Three!

I put the exclamation mark for you, sweet pickle, because every time I asked you how old you are today, you would give me a thumbs-up!

It never fails that on this day, I especially recall your birth story.  What a grand entrance you made!  I still chuckle when I think about trying to get back into the locked Starbucks in Rivercenter Mall, so that I could tell Daddy that we had to go to the hospital.  What a special Christmas memory that made!

So, you're three, big girl!  You are definitely not a baby any more.  You're still diminutive in stature, but you have big personality!  What's new, little pickle?

One of the biggest changes is that you are finally forward facing in your car seat.  We waited quite a long time to turn you.  Maybe I'm being over-protective, but your petite stature made me want to protect you for as long as possible.  Not once did you ever complain about being rear-facing, but you sure did enjoy being able to see the sights at the Christmas lights trail from your new vantage point.

Over this past year, your personality has really started to bloom.  You have proven yourself to be quite the entertainer and comedienne.  I think the phrase I've heard most from you this year is "Mommy, watch me!"  Followed shortly thereafter by a triumphant "I did it!"  Like the rest of your family, you also love to sing.  You have a sweet little voice, and your accent and speech impediments make it all the more endearing.  I told Daddy tonight how sad I will be when "Twinkle, Twinkle" no longer has the cute little quirks that you add to it.

In addition to revealing to us new facets of your personality, you have also begun to reveal to us your broadening interests.  Your main interest as a three year old appears to be ponies.  You love horses of all kinds.  In fact, for Halloween, you dressed as a unicorn.  The costume is big and fluffy, and more often than not, you treat it as a big stuffed toy for imaginative play.  For your birthday today, you got two giant (quite literally as big as you are) stuffed My Little Ponies.  Your sweet face was priceless when you opened them up.

You have proven to be pretty determined in feats of physical daring.  Mama's trying hard to remember to let you explore without a smothering safety net, but sometimes it can be really hard for me - especially when you've triumphantly climbed up a stack of chairs at least 4 feet tall at Sister's swim lessons.  You can frequently be found climbing on and jumping off of various pieces of furniture or riding your scooter and trike.  The other day, out of the blue, you showed me that you can do a forward roll already.  I'm excited to see how you manage the basketball and basketball goal that I hear Santa may be bringing.

Of course, you have grown intellectually as well.  You are quite the talker, though sometimes you have to repeat yourself to be understood.  I love having conversations with you because you have proven time and time again how clever you are.  Just today, I called you 'crazy pants.'  You responded promptly, "I'm not crazy pants."  I asked, "Silly pants?"  To which you replied, "No! I'm not wearing pants!"  Touche, little one.

One of the things that touches my heart the most is your sweet love for your Sister.  I pray that this never changes because your relationship is so very precious.  I love that nine times out of ten you choose to call her Sister.  You like to do what Cora does; you like to be where Cora is.  I pray that you both always cherish this special relationship.

We sure do love our sweet, silly, sassy, smart, spunky little girl!