Three year pictures

A few of my favorites of Maddie's three year photos.  I can't get over how much she has grown and changed since last year (two year old pictures).  Don't be fooled - she was having a particularly rough day.  The first few weeks of being three were tough on both of us, but lately this three-year-old thing has been so incredibly fun for both of us.  She never stops surprising me with how smart and sweet and clever and funny she is.  Last night, after laying her down for bed, Josh and I heard her calling for us.  Josh went in to check on her and she told him she was scared.  Josh reminded her that if she was scared she could sing a primary song to help her feel all better.  She said she already sang "The church of Jesus Christ" song and was still a little scared.  She asked Josh if he would sing her a song.  He started singing to her and after the first line she said "Ahhhh, I feel much better now."  

Such a sweetie.  This girl is loved more than she'll ever know.

Happy {third} Birthday Dear Maddie!

At some point I blinked, and Josh and I now have a three year old.  I still can't quite wrap my brain around that idea.  I spent the night before she turned three in tears looking through photos of her from these past three years.  We've been obsessed with her from the beginning, and for good reason.  Ever since I could remember, all I really wanted to be when I grew up was a mom.  And now that it's here  (the mom part - not the grown up part), all I can say is that it is better - and probably harder - than I ever imagined.  We love this girl more than we ever thought possible.

We had one big party celebrating Maddie with my whole family and Josh's whole family.  Maddie was thrilled for her big day and had been anticipating it for weeks.  She had a "Frozen" cake that she was so proud of and lots of treats.  We also broke a piñata at her request - she kept telling me before that she was going to "bat it with a stick" but when it came down to it she was a little timid, so her cousin Sebi broke it open.  It was a perfect day for her.

At three years old, Maddie is a talker - she talks all day long and never stops surprising me with her understanding and increasing vocabulary.  The other day she came and asked what I was doing and I told her I was mopping the kitchen floor.  She said "Oh thank you Mommy! You are the best Mommy in the whole world!"  The next night, after helping clean her room, she told me "Thanks mom! You are really impressive!"  (I'm taking the hint that I should clean a little more).

She loves her dad and asks me, without fail, every morning where dad is.  I think she (like me) lives for Saturdays and Sundays when we have Josh home with us all day.  She loves when he gets home and screams and runs to the door to see him.  

She is getting better about playing with Becks - she has always loved him and been VERY protective of him, but is starting to want him to play with her more.  She loves to make him laugh and always tells me what he needs and makes sure that I am taking care of him. 

She loves reading and learning.  She knows all her ABCs by sight and is a good counter.  She loves to sit and read stacks of books with me.  She lives for her weekly dance class and sunbeams and loves to sing and dance around the house.  I'm not sure if there is anything about her that is shy and I'm pretty sure she would try to take charge in a room full of adults if she felt like she needed to.

I still can't believe she's already three!

Christmas 2013

I'm almost two months late in posting these and Christmas already feels forever ago, but I think I can speak for both Josh and I and say that it was our best Christmas yet.  Maddie is at such a fun age and was so excited about everything.  She actually asked me the other day if we could get another Christmas tree.  I think both of our babes were a little overwhelmed by the end of Christmas night - lots of presents, lots of sugar, and not enough sleeping - all signs of a successful Christmas day.  Having little ones in our house for the Christmas season makes things even more magical and really magnifies the spirit of Christmas. 

Maddie was thrilled to get her beloved Elsa doll

Becks wasn't quite sure what was going on but, as always, was so happy to be a part of things

Christmas Sunday

The only decent picture I got from Maddie's first dance recital.  I was laughing so hard that they all turned out blurry.  Thank heavens we have it all on video because it truly was one of the highlights of our parenting career thus far.

And I just had to throw this one in here because - look at those perfect faces! Am I lucky or what?

Almost 3

       

talks all. day. long

loves playing pretend

can name too many songs on the radio

has already seen Frozen twice (and will probably see it twice more in theaters)

loves Curious George and clementines

hides her things from Beckham

still sucks her thumb

her favorite thing is a stack of freshly-washed blankies

loves her dance class and insists we pray for her teacher "Miss Katie" every prayer

her best friends are Dad, Papa Mark and Grandma Jill

still calls Josh by his first name occasionally

the only person more stubborn than her mama

loves dresses, skirts, and anything pretty

her mom and dad obsess over her long, blonde hair (mom is a little envious)

does not like having her picture taken

loves to show off her dances

can convince her dad to do anything

can sing probably 25 primary songs by memory

loves nursery

is excited for her birthday on "January twenty"

always asks for "a big hug and a big kiss"

uses words like "apologize" and "patient" in the wrong context

loves friends

says "Look at that cute girl" when she gets ready in the morning

would do anything for chocolate chips

could read and be read to for hours on end

loves princesses and dolls and babies and anything girly

sings "Green Beans"

loves anything "teeny tiny and soooo cute"

will close her eyes and lean in for a slow kiss

Some Maddie-isms from lately:

When I told  her "Maddie, you're out of control" she said "I'm not a troll!"

Whenever Beckham is crying she sings "I am a child of God" to him

Always asks "What's this song called Mommy?" when she hears music

Calls Gatorade  Atorgade

Insists that her name is "Madison Elizabeth Taylor"

Tells me "congratulations" when I do something and tells me about how things are "Glorious"

When eating at Grandma Jill's said "What the Joe Poe is in my cereal?"

_________________

How can anything be as good as two?