressed the "reset" button on the entire world. Country by country, people were infected or "at risk" and life changed quickly. You now remember we can't go to church or out to eat, and you shake your head and simply say "people are sick." You have also said that "we need to feel them better" knowing we have to stay home for now until the sick people get well. I'm not sure when things will go back to "normal" as we are teetering at the peak of it now, but we are already making our "to do" list of places to go. Your custom ordered Frozen II themed cake got canceled, but The Cakery provided you with a delicious cake with some themed colors and special blue sprinkles. We threw a topper on it and it was lovely. We played in Aunt Teesh's yard and then had dinner with them on the patio (all while physically distanced on opposite sides of the patio). We picked up take-out from Mi Ranchito, your favorite Mexican restaurant.
This year has been filled with many adventures and lessons! A few of our highlights have been:
- trip to Chicago
- first swim lessons
- Thanksgiving in Mississippi with cousins
- potty training
- visiting local fun places like Big Joel's Safari Park, Myseum, and the Museum of Transportation
- attending your first wedding (Colin & Layne)
- park visits and walks around the neighborhood
- transition to a toddler bed
- festivals celebrating other cultures
- first trip to the salon
You are a funny, smart, bright, spunky little girl. Right now, you love:
- lying in bed with me every night and falling asleep
- snuggling when you wake up in the morning and come to our bed
- reading and visiting the library
- calling family in South Africa
- face timing friends and family
- puzzles - you're now doing jigsaw puzzles
- mexican rice, hot dogs, chocolate ice cream, taco meat, meatballs, spaghetti, M&Ms. lunchables
- going anywhere - you love to be "on the go" and are always sad when you see that we are home
- Frozen II and Moana
- learning activities- tracing letters, matching numbers, iPad alphabet activities
- sneaking the word "stupid" into comments and then following up with a reprimand for those who would use that word
- being dressed up at home -- you love buying, receiving and trying on clothes
- going to children's church at The Crossing
- helping me cook
Here's to 3, sweet baby.
I love you,
Mommy
