Today you turned 3. As of officially about 2 hours ago. It’s weird. I still remember the exact time – 7:54 pm. I wonder if I always will.

My daughter…you are so much like me. Your stubbornness is going to be the stuff of legends. Your running style can only be described as a gallop. Your sweet voices, your oh so smart brain. Your love for princesses and cheese, your desire for everyone to be at peace and not argue. Your use of the word “family” and naming all of us ALL THE TIME just to make sure no one is left out.  Your love of your brother and being the bestest big sister ever.

Just in the past week, the word has changed from “orangen” to “orange”, from “horsie” to “horses”. And all this by the age of 36 months? What will the next 36 bring? The next 36 after that? You’ll be almost double digits by then!

I shudder for the year ahead at times – threenager (that time where they know so much but can’t always verbalize it but it leads to meltdowns).  Patience is going to be a key…and lots of coffee.

It’s hard to believe I ever wanted a boy first and was upset when the appropriate gender was revealed. God has a funny way of giving you what you needed and it’s 100% true with this little love of my life.

Happy 3rd, E.