dear mia...on your third birthday

Dear Mia,

For every day, through July 30th, I called you my "two year old baby." I wanted to keep you little as long as I could. And even though I know three is still little, it feels more like a little girl age, not so much a baby anymore. And the truth is, you are really growing into a little lady.

You are crazy smart. You are beautiful. You are mischevious yet honest. You are brave and strong. You don't believe being small is a limitation on your ability to lift heavy things or climb to high places. You love babies and strongly dislike most animals. You love big and are loud when you're angry. 

I don't feel like words can accurately encompass how big your personality is. You challenge me in ways Laci never dared and yet, I can't help but laugh at you most of the time, even in your worst moments. Your blue eyes mesmerize me and your soft curls are irresistible. 

You talk. All. The. Time. You have many opinions, thoughts, and stories to share. And since you've been talking since forever ago, you bless us with complete sentences and complex words. You also repeat anything you hear so I have been trying really hard to use only my child-appropriate language. For the sometimes frequent slip-ups, we are working on why some words are for grown ups only. 

You are a momma in your heart already. I hope you grow up to have as many babies as you want and I pray they are all healthy little bundles of love. You already take such great care of your dolls... feeding them, changing diapers, "pumping" milk for them. Yes, you parade around with a breast pump sometimes. I find it amusing. You also try to take care of your brother, but as he gets bigger it is becoming less like playing baby and more like wrestling. I think he likes it that way. 

Your big sister is your best friend and you don't even realize it. You play so nice together when you aren't bickering over toys or pinching each other. And you and Harper are becoming friends too. The hot and cold type of friends where you either love each other or hate each other. I'm sure it will even out over time. 

I should probably keep a better record of the hilarious, sometimes shocking, things that come out of your mouth.  After pushing Harper the other day, you very matter-of-factly announced, "She tried to climb in my stroller and I didn't like it, so I pushed her." Something about your sweet voice and blatant honesty makes it hard to be mad at you.  But, we did have a little talk about not pushing people.

I love you you how you say "bannerina" (ballerina) and "punk-ems" (pumpkins).  How everything that happened before today must have happened "yesterday" even if it was months ago, and everything that will happen after today must be happening "tomorrow."

You had a follow up with your hernia surgeon last month, so we talked about the scar on your belly, why it's there and how the doctors fixed it. A few days later, during breakfast, you pulled up your shirt and said to Laci, "One time, yesterday, I had a hole in my belly and the doctor fixed it." And then you finished your cereal and didn't say another word about it for weeks. 

You have potty trained yourself. I mean, I've been helping you, but for the past month it's been your choice to wear undies instead of a diaper. Every few days you would go back to a diaper and I would just go along with it. I'm not really a fan of cleaning up accidents. You are now diaper free, even at night. I'm so very proud of you and I'm proud of me for being patient enough to wait until you were ready. We argue enough as it is, no sense in adding more fuel to the fire. And speaking of arguing, I finally took your bottle away, and after a few weeks of meltdowns and crying, you've stopped asking for it (mostly).

Happy birthday my feisty little angel with the mischievous heart and the wild hair.  I can't express enough how glad we all are to have you with us today.

Love, hugs, and kisses,
Your Momma
xoxoxo

***all photos taken on your last evening as a two year old...some camera, some iPhone***