Happy THREE Years Sophie!

My sweet Sophie,

You are three years old ... wow.
It's hard to believe that I am a (very lucky) mommy of a three year old.
But my oh my ... what an incredible year this has been for you.
It has been life changing.

You started school this year ... well, preschool.
And literally, you've become a different person.
Since you've started school,
you've made good friends,
learned to sing songs,
you've learned to talk in sentences,
and how to be social.

I guess the biggest change is you really started to talk.
Like I said, you talk in sentences
I can tell you to do something for me,
or to get something, and you'll actually listen to instructions.
We can have conversation.
I am amazed.

The funny thing is if I ask you to do something
and you don't want to do it,
I'll ask you why and you'll respond,
"No more!" or "...because Swiper is coming"
Swiper is the fox in "Dora the Explorer".

This year, you became
the BEST Big Sister ever ...
to Baby Bake ... or as I've recently heard you call him,
Baby Bwake. It's so cute because you say it so slowly
so you can try to say it correctly.
But to be honest, I love when you call him Baby Bake more.
Baby Bwake will always be Baby Bake to me ...
You are so kind and loving to your little brother.
And he adores you in return.
He is the first person you ask for in the morning,
and the last person you give goodnight kisses to.
Baby Bake is a lucky little brother to have you!

I almost hate to mention this bit,
but you discovered the iPad this year.
And I think you love it ...
and though you've never just picked it up to watch it
without permission, I recently put a passcode on it ... just in case.
The other day, you left the iPad for just a minute so it went to the passcode.
And when you tried go back to the iPad, I heard this:
"I don't like that"
"Please don't do that"
"That is not acceptable"
"I'm going to count to 3 and if you do not stop that,
Sophie will put you in time out"
"One, two, three ... time out iPad, Sophie doesn't like that"
I had to smile ... and help you out.
It was just too cute.

Besides the iPad, you love to read, do puzzles, paint and imagine.
You love to sing and dance ... and run in circles.
You love to be outdoors whenever you can -
riding your bike or going up "big mountain"
(which is the hill closest to our house)
You enjoy hanging out with your friends ...
it's so much fun to watch you grow up.

You have two imaginary friends.
Dano and Sego.
We think Dano is very small,
he seems to fit in the palm of your hand.
And always seems to be sleeping.
We're not entirely sure about Sego ...
except you talk about him.

Booms, you amaze me every day.
You are one of the best things that I've ever been blessed with.
I wish I could bottle up these very moments
or press pause and repeat on the life button.
You are an incredible little girl and I thank God daily for you.
How lucky I am to be your mommy ...

I love you more than the stars in the sky.
I'll love you forever and ever ... and then some.

Yours for always,
Mommy