Are you really 3 years old already?

Happy birthday my sweet girl! I can't believe you are already 3 years old today! It seems like every year just goes by faster and faster. You are such a sweet, beautiful and smart little girl. You love your big baby doll, playing the "letter game" with Mommy & Daddy, swimming at the pool and writing the letter "H" with your crayons. You make me laugh every single day.

You have no idea how much Mommy & Daddy love you. Maybe someday when you have a little girl, you will finally understand our love for you.

I can't believe how much you've "grown up" in the past year. You are so independent and love to do things by yourself. Sometimes it feels like I just blinked my eyes, and suddenly you can do so many more things. I love watching you learn new things, and you are constantly saying sentences that sound so mature.

I'm so thankful you still let me rock you every night. I love the time we spend together in your room after we've read your books, said your prayers and sang your favorite songs ("ABCD," "Itsy Bitsy Spider, " "Rock-a-bye Hannah" and "Jesus Loves Me"). I run my fingers through your soft hair and trace the outline of your face with my fingers. You giggle when my fingers go under your chin and down your sweet neck. I rock you as you close your big brown eyes and start to fall asleep. Then I tiptoe over to your bed and lay you down gently. I kiss your sweet head and whisper, "I love you."

I am so very proud of you, Hannah Claire. Can you make the next year go by a little more slowly? I want to hold you in my lap a little while longer, OK?

I love you with all of my heart,
Mommy

Kids Say the Funniest Things - Part 2

While at my mom's house a couple of months ago, I was putting Hannah to bed in my room. My mom has pictures from my wedding day in my bedroom. Hannah was studying the pictures and pointing out faces she recognized. "Dat's Mommy?" she would ask.

"Yes," I replied.

"Dat's Daddy?" she questioned further.

"Yes," I answered again.

"Dat's Day?" Another question and Hannah's version of "Gran."

"Yes."

"Where's me?"

I laughed so hard, but I'm sure she had no idea what was so funny. To her, the world didn't exist prior to her birth.

My Little Snow Bunny

We don't get much snow here in Nashville. Sure, maybe a few flurries a couple of times a year, but 4" - 5" inches? Not likely for us. So when it snowed all day on Friday we were super excited. We waited until Saturday afternoon to try out the snow, and then we got all bundled up in our coats, hats and gloves and went sledding. In a laundry basket. Like I said, we don't get much snow here in Nashville. There's never been a reason to invest in a sled. But I sure wished we had one on Saturday.

Kids Say the Funniest Things

Potty training Hannah has been a much lengthier process than I'd imagined. I guess I thought she would “get it” a little sooner and without much training. Weaning her off the pacifier at six months was a breeze. She’s a good eater and doesn’t refuse most things on her plate. She does well obeying me and Steve. But this potty training is sure taking some work.

She misses no opportunity to tell you she’s a big girl and even knows that “big girls pee pee in potty.” She usually follows me when I use the bathroom, so the other day I decided to use it as a training experience for her. She watched me sit down on the toilet and then asked, “You pee pee on potty?”

I responded, “Yes because I’m a big girl.”

“No, you Den-fer, I big girl.” Apparently, there can be only one big girl at our house.

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While we were having Christmas at my mom’s house Hannah started to get a little cranky about 30 minutes before dinner was ready. I thought maybe she just needed a little snack to tide her over until the meal was ready. I asked her if she wanted something to eat, and she said she needed a cracker. So, I asked, “Do you need an appetizer?”

“No, I need a cracker.”

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While lying in bed with me the other day, Hannah poked me in the chest and said, “What’s that?”

“That’s Mommy’s bosom,” I replied. “Where’s your bosom?”

Hannah pulled out her shirt, looked down at her chest and said, “I got lil' bosoms.”

Aren't two year olds hilarious?