SR turns 3!!!

Dear SR,

I really wanted to make your third birthday so special for you.  Last night, while you were sleeping, I pumped up balloons (luckily I got the manual pump) and tied them all (very tricky to do) and hung them from your door and put them on your chair at the table.  I also hung green and purple streamers (your favourite colours) from your door.

Of course you woke up at 2:30 am, and when I came in you asked me what was in your door way.  Nothing gets past you.  Oh, and speaking of how clever you are...I was feeding J-Bear in my room last night, and you came in and looked in my closet, saw the striped gift bag and started looking through it.  "Who is this present for, mommy?"  You also woke up at 4:30 (are you competing with J-Bear for who can wake mommy the most?) and you were very disappointed to be told you had to go back to sleep.

So here you are!  My articulate, beautiful, clever, funny three year old girl!!!!  You astound me with how much you know and pick up on.  Your connections and inferences surpass many of my grade three students' abilities.  You are dramatic and can carry a tune and you are smart as a whip and love playing Dr. Scarlett....I wonder what you will be when you grow up, but please don't grow up too fast.

You are so meticulous with how you do things.  Holding Ernie in your right hand while your left hand rests on your doll Kaiya's back while you sleep.  Playing with your figurines.  Helping set the table.  Putting on your clothes.  But you are also carefree and slow as molasses sometimes - making me stop to smell the roses or lose my mind waiting for you :)

You make me laugh every day, and you are so snuggly with your hugs and kisses.  You are really reading and sounding out words.  The other day you saw the word "just" and said, "that says Justin".  You can identify how many are in a group without counting.  You know yesterday means it has already happened (but you don't realize that it doesn't mean three weeks ago).  You choose your own clothes and know how to match them.  You are silly and attention seeking, but just as happy to play on your own.  I could watch you for hours.

You speak so loud - you come by it honestly b/c I do too :)  And you like to tell everyone about your accomplishments.

You are so brave sometimes, and yet you get scared very easily too, b/c you seem to understand things.  Like when I say to hold my hand in the parking garage so a car doesn't bump you - you get scared and talk about being broken and how sad mommy will be.  You are timid about slides and swings, unless I convince you to try.  But you will easily stand on the top of the stairs in the lobby and sing for anyone who wants to listen to you.

You love Robert Munsch books - and seem to understand the humour already.  We've been talking a lot about having a Donor and not a daddy, but still sometimes you joke about having a daddy.  That's okay.  You have such lovely manners - ALWAYS saying please, thank you, thanks for having me, etc.

You love J-Bear so much.  He is the best present I could ever give to you.  You just connect on a level that I don't understand.  He makes you stop crying whenever you are upset, and he stops crying when he sees you too.  I hope your bond continues on as you grow up.  My wish is for you two to be very close.  After all, you were conceived on the same day :)  You're practically twins.

I made a cute smilebox album of your first 36 months.  Click the link to see how much you have changed, and stayed the same. SR is 3 years old!

It amazes me all the things you could do while only 2.  I can't wait to see what you learn by the time you turn 4.

I love you so much.  You have taught me patience and to try new things without feeling anxious.  You brighten every day and make me so happy and proud to be your mommy.

Love, Mommy