Dear Lucy - Three Years Old

Dear Lucy,

When I asked you how old you were today, you kept telling me, "Five!!"  You turned three today!  I'm pretty sure you kept saying five because you had asked to sleep in your brother's bunk bed, but I told you that you needed to be five to sleep up there.  Silly girl.  

You love to be able to do anything and everything that Dean does.  You are determined to be just as fast, smart, and even just as sneaky as he can be!  Luckily, you are both at an age where this doesn't get on each other's nerves, but you really enjoy spending time together.  When you started at your new daycare in September, the teachers surprised me when they said you would cry all day.  This was so unlike you!  But they told me you'd cry for your brother.  You'd look for him when he went to his own classroom, you'd watch him play outside.  You missed him.  I realized how important your brother was to you.  He's your friend and your protector.  I'm grateful for your close relationship.  I hope this never changes!  (If it does, I'm going to pull out this letter and show it to you!!)

It didn't take you long to get the hang of your new daycare routine.  When you'd cry when I dropped you off, I'd call Daddy in tears as I drove away and tell him how sad it made me.  Daddy would tell me, "It's just because she loves you so much, Momma."  This would break my heart even more and I'd want to turn around and go back for you!  You have grown so much since you started your new daycare.  You've made new friends and tell us about them all the time.  You love to spend time in the baby room playing with the little kids.  You love playing outside, especially on the tire swing.  Your favorite thing to do is cut out pictures with scissors and do craft projects.  You're really learning so much!  

As sweet as you are, you're also our sassy little sissy.  You are independent!  You like to do and try everything yourself, but you're definitely willing to ask for help if something isn't going right.  You like to push the limits, but are also very cautious to not get into trouble.  But trust me, Sister.  You definitely get in trouble when you are being stubborn!  You are headstrong.  However, once you realize you're going to timeout, you cryyyy and get so upset.  I'm anxious to see how this next year goes for all of us!  You're also the sweetest little girl.  You get shy when you're put on the spot, but you are so far from shy when you're comfortable.  You are wild, silly, and LOUD!  You typically yell as you talk and we often remind you to use your inside voice.  When you whisper, you like to get really close to our ears and it always makes us laugh.  

You sing ALL the time!  You sing as you eat.  You sing when you clean.  You sing when you play with your toys.  You sing in the car.  You make up songs and also sing real ones too.  You just love to be happy.  But our favorite part is when you're singing and all the sudden change the words to include something random, like how they wear underwear on their heads.  You're quite the character.  

You are our big helper.  You love to help with laundry -- putting the clothes in the washer/dryer, taking them out, folding them, and even putting them away!  You love to vacuum and sweep.  There isn't a job that you don't like to do.  I'm cautious about this and am afraid you'll grow out of this soon.  I hope not though.  It's one of my favorite things about you!

You're most excited about your baby brother to be born.  You want to hold him, feed him, get him diapers, sing to him, the works!  You tell me all the time how much you can't wait for him to be here.  You even tell me that you'll carry him for me, but I have to tell you that's too scary!  You're fascinated by him growing in my belly.  You like to snuggle on my tummy, kiss my belly, and talk to your brother.  You're going to be the best big sister.

Your dad and I are so proud of you, Goosey Girl.  We are really lucky to have you as our daughter.  We can't wait to watch you learn and grow this next year.  You're so curious about life.  I think we're going to have our best year ever.  We love you.  

Happy birthday, Lucy Goosey.

Love,

Mom

P.S.  You have the cheesiest smile!  Everyone laughs when we tell you to say cheese because you smile so hard that your eyes are almost closed.  It's when you look most like me, Lucy!  You're so silly!  :)