Dear Vivian {Month 36}

Dearest Vivian,

Today you are 3. 

You are more than I could have ever dreamed up for myself in a daughter.  You are so sweet, funny, kind-hearted, outgoing, friendly, adventurous, flexible, interesting and just plain delightful.

You:

talk in full ideas, sentences and thoughts now.  It pretty much blows my mind on a daily basis.

walk more than you crawl these days.  You wiggle out of my arms to get "down!" - your body and mind have been working toward this for so long and you just want to do it!

picked up a tissue the other day, said "This needs to go in the trash," walked to the kitchen, threw it away and walked back to me in the living room.

ask me nearly every day "Who we going to see today, Mama?"  You love your people and expect the maintenance of a full social calendar.

told our friends who surprised you with a big rainbow balloon bouquet today, "Come in!  Come inside!  Come inside and play a lot!" with your trademark enthusiasm as you just about bubbled over with love for your friends. 

tell me every single day "Maybe after nap we watch Little Bear or Caillou?  Oh, yeah, that's a good idea!".

tell us "Mama and Daddy married!  We a family!".

love to cook in your kitchen, color and read books.

like to play and talk quietly in your crib instead of nap most days.

tell us "Oh, I can do it!" and then do it.

let us know when your milk is not cold enough, saying "This is not really cold.  I would like some cold milk."

asked to eat cake at each meal today, and did so. That's the fun of a birthday, right?

You are my bright and shining rainbow, Viv!  You bring so much color to our lives and I love you soooooo much.  Happy 3rd Birthday, sweet girl.

Yours,
Mama