When You're Three...

Life Holds Passion

     Lillian, You are nothing if not passionate.  You are often awash with emotion as you transition from joyous giggles to tempestuous screams of frustration in a single moment.  You run out of your room in the morning and hug my legs, greeting me with a signed and spoken 'good morning mama!' before you spin on your heel and run to play with Wren in the living room.  You do not like to go to bed, even less to go to bed by yourself.  Almost every evening is a battle of wills as you make your final protests, and eventual tearful pleas to be allowed to stay up or have Mama stay with you 'for a bit'.  Passion, my love, for the right things, can be such a blessing.  My prayer is that you seek out the right things, or that God seeks them out for you.

You are Inventive

     You have entered the fantastic world of pretend and as such babies, puppies, cousins and little sisters take on mind of their (your) own.  Sometimes it's just downright lying.  The other day your daddy found you naked in bed when you were supposed to be sleeping and when he asked why you were undressed (a favorite pastime of late) you told him Mama said it was ok.  When that didn't fly you told him God had said you could.  I laughed out loud.  I pray you grow in your understanding of how real God is, and that you will always be eager to hear what God has for you.

You are Loving

     You give great hugs.  You give lots of hugs (unless daddy specifically asks for one). We were at the doctor's office and a baby boy said hi to you and you gave him a hug.  My first impulse was to shut it down in fear of bringing home yet another virus to besiege my children' immune systems but the loving acceptance touched me.  It didn't matter what he looked like, what he was wearing, who he was with, you just hugged him, and then ran off to play.  I need to remember to have time to love on people like that, even when I'm busy.  You squeal their names out when either of your baby cousins come into the room, rushing over and asking if you can touch them and wringing your hands in anticipation and self control while you wait for an answer.  You like to rub their bellies. My prayer for your heart is that you grow in the love of Christ and a deeper desire to see Him realized in other's lives.

You are Verbal 

     Months ago I asked you to say 'SuperCala-Fragallistic-Expialidotious'. You did.  Since you were a little baby you learned quickly through intent observation and very little trial and error.  You studied until you could do it right, then you did and we have had full conversations since you were at least 18 months, if not earlier.  You have been in a league of your own among your peers for years due to the fact you could verbalize what you wanted, needed, or didn't want, and it has set you apart.  It's beautiful to be different.  It's valuable to be unique.  You are outgoing, quick to make friends, and eager to include others.  I pray that the Lord would use these lovely qualities for His Glory and you would be quick to show others the Precious Love of Christ.    

Dear Lillian,  You make my heart sing.  I have never quite known joy like I feel when I look into your lovely, dark-chocolate eyes, or your sisters bright, summer-blue pair.  What a gracious love my Lord has shown me in my girls; I could never have guessed or hoped.  For the next year, and for the rest of your precious life, I pray you will continue to grow into a marvelous young lady, with grace, love and increased patience.  May your life reflect the beauty Christ has for you and may He draw you to Him at the earliest possible age. Oh that He might preserve you for Himself and may you be His.  I love you sugar-darlin'.

'Ze Wedding

 Our Sister was married at Paul's parent's home this last weekend and much fun was had by all...

 This is us having fun.  We were actually very tired, and my feet hurt.  As they often will when wearing 4 inch heels all afternoon.  Seriously, who does that?

Lillian may have had the best time of all. 

She spent her time tearing up the dance floor.

 

And then there was this cutie.  My little Southern Belle off to the Kentucky Derby.

And there was twirling. Lots and lots of twirling.

9 for 10

So, following our visit to the doctor yesterday, it has been confirmed that my sweet baby, extra fussy as of late, Wren-girl has an ear infection.  I had suspected. This makes it a nice number 9 for the illnesses my youngest has dealt with in the last 10 months.  9 times in 10 months. Crazy right?  Poor thing.  No wonder she's so loud.  She's yelling at the world to let her be. 

Perfect 10

Sugar Darlin',  You are 10 months.  You are endearing.  You make me laugh with your jokes.  You are a socialite.  You are still loud.  You are still teething.  You are just so precious I could squeeze your little roly poly leggies all the live long day.

Oh my sweet how do I describe how you've grown?  You have progressed to verbal, mostly coherent, words that you will breath out in a raspy voice in between loud, yelling 'BAH!'s of expression.  You have learned 'Ball' (first word, I kid you not), Pass, Mama, Dada, Bite, Bye-Bye, Baby, Hi, Book, Sis, Yay & Up. Most of these in the last two weeks.  Sometimes you will bust out with two or three new words all in one day .  You are well on your way to speaking in full sentences, which will thrill Lillian to no end.  She asks me daily what you are saying and we have had a fun time guessing at what your squaks and babbles have meant, but I am so looking forward to knowing what you think about things.  Although as I think of it now you are quite efficient at communicating your displeasure, approval, or various demands...very, very efficient.

I love how sweetly you love on those around you.  You charm with chubby armed 'hugs' and plump cheeks snuggled against another face. You have started 'kissing', lovin' it.  Our bedtime routine goes something like this: after a bit of local milk...very, very local milk, you will tuck your little head into my neck and coo sweetly. Once standing over your crib you attempt to throw yourself onto the mattress, and I lovingly lay my wiggly little 10 month old octopus into your bed, snuggle in a lamb and wrap you in your blanket.  You pull one side up and snuggle it to your face before turning to smile at me through a paci.  I bounce your mattress and you smile more.  I give you eskimo kisses and you laugh.  And then you are ready for sleep.  Darling girl.

You are my roly-poly baby.  I will set you on the carpet and you quickly 'go on roll-about' to explore every nook and cranny in the room.  Balls across the floor are no longer protected by the space between, and you quickly close the distance to any and every sphere shaped object in a split-second.  Why crawl when you already have an incredible effective mode of transportation?  You must have very strong obliques.

You are lean, despite the delightfully squishy rolls in your legs and belly, and oh so strong.  I have marveled at how toned my arms look from wrestle-holding you.  You are my low weight-high rep workout every day. You do not reach, and only occasionally give me the luxury of pointing at what you want; opting rather to lunge with the full force of a surprisingly agile and weighted 17 lbs at the object, be it the afore mentioned ball, or the stove, or Mercy. It is with this same strength that you adeptly refuse anything coming into your perimeter that hasn't been cleared with your approval. Oatmeal?  Not a chance.  Iron-rich rice Cereal that experts say a baby 'MUST HAVE' in order to be healthy and any well-to-do and loving mother would provide for a child she found in her affection? Laughable. Tomato's? Yes, please. Come on in, stay and have tea.  Invite all your tomato friends and stay for supper. You have your preferences.  I often comply.

I have said for months that my Good Lord gave you several extra drops of absolute sweetness to compensate for the noise that your tiny self deems necessary.  I am thankful for all of the things He has made you.  You love to cuddle, I love to allow it.  You love to eat veggies and proteins, I love to allow it.  You hate being handled and will pull away or lock your jaw, I love to be your mother and decide what will go in your mouth and what stickers or bird seeds I will take out of it (which is all of them, by the way). You chew on your paci like it's a cigar, I love to enjoy your sense of humor.  You seem determined to grow up faster than I'm ready for, I have no choice but to accept it.  Sugar Sweetie Pie, You are already 10 months, and I love you to the doctor and back... which is where we are going tomorrow, for shots, because you are 10 months.