Dear Lorelei,

You are three, now. Wow, it feels so weird saying that. It seems like just yesterday I was holding you all brand new in a hospital room.

You’re teaching us so much every day, and we love you dearly.

You’ve used your imagination since you were only a few months old (with Peter Pan food), but now, you’re just bursting with magic and mystery. You love to play with dolls and make up stories. You adore singing and dancing, so much so, that I can’t believe we haven’t gotten you your own ipod (or at least a dock with speakers so we could plug ours in for you to listen to).

Some of your favorite things right now are: Singing (Jesus Loves Me, Jesus Loves All The Little Children, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star), Playing with your Little People and Barbies, playing with your little sister (who also likes to dance), making music, crafts (oh, how you love crafts), the park, cupcakes, playing on your toy slide on the porch and your water table, our homeschool lessons, dress up, science experiment kits, chicken nuggets, and macaroni and cheese.

Getting you to sit down long enough to eat can be a bit of a task, although you’re always saying you’re hungry. –Especially when it comes to nap or bedtime You really don’t love naptime or going to bed, you think you’ll miss out on so much.

When you were a baby, I was so worried that I didn’t talk to you enough. The books and magazines I read insisted that I should be describing in detail our entire day play by play to you, as it happened. But, constant talking and noise just isn’t in my personality. I would talk to you, but often, we’d find ourselves just playing quietly, me caught up in just enjoying you. Today, you don’t seem to have been affected by it. Actually, you don’t STOP talking most days. Now, you want to know EVERYTHING that’s going on, and in order. Then, you’ll ask EVERYONE else around what’s going on to see if our “story” matches. Your conversations go on and on, most of the time repeating the same thing 5 or 6 times before moving on.

You adore your blankie still, and use your thumb to soothe yourself – but, mostly just around nap or bed-time…or, if you’re upset.

You’re changing, sweet girl, and I am enjoying watching you slowly morph into who God will ultimately shape you into being. Right now, you are practicing your independence. You’re working through emotions and how to handle them – especially, disappointment and anger. We’re trying to teach you (and learn, ourselves) how to be more graceful in our responses.

Finally, you are out of diapers. It was your choice. You really just wanted a barbie doll. So, we made a deal: potty 3 times that day and you would get your own. After that, you pottied for prizes (the “extras” that came with the doll and stickers and tiny candies) for about a week until you had it down. Now, you don’t really get “prizes,” but you get pretty upset if you have an accident. Right now, we’re working on night training. You have the hang of it, it’s just being able to wake up, that has you working.

I love watching you get so excited about the prospect of being a “big” girl – from pottying and making your own snack to helping mommy and daddy. I love your heart, I love your soul. I love you. All of you.

Love,

Mommy

(and some new pics created by the fabulous Emilee!)

**Lorelei officially turned THREE earlier this month.

Welcome back!