Happy 3rd Birthday to My Munchkin, C

Happy third Birthday to the little girl who first made me a Mommy!  I cannot believe it has been three years since she has graced us with her presence.  I do not even remember what life was like before her.  She brings so much joy, laughter… and some times “head scratching” to our home- I would not have it any other way.

I sit here and write this post and know that I will soon be waking up a three year old… I am not sure how that happened.  Where did those three years go?  Do I no longer have a toddler?  Is she now a preschooler? Or a kid?  No matter what, she is still my little girl.

The truth about this girl is that I was convinced she was a boy.  My hubby and I like the surprise and do not find out the gender of our children.  With C, I would have put my life savings on her being a boy (good thing I didn’t).  Three years later I am finally ready to admit that it is because I was absolutely terrified of raising a girl.  How would I raise a confident young girl when I grew up with self esteem issues myself?  What would I do when she came home upset because of the mean girls at school?  How would I teach her to love herself and her body?

Three years later I could not imagine my life any other way.  I love being a mom to a little girl.  I love seeing her rock her princess dress while playing baseball.  I love seeing her run down the street as fast as she can wearing her tutu.  I love that she does not have to match.  I love that she does not have to have a bow in her hair every day.  I love every thing about this little girl.

I love that she is forgiving.  Sometimes I am not the best mommy.  Sometimes I get mad and lose my patience.  I am forever grateful for her grace- and the grace of God too.

I love that she has taught me to stop, slow down and take in each day.  That we don’t always have to be in a hurry.  That it is okay to run up and down the hills on the way to the park.  Or to walk backwards even though it takes longer.

I love her heart.  Thinking about this girl’s heart brings tears to my eyes.  At three years old she loves people.  As adults, we could all learn something from my sweet girl.  God says it is our job to love, deeply  love, people- and that is what she does.  She loves her family, especially her brother.  She loves her friends and always wants to pray for them when we say our bedtime prayers.  And how lucky am I that she loves her mommy so much!

I love how inquisitive and caring she is.  Today she asked me, “Mommy, where is your Grandma and Grandpa?”  followed by, “Where is Daddy’s Grandma and Grandpa?”  When we talk to Daddy in the middle of the day she always says, “Daddy, how is your day going?”  Or when we are driving in the car I get from the backseat, “Where is Grammy today, Mom?”  Another one that I hear a lot is, “Let’s drive by Grandma and Grandpa’s house today?” or “What is Tanner doing today?”  She always wants to know about her favorite people!

I don’t want to ever forget these young years- never.  The moments when we come down from the stairs in the mornings and she says, “hold my hand, mommy.”  Or the times where she just looks at me (or her Daddy) and says, “Mommy.  Guess What?” And my response is always, “What babe?”  And then she replies in a whispering voice, “I love you so much.”

I don’t want to forget how she asks for family time: family walks, family dinners, and going to church as a family.  I don’t want to ever forget what her voice sounds like when she says, “Mommy lay down with me,” before bedtime.  Or when she says, “Tell me a story,” after I have finished reading her bedtime stories.  I don’t want to ever forget her voice as she sings merrily through her day: Jesus Loves Me and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.  I will forever remember the two songs she asks for every morning when we drive in the car: Wagon Wheel and Bear Necessities.

I don’t want to forget how gentle she is with her brother when she kisses him on the forehead before bed.  I don’t want to forget rough she is with him sometimes because she just wants so bad for him to be able to play with her.  I won’t ever forget her love for books and her ability to remember and apply anything from a story.

My hope for this sweet girl is that she will always love life.  That she will always love to learn.  And most importantly that she will always love Jesus, herself and others.

I prayed for this child.  I prayed that I would be enough for her- and I know I am not.  So now I pray for her heart and that she will know Jesus- because only He can be enough.

Happy Birthday to my sweet girl.  In honor of her today, we will do all things she likes: have donuts for breakfast, hamburger for lunch, and pizza for dinner.  We will color and go to the park.  We will do all things slowly and be sure not to hurry… because if she is taught me anything it is that life goes by too fast… take your time and soak it in!