Little Lady Lorelai --
Somehow, you are 3. I feel myself trying to adjust to saying I have a 3-year-old, and it's certainly an adjustment! Just a week ago, I caught myself telling someone that you were 2 -- true enough, but I didn't think to say "almost three." A bit like you, I guess, since you have held on to being "2 and a half"...right up to suddenly being 3. But you are certainly excited about being three now. You've been practicing the right number of fingers to hold up, and you're happy to join the ranks of other 3-year-olds you know: cousin Ryan, Lila at school, and other friends.
You're such a little person now, and so often, you're such fun. I love how you tell stories now -- real, multi-part stories -- from your day, and you are so excited to tell us that you get a little stuck. You'll get stuck in a little loop of "uh, um, um" until your mouth and brain can get back in sync for the conclusion. It's lovely. So are you.
You're all about letters and songs these days. We can't take a car trip now without you loudly calling letters spotted from your back seat. "I SEE A 'B'. I SEE A 'Y'. MOMMY. MOMMY. DO YOU SEE THAT?" You're very favorite letters to spot are L and D and J, because you know they start our respective names, and you're so sweetly concerned for me that you can't find as many J's as the others. I love it.
And it makes my heart so happy that you like to sing. I hope it sticks. At Christmas, you had me sing "Away in a Manger" until you could sing it by yourself. You request songs related to our night time Bible stories -- Jericho, Jacob's Ladder, Jesus Loves the Little Children. Your new favorite as we rock is "Goodnight, Sweetheart" (complete with Mommy's attempt at a bass line "bum bum ba bum") which you interrupt each time to whisper in my ear: "I'm the sweetheart." And I will treasure forever the nights we have sung "Jesus Loves Me" together, rocking and cuddling.
It's true that the not-so-great parts of being 3 have found us at times. When you are told you shouldn't do something, your favorite response is: "I DO!" But amid the moments, I imagine typical moments, of argument or high-pitched screams or flailing about, I want to remember a few of your current sweet favorites:
1-- Doc McStuffins. Followed closely by Frozen, Minnie Mouse, etc. You like Daddy or me nearby when you get to watch an episode, and I catch you singing the check up song at all sorts of moments.
2. Oatmeal with dried cranberries. I'm so happy about this one! Your parents are both big breakfast fans -- but you and Mommy are the oatmeal lovers. I just think it's so endearing when you wake up, roll over, and whine, "I want oatmeeeal."
3. Dessert. Okay, so you're our kid -- it's a given. We really do try to eat a lot of healthy food, but you are definitely convinced dinner should end with a little sweet. Recently, I packed sandwich sacks and we drove to Santa's Wonderland as a family. After hours of fun, as you considered drifting off to sleep on the ride home, you perked up in concern: "Oh! We didn't have dinner!" I reminded you we ate sandwiches and fruit during our drive. "Oh. (pause) But we didn't have dessert!" Goodness.
My sweet girl, we love you bunches. The other evening, we sat on the couch watching your show, you reached out to hold hands with me, and my heart was full. Yesterday, you marched in the kitchen as I prepped food to tell me, "I need a hug," and my heart was full. Some mornings and evenings you announce, "Group Hug!" -- Daddy and I wrap you up in our arms, and our hearts are full.
I'm so grateful to celebrate another year in our little family -- and another year of you.
