YOU ARE THREE YEARS OLD!!!!

My Little Love,

How is it possible that you are 3 years old???  You are growing, changing, and developing into this little lady.  You surprise me every single day and keep me laughing.  You are wild and crazy, you sing ALL THE TIME, you make jokes, you work things out, you wiggle your bum, you like to hide (under your grankie) every time we go somewhere (and make everyone find you), and you love to ask questions.  Your favorite question right now is "Why?" or "Because Why?"  I see this question frustrate a lot of parents, but I absolutely love it... so does your Daddy.  I don't ever mind you asking the question, as long as when issues of your safety arise that you still respond and listen immediately.

You love to climb... ON EVERYTHING.  You are actually really good at it.  You like only the big kid equipment at the park, but you have been that way since you were little.  You climbed up this massive, steep slide (that is in a tube) all by yourself a couple of weeks ago.  You enjoy playing games now.  We have quite a few games... mostly monster games, that you love.  Feed the Woozle, a monster puzzle game, dominoes, cards, matching and memory games, and we play them all pretty regularly.  You still love to do puzzles, but you pull them out, do them quickly, and then put them back, but you still seem to love the process of doing them!

You pick your clothes, dress yourself (unless you really don't feel like it - in which case "I NEED HELP!" comes out of your mouth), you get your own drinks and food... you are super self-sufficient.  It is both fun and amazing!  You are excited about your baby brother and talk about him a lot.  You want to know things about it, talk about what you are going to teach him, and you are gentle with my belly... always giving him kisses!  You are also really funny about stuff - I told you that I was going to feed Baby Max from my breasts just like I did for you, and now you will push on them saying "I bang on Max's food!"  You think that is hilarious, and of course I can't help but laugh.

You sing about absolutely everything, and want us to sing about everything too.  This seems to be how you communicate what you are thinking.  Your life is basically a musical. You dance more now.  You have always danced, but you seem to enjoy dancing a little more now, and shaking that booty!

 You and your daddy REALLY enjoy being silly together.  These made me laugh so hard!

We met your newest cousin before your birthday!  You and I flew to Texas to meet Baby Henry the day he was born!  It was so amazing!  You were an awesome traveler, even though it was really difficult to keep you entertained at the hospital!

You wanted to get dressed up like a mermaid! Olivia let you use hers... adorable!

We took you, Olivia, and Lily to the Celtic festival and you guys had a BALL!  It gave Uncle A-Aron, Aunt Jenny and Baby Henry some time to hang!  

 Your Aunt and cousins made you a birthday cake (you helped, and licked it off the counter, and dug into it with your fingers making it impossible to properly ice it, but you had a blast) and we sang happy birthday!

 You guys adore each other so very much!  Makes my heart happy... even when you argue and fight!

 A pic of all the kiddos (minus Jimmy) with Popa!

Shanell, our dear friend and amazing photographer, took your 3-year-old pics and our family pictures.  They turned out beautifully, despite the fact that you were not interested.  Her daughter was there and we were outside... you wanted to run and play, which I love!  Here are some of my favorites:

Your birthday was a lot of fun.  It was just you, me and daddy.  We made breakfast, complete with rainbow waffles, took you to Murfreesboro to the indoor water place, had a nap, went to eat at El Rey, our favorite Mexican restaurant and just had a beautiful day!  Your party was amazing!  Lots of friends, lots of gifts, at the park, perfect weather... it could not have been better.  Everyone dressed like their favorite Disney/Pixar characters... You were Minnie Mouse and Jimmy was Mickey.  When we asked you what theme you wanted for your birthday... you named every Disney/Pixar character you could think of, so Daddy said... Why not!?

I love watching you learn, grow, do, think, process and be.  You are an amazing little human, and I am so honored to have you in my life, and to be in yours. Oh, how I dearly love and adore you, I love holding and snuggling you, but mostly I love our developing and deep relationship.  You aren't really aware of it in the same sense I am at this point, but I love you intensely.  I am so grateful that I am your mommy.  I'm excited about every single day I get with you.  

I love you to the moon and back, so much all the time, more than the universe and more than there are words to describe.  You are my girl!  

Love, Mommy  

Week 20 - March 26 - April 1, 2015

Hey My Little Love,

Well... we are 20 weeks along, you and I!  Halfway there!  Baby Center notes "Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel  - about the size of a banana."  However, we had an ultrasound on Wednesday the 3rd, and you are 12 ounces already... You are so active!  It took them 30 minutes to be able to see your gorgeous profile.  You had your hands up in front of your face like you were ready for a fight!

We have had a busy, fun week!  We took your sister to the zoo.  I can't wait until you can go with us!  She talks about you all the time and the things she is going to teach you and do with you.  One of a parents greatest hopes is that all their children will not only get along (which I'm not so worried about - I feel like you will probably just fight sometimes), but that they will develop a lifelong bond of friendship and closeness that will live beyond us.  I hope that for the two of you.  You have a pretty incredible sister, and I am certain you two will love and adore each other... even if you do fight sometimes!

Here is your mommy... with you growing inside of me like a champ!

We are working on lots of projects at the house to get ready for your arrival.  Keep growing strong.  Now that I can feel you moving around so much in there, you have to stay active so I know you are okay.  I love you my sweet boy!  I can't wait to hold you in less than 20 week! 

Love, Mommy

Week 18: March 12 - 18 & Week 19: March 19 - 25, 2015

My Sweet Boy,

Well... it has already happened!  I skipped a week!  What a crazy week it was too!  Week 18 was your sister's birthday - SHE'S THREE!!! And a trip to OH for Work and then your sister's birthday party!  It was a crazy week, so I skipped my little note to you.  Here is a glimpse of our fun :-)

We took our 3 year pics as well over that week, and guess what, you are in the picture too!  Just in my tummy!  

In Week 19, we have tried to get back into a small routine.  Mollie started back to school, daddy is home, I'm trying to get back to working a normal schedule, and daddy and I went on a walk this  morning  - we need exercise!  That is where we took my Week 19 pics!  We are almost halfway there!

You weigh about 8 1/2 oz, are about 6 inches long and are about the size of an heirloom tomato.  I love how they compare babies to fruits and veggies, but hey... whatever works!

I love you to the moon and back... keep growing strong and kick me!  I like to feel you moving around in there ;-)  

Love - Mommy   

Week 17: March 5 - 11, 2015

Hey Buddy,

This week has been kind of crazy!  We got home from Texas and went straight to Uncle Abe, Aunt Val, and Jimmy's house in Columbia, TN - about an hour away.  We stayed with them for a couple of days and then headed to IL for my work.  Mollie has been a trooper, as we have been from Michigan to TN to Texas and back and then to IL!  She has been my perfect traveling buddy... so have you, of course!  However, she is pretty much over it.  I head to OH this week - good thing she gets to stay at home with Daddy!

Not much to report except we are ramping up our theatre in IL and I am spending a lot of time there.  I took my pictures this week outside the theatre next to signs for the upcoming show!

I am so excited to meet you and so happy you are growing.  We missed your first appointment with our "Expect with Me" group because we were in TX, so I am excited to meet everyone in that class next time... in April!  This week is your sister's 3rd birthday... she is a St. Patrick's Day Baby, so I am sure I will have lots of things to report next week!  

I love you so very much... keep growing!  I get to hold you in 23 weeks!

Love~ Mommy

Week 16: February 26 - March 4, 2015

My Sweet Boy,

This week we (your sister and I) took a trip to Texas to meet your new cousin, Henry.  The two of you will only be about 5 months apart, so it will be fun to watch you grow up together.  We had so much fun!  It was a full week of hanging out with your cousins, Olivia and Lily and loving on our new little bundle, Henry.

We took the girls to the Celtic Festival and to the Indoor Water Place... your sister almost lost her mind at the water park.  She is a little fish, and this long winter has smothered her.  We have a pool, so we will spend lots of time in the water.  Your sister has been taking self-rescue and swimming lessons for the last year, and is quite the little swimmer.  She is excited to teach you and to have you join her in class!

It was funny that two of the days we were there, Olivia and Lily's schools were canceled because of snow and ice, and two of the days were 75+ degrees.  You can see the difference below:

You are growing really fast!  You can see the difference pretty dramatically from week to week!

Keep growing my sweet Maxon Edward!  We can't wait to hold you in 24 weeks!

Love~ Mommy