Eleanor Mae at 3 years

Our Pretty Princess turned THREE in July and I’m still in denial. It’s true what they say about kids growing up—don’t blink! Here’s what I want to bottle up and remember about this age: 

• You love peanut butter, goldfish, bacon, macaroni and cheese, popcorn, anything sweet and chick fil a. You can eat more than your weight in popcorn!
  
  
  
• You’re pottytrained! As with every transition, you didn’t do this willingly! (Mama learned a few things along the way: trying to pottytrain too early is just a nightmare! First kids really are guinea pigs!)
• You love love love to help…cooking and mixing, unloading silverware, putting away towels, putting your clothes (and everyone else’s!) in the hamper, lining shoes up by the door and on and on it goes. You’ve turned into such a big girl these last few months.
• Hazel goes everywhere with us. You prefer to take Hazel, Hazel’s blanket, Hazel’s bottle AND a purse filled with bracelets and bouncy balls everywhere we go, buuuut 2 toddlers + alllll the things isn’t usually a good combo! So we compromise and Hazel goes with us, while the rest of it stays at home 😉
  
• Daddy calls you “the little stepstool girl” because your little fold-up step stool is never far from you. It makes you JUST tall enough to reach things on the back of countertops. 

  

  Speaking of Daddy, he took this picture of one of your first times on the big girl swing and it's one of his favorites

• You adore kitties/cats and hearing you stand on the front porch saying “meow, meow, meow” while waiting for your kitties to come is one of my favorite things right now
• I took you to the dentist when you were 26 months old. Thankfully, you were most cooperative--proof that our practicing DID help!
• Just a couple months after your 2nd birthday, we were forced to transition to a toddler bed because you repeatedly climbed out of your crib. Fortunately, you knew we don't mess around with bedtime, and it went better than I anticipated!
• I'm sooooo happy to say you're still taking an afternoon nap (most of the time, at least!) Speaking of sleep, you always have owlie and blankie to sleep.

  

  You were the most adorable flower girl in Cole & Alison's wedding...April 2018

• Your 2 year molars FINALLY came in—shortly *after* you turned 2.5. Thank goodness we have a break from teething for a while!
• You adore "Bubba" and definitely watch out for him. You *flattened* another toddler who intentionally knocked over your brother at storytime. You’re QUITE bossy with your brother and tattle on him, even though you don’t say very many words. 
• You spent 5 days in Florida with Grams in February. To say you had fun is truly an understatement! :)
• You did 4 months of a gymnastics/jazz class on Tuesday evenings (January-April). It took a few weeks for you to “warm up” to this class, but you ended up really enjoying it! Aaaaaaand Daddy participated more than he’d ever admit 😉 
  
• Sweet Girl, you’re left handed, like your mama. You kept us guessing for a while, but I do believe you’ve decided to do things with the hand that makes the most sense! 😉
• You got another haircut shortly after your birthday because we couldn’t deal with the mullet hair any longer. Your little bob is super cute. You can’t stand it when your hair is in your face!
• You wake up early when we travel. Our traveling typically involves central time aaaaaand 7am to you is 6am everywhere else we go. Have I ever mentioned that I don’t even like my own children before 7 in the morning?! #notreallykidding 

  

  She IS a cute early riser!

• You’ve become rather affectionate lately and we’re eating it up! Finally, you’ll give hugs (and even kisses, if we’re *really* lucky). You love love love to hold Bubba’s hand whenever possible.
• You call allllll lego people “Daddy”…even the girl ones. Daddy is still your favorite person 😊
• Checking the mail is a big hit with you…probably because Pops and Grams send you packages!
• Hazel, Owlie, and your blankie go in your bed with you every night. You’d prefer to have 4 or 5 babies, 3+ stuffed animals, 6 blankets, a pair of shoes, slippers, and at least 2 pairs of sunglasses in your bed…and I’m not kidding.
• You’re still a little lady of few words, but you don’t have a shortage of opinions! You’re quite capable of expressing what you do (and do NOT) want.

  

  At the fair...July 2018

• You’re obsessed with babies, Eleanor Mae AND you’re pretty good at spotting them. I hope you love your new sibling as much as you seem to love the babies we pass at walmart!
• Your version of a run consists of you swinging your arms at least twice as fast as your legs are moving. It’s hilarious and I’ll be sad when you outgrow this run someday.
• You’ve been our tiny, mighty little girl from the very start and some things never change. You weighed 22 pounds and 8 ounces a few days after your 3^rd birthday. You’re 33 inches tall and wearing size 5 shoes. (It goes without saying that you didn’t make the chart at the pediatrician’s office, but you’ve continued to make your own little curve—far away from anyone else’s. It only seems right that even your GROWTH would be on your terms!)

Love always, 
 Mama