Three Years Ago

This just might be the longest post ever but I seriously can't get over the fact that my daughter is three years old today, so I am dedicating this way-too-long blog post to her.

April 18, 2009. Born at 9:18pm after my water broke while we were shopping at Best Buy. 6 lbs, 14 oz and 19 1/2 inches long. What a tiny little baby!

Birth story here.

Just a few days old.

One month old!

Two months old!

Three months old!

Four months old!

At five months, I decided it was high time for her to learn the art of couponing!

At six months old, I took my first weekend trip away. She tried to invite herself along, but I wasn't having it!

Seven months old and play dates with cousin Claire are becoming more of the norm!

Eight months old and it's her first Christmas! "You mean this happens every year!?!?"

Nine months old!

Ten months old and announcing that she's going to be a big sister!

Eleven months old!

ONE YEAR OLD!

Thirteen months old and loving the pool!

Fourteen months old and ready for a day at the marina!

Fifteen months old!

Sixteen months old and definitely developing her own personality!

Seventeen months old and the proud owner of a new baby brother!

Eighteen months old!

Nineteen months old and this is the norm! (And still is!)

Twenty months old and taking care of her brother! (This is still a frequent occurrence as well!)

Twenty-one months old taking family pictures before Daddy deploys!

Twenty-two months old!

Twenty-three months old doing what we do best!

TWO YEARS OLD!

Twenty-five months old and obsessed with jewelry!

Twenty-six months old!

Twenty-seven months old and loving farmers markets!

 Twenty-eight months old and going to preschool for the first time!

Twenty-nine months old and working on her smiley faces! (Now she's on to stick figures)

Thirty months old and trick-or-treating for the first time!

 Thirty-one months old and doing her first Thanksgiving program at school!

 Thirty-two months old and it's Christmas time again!

 Thirty-three months old and we get a rare family picture!

Thirty-four months old and our new favorite hobby is card games!

 Thirty-five months old and wearing her Snow White dress to church every chance she gets!

Thirty-six months old and going on her first Easter egg hunt at school!

  

Today, April 18, 2012, saying, "IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!"

We love you, Brianna Mae! We couldn't imagine life without a little girl who makes up songs on the spot and randomly spins in circles. A little girl who loves to cook, read, and do crafts. Who picks flowers for Daddy after preschool and other people whenever she passes a flower bush. Who finally loves her hair in headbands, pigtails and braids. Who takes care of any crying child within 100 miles of her hearing. Who suddenly decided to transition to a toddler bed and did it with no problems. And then you decided you wanted to wear panties to bed all night long and although Daddy cringed at the thought, we allowed it, and you've had no accidents! A little girl who loves stickers, stamps, frills and sparkles.

I have learned more patience because of you then in any other situation in my life. You don't want me to carry you, you want to walk "by mySELF!" unless I have Hunter in one arm and groceries in the other. Then you tell me you need me to hold you because "my legs are tired, Mom!" You love to go to Harris Teeter but you eat all your cheese by the time we get to aisle two and then you remind me for the rest of the trip that your hands are empty of cheese. You love pizza and you always want it cut up, unless I cut it up without asking you, and then a major tantrum ensues. A new piece of pizza is usually given to you, which you then ask to be cut up.

You love to swing, slide, and you're trying to learn how to skip. Your chosen wardrobe consists of skirts, dresses and nightgowns, and God forbid if I don't keep up on the laundry to make sure you have an ample supply of all those things.

Ever since you got a toddler bed we lay together in bed at naptime and bedtime and read books, sing songs, pray, and talk. Your favorite books right now are Berenstein Bears, and your favorite song medley is "Perfect 10", "Amazing Grace", and "You Are My Sunshine". You have an incredible memory for who you want to pray for. And then sometimes you just pat my cheek and say, "You're the best mommy EVER." Sometimes while I'm singing you will see how many times in a row you can kiss my cheeks. Usually you have to stop because we are both laughing so hard. Sometimes Daddy has to warn us to be quiet so we don't wake up Hunter, who is sleeping down the hall. Sometimes we just giggle until we're out of breath and then you abruptly say, "Okay, good night dear."

One night I asked you what songs we were going to sing at bedtime and you rolled over, patted my head and said, "I'm tired. Let's just go to sleep, dear."

You are your own person and I hope that never changes. I love the person you have become and I am so excited for your future. We love you!