three

How did this:



Become this:



I can't believe my little girl is three. Well, I can believe it. Boy oh boy does she ever act like a three year old. Its gone by so fast, yet it seems a lifetime ago. Last night as I was walking through the house picking up last minute toys off the floor I had another "I can't believe that I am a mom" moment. There are so many days I worry about whether I'm doing a good job mothering this little girl. She has so much energy and intensity. (I wonder where she gets that?) We butt heads a lot of times. I really don't know what I'm doing with this one. But man she brings me so much happiness. Like when she says things like, "It makes her nervous." Or "You startled me, Mama." Or when she tells someone she wants a "pig - a piggy bank" for her birthday and then says, "but I don't have any money" with a big sigh. She hears and notices everything I say and do. Not a day goes by that she isn't willing to give me hugs and tell me she loves me. She talks all day long. If too people are talking in the room she says "excuse me" a million times louder and louder and louder until you respond. She loves playing with kids. She is just the right amount of cautious and outgoing. Everywhere she goes she meets friends, and everyday she wants her friends to come over. She could just play and play with friends all day long and wouldn't miss me a bit.

We celebrated her birthday all day on Saturday. She opened a present in the morning, a couple more after lunch.





That night we had family come over for cake and ice cream (pink, of course).




We also took her shopping for some new shoes (which she needed) and we brought her a long because boy does that girl love to try on shoes.

I could tell a million things that I love about this one. She is such a cool girl. She is willing to try anything. She is willing to share anything with her friends (and she doesn't quite understand why other people don't share back.) She doesn't stop moving all day long. She loves dancing, singing ( primary songs especially), drinking juice, going to Grandma's, swimming, playing outside, taking showers, talking, pretending she's a puppy, playing games like candyland and go fish, playing on the computer (we found some really simple point and click games at pbskids.org and Dave being the "tech-y" guy that he is just had to teach Ana how to use the mouse. I wasn't quite sure I was ready for her to know, but we only let her play for a few minutes a day.) She is the apple of her daddy's eye and he takes her everywhere he goes. She also slumps her shoulders and walks off when she's sad about something, throws a fit when we have to leave the park or a friend's house, tackles her brother (which sometimes he likes, sometimes he doesn't), has a hard time picking up her toys and obeying Mommy, and climbs in Jack's bed at night and bugs him while they are supposed to be going to sleep, (which sometimes he likes, sometimes he doesn't).

I remember thinking when she was born that this little baby was a strong spirit, and that is certainly true. Let's hope we steer it in the right direction.

Happy Birthday, Ana-girl!