Happy 3rd, Lucy Jean

Written 10/3/15

Dear Lucy,

You are three years old today - a "threenager," I heard someone say -and I think (fear?) this is will be the term to categorize the coming year. You are so independent, headstrong, and brilliantly creative, and I just know THREE is going to be a doozy.

You have so many unique characteristics at this precious stage. Whenever you see something interesting, instead of pointing like a normal child, you use your entire hand to gesture toward the object. If something is scary, you don't cry or shy away from it, you just watch with hesitant curiosity. You LOVE babies, and when baby Jonah was born this summer, you changed all the names of your dolls and stuffed animals to Jonah and rocked them and sang to them, and every time you prayed, you thanked God for baby Jonah. 

When you speak, you do so with grandiose expression, as if you are determined to hit every note in your vocal range in one quick phrase. You love girly things, like pink and tea parties and clothes nail polish. In fact, while daddy and brother were at man weekend, we went and got our nails done together. You loved it.

You LOVE your boots, and since it's starting to cool off, it's been fun to both wear boots so we match. 

And speaking of boots, you've got style, girl. I love helping you pick out things to wear. Here are a few of my favorites from this year:

Also, lately, you have loved brushing my hair and we have spent many moments at the bottom of the stairs, me on the first step and you poised above me, brush in hand. (Thankfully, I have a hard head. ;) You LOVE to read. We will snuggle up on the couch or in your bed and read books, and if I don't stop you, you would bring me books over and over and over again. 

You have a very tender heart and I pray it stays with you instead of becoming something you grow out of. When someone is hurting or sad, it breaks your heart. We are trying to teach you to respond by taking it to God. And you are learning.

We transitioned you into a big-girl bed this summer, and then wondered why we waited so long. You LOVED it! You called it your "big girl bed" and bedtime became something you looked forward to.

Something I WISH you'd do the same with is the potty. With your brother, we had a sticker chart, and every time he filled up one row, he got a train. With you, we decided to try the same tactic. You were NOT interested, not even when we threw M&Ms into the mix. Though one day this summer, when your brother had gotten his tonsils taken out and people were bringing him ice cream, someone brought you a book of stickers. I found you in the bathroom 15 minutes later, where you were adding the last few stickers to your now-completed potty chart. Sly, girl. Sly.

One of my favorite things about this stage in your life is watching you interact with your brother. You look up to him (certainly more than he realizes) and I love watching you learn new things from him.

Another of my favorite things about your current phase of life is watching your daddy be your daddy. I always knew the two of you would have a special bond and watching it has brought me so much joy.

We are so in love with you, Lucy Jean. You are full of life and you are making ours richer with every passing moment. I love you, and on this third day of October, 2015, I wish you a happy birthday.

Love,

Mommy