Happy Birthday, my little nugget! I would say that I can hardly believe that you are three, because that is the cliche thing I say in each of these little post/letters that I write to you or your brother, because you grow up so fast, blink of an eye, where did time go, and so on and so on and so on.... but, the truth is, I have thought you were three for a while now, so this doesn't really shock me like other birthdays have. That isn't to say it isn't like I just blinked... and the time went... and so fast... because all that is true (ALWAYS true), but you are just... so clearly three. I don't want to be one of those parents that goes on and on about how brilliant their child is or advanced their child is, but mydearsweet girl, I can sum it all up by just saying that we walked into a 2 year old room at one of the schools we visited for you, and it was so. not. happening. Au contraire, when we walked into the three year old room, you were like, yes, these are my people. You have basically been potty trained for the past year, I can't remember the last "accident" you had, you have spoken in paragraphs since you were barely walking, you have opinions, you have coordination, you have all things three.
Oh, and an alter ego as well. Yes, this past year we got to meet "Baby Cushie" which is how you refer to yourself when you are inclined to be most unpleasant. Baby Cushie is very needy and clingy and talks in a babyish voice. If Baby Cushie (and the very concept of her and the fact that you came up with her) were not also hilarious and clearly a semi-joke/character you put on, we might have less patience, but as it is now, you will just hear us kind of whisper to one another "Oh no, I think Baby Cushie is here" and then look with mock terror and laughter at one another.
You are a beauty indeed, and I am dreading the day we have to cut that gorgeous hair. It shines in the sun and is so long and still has just enough bounce.... Fortunately for us both, for now, you are still defering to me on that one (or, rather, more accurately, it has not occurred to you to disagree). Unlike with your clothing... you have VERY specific opinions on what you would and would not like to wear. Every. Single. Day. Seriously. This isn't so much an issue when shorts are an option, because you have MANY shorts that are acceptable to you. However, of late it has been a bit chilly here (I can practically hear your family in Chicago rolling their eyes at our version of "chilly") and we have about 3 pairs of pants that you will (with much pleading) wear. This, for the most part, is a battle I choose not to fight, because although sometimes unavoidable, fighting with your strong, sweet spirit is about the last thing in the world I ever want to do. Oh, and we live in Texas, thus it doesn't come up all that often as we usually have shorts weather, even in winter.
Fortunately, you have... I don't want to say "become easier", because that implies that this is about easy or hard, and it isn't... I don't want you to be "easy" or a pushover (that would come with a whole other host of issues...). So perhaps I should say you have become easier to understand, which I am ok saying is a BIG part of what this is about, and as a byproduct, you have become easier. You can be reasoned with, you can use words to describe how you are feeling, which makes it so much easier to communicate. You were always a talker, but now you talk with more meaning, and can participate in the big kid things you so desparately think you have been qualified for since birth. You are still a total spit fire, you still have more attitude and sass in your pinky than a room full of teenagers, as, after all, you are still Daph.
Speaking of teenagers, waking you up in the morning.... oh holy hell, child. We have learned that we have to start your day with soft lighting and the promise of a Doc McStuffins or... Hell. To. Pay.
A few weeks ago I took a Friday off to go to Cooper's school for a field trip. Alas, the field trip was canceled due to "weather" (seriously) but I took the day off anyway. Though I wanted to keep you home with me, due to the transition we have been going through with you and trying to provide consistency (and the 3 week old baby just NEEDING to be visited across the city), you went ahead and went to school that day - for a short day. Right after lunch I went and picked you up, and we had about an hour to kill before we had to pick up Cooper so he could roll with us to the wellcheck/flu shot visit we had planned. I had planned a little outing for us, but the place we were going to go to was closed, so we just called an audible and went to a restaurant and got chips and queso and you sat in my lap the whole time and I cannot remember a moment that felt so... perfect with just you and me. I cherish these moments with just us gals... Being the second, it isn't a "given" that we get one on one time, and, quite frankly, more often then not, you prefer that Cooper share your space. And while I love the boys in our family so so much, sometimes i just need that time with just you and me.
You give the kind of hugs that knock me over, you give kisses with a full on pucker, you draw the most beautiful rainbows, you greet me at the door with gusto and a smile, you can never have enough bandaids (and have had an "injury" on your right hand for as long as I can remember), you want your nails painted until they are and then you want then cleaned immediately, you think gummies are their own food group, you can chew gum without swallowing it, you must have your purple blanket, your mouse and NO pillow to sleep and you can deal a mean deck of cards.
Every night, for the past 6 months or so, when I leave your room I will say "I love you" and you will say "I love you, too!" and then we will say "I love you, too, too, two!" back and forth while holding up two fingers. You love this, because you are two and you know how to hold up two fingers and it is silly. I don't think you quite have the understanding that we are making a play on words and using homonyms... I mean, why/how would you. But, now you are no longer two, so I wonder if this novelty will be gone...
Daphne Mae... Happy Birthday.
I love you, three.
