Dear Emma,
You're Three! I can't believe it! I'm so glad.
Someone once told me things get better at three, and for the most part, I guess I'd have to agree (so far). You are able to express yourself quite well, and have a profound vocabulary to help you. You like to help me and often ask if I need any help when Im doing any chores - laundry (you're a master pant-folder!), carrying groceries, dusting, cooking, etc. You are now officially potty trained - after many months of starts-and-stops (due to the craziness of our lives this past year), you pretty much took the reigns and are doing it all yourself now, with very few accidents. You help watch after your sister, alot...the phrase I've come to hear quite often is "Mom, look at Eden"...and I've learned (the hard way) to ALWAYS look. You might not always have the best way of showing it, but its obvious you and your little sis love eachother very much. You are starting to play together much more now - digging in the dirt, playing in the water, and cooking in your kitchen are your favorite past times; and in your room during quiet-time and the bath tub is where I see you two having the most fun together. Eden thinks you're hilarious and loves to copy everything you do.
As a family we've gone through a lot of changes this past year. You seem to be taking it all in, and trying to understand it all as best you can...taking most of it in stride. Its hard for you to understand why we can't just drive to see Grammy Barbara & Papa Bruce/Little Papa/or Haley & Sammy whenever we want, or that Austin is only here for few days at a time; and it makes me sad that that is the case. I wish I could explain it in a way your three year old mind could comprehend - 'far away' just doesnt make sense yet. However, you're coming around...every time we pass the watertower in Osceola and I ask you what it says, you still say 'California!', but now with a teasing gleem in your eye that tells me you really know it does not, in fact, say California. I also take comfort in the fact that you will likely not remember much of the upheaval you've experienced, for two reasons: one, I moved around a bit when I was little and I dont remember much of it at all; and two, you clearly have less than a 6 month memory - when we unpacked all our stuff out of storage you seriously were surprised at all of it...you must have thought we won the lottery! I still get asked almost everyday (after living here almost a month) 'Mom! Did you buy this for me?!?!'
You're growing up to be an amazing little girl Emma Jean! You're sweet and caring, inquisitive and observing, fiesty and firey, spacey and determined...and the perfect mix of it all. Love you bunches Monkey!
XOXO
Mommy
