Happy 3rd Birthday, Baby Girl!

Dear Riley Grace,

I cannot believe you are three years old. Let me type that again...I cannot believe that you are three years old. I used to think that 18 years (adult age) was so far away when we first had you, but now that it's 15 years, it is soooooo not so far away. Time has flown!



I love you so much. I have been so fortunate to spend the last three years with you. Has it always been easy and 'fun'? No. There have been trying times and growing times for the both of us. What do you expect...we're both doing this for the first time! ;) I will tell you that 99.9% of it has been wonderful. I dreamed about being able to stay home with my child years before I was ever trying to get pregnant but I never thought that it would happen. I'm so grateful to God (and Daddy/Daddy's job) that my dream came true. We are not living an extravagant life on one income (thank goodness we've always been 'simple' folk!) but the time spent together is priceless and I never forget how lucky and blessed I am.

I used to write you monthly letters up until the age of two and you will be able to go back and read them here someday. This year I plan to write a lot more to you but in your own scrapbook to take away with you when you leave someday. It will be a nice keepsake for you (in my own handwriting) and it will be easier to remember monthly events. This year the biggest event (that I can remember) is that you started 'school'. You go twice a week for two hours a day and you LOVE it! I love when you come home and start singing me songs that I haven't taught you (or haven't even heard before)!

You know your colors, your alphabet, your full name, your birth date, the city you live in, the city some of your relatives live in, you can count to 30 (most of the time) and you know how to spell your name and you recognize your name. You love your soccer ball (you ALWAYS kick with your left foot!) and your animals that you sleep with (Hoppy, Cinnamon, Monkey, Jessie and Dumbo). We just recently gave you a pillow in the last few months (Mommy was paranoid of suffocation) and we will transition from the crib soon. You haven't seemed to talk about a 'big girl' bed that much and you haven't tried to climb out in the morning (you call for Mommy or Daddy), so we'll cross that bridge when it feels like we need to. I'm quite content knowing that you are safe in your crib and not getting up during the night. :)

You love music and love to dance (we enrolled you in a ballet class for a few weeks and you loved it!). I really hope that you take up an instrument later. You love to color and you especially love to paint! You have recently learned how to make smiley faces and smiley suns. :)

You also LOVE to read. You love trips to the library and you are always wanting Mommy or Daddy to read you a story. I hope you become a life long reader. It's one of my favorite things to do and I hope you continue to enjoy it as well.

We've been very lucky with few injuries. We've had a bad fall here and there but the worst we've seen this year was a slightly discolored front tooth. You hit it on the rocking toy on the playground. It bled a little (which freaked me out!) and I took you to the dentist the next day (he couldn't see us that day). He said it probably was going to discolor (it did) but not to worry about it because it's going to fall out in a couple of years anyway. Not the best thing your Mommy wanted to hear but in the big scheme of things, it could have been worse or any injury could have been worse. We have been so blessed with no big injuries and no big illnesses. I pray to God that I am not jinxing it now! (Lord, I KNOW how lucky we've been and I thank you!)

Another big milestone this year was that you learned to use the potty! You were about two and a half. I cannot tell you how wonderful this is! It's like a new world out there! It only took a week. We had a few accidents here and there but haven't had one for some time (knock on wood). We are so blessed with you...I know that I'm your Mom, but you seem to be sooooo smart and have been so 'easy' when it's come to sleeping, potty training, etc. You pick things up pretty quickly. I pray that continues your entire life.

You have a handful of friends that you constantly talk about it. You are a kind and sweet little girl to your friends. You are good about sharing and including people. You are also a hugger and you love to hold hands with your friends. :)

I'm not sure if there is anything I'm forgetting. I love you so much. I'll end this 'letter' by saying what I say to you every night (and have said to you every night as long as I can remember) before you go to bed:

Mommy loves you.
Daddy loves you.
Jesus loves you.
God bless the baby.

I will probably say that to you your entire life...and when you grow up and move out, I'll write it in your birthday/Christmas cards. :)

Love you, love you, love you baby girl,
Mommy

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