Our BIG girl turns THREE!

I'm a month late in posting this, but our baby girl is 3!  She has more sass in that 3 year old body than most 13 year olds and I sadly have to admit that karma is rearing it's ugly head at me (Sorry Mom!  Sorry Dad!)  At the same time, she is the sweetest little girl on the planet and so incredibly full of love.  The sibling rivalry is also at an all time high, something I never expected given that my brothers were so much older than me (I wasn't around them enough when I was younger to fight with them like this -- or, I just don't remember it) but as I type, Jacob is downstairs cuddled with Maddie in her bed reading her books before her nap time.  Their love for each other is undeniable, but when they get into a shouting match, you don't want to be anywhere near it (and for the record, Maddie usually wins).

THREE.  Our BABY is THREE.  I really can't imagine where the time is gone and I know I'm starting to sound like a broken record when I say that.  My heart hurts sometimes to think about how big (and how fast) they are both growing.

I took Maddie in for her 3 year check up and was shocked by her stats.  I love comparing her and Jacob's growth charts since their growth has been so similar.  I wasn't expecting that given that Jacob was always so big (and a boy). Maddie was 37.2 lbs which was 90th percentile in weight (Jacob was 39 lbs at his 3 year check up).  Maddie was 39 inches which was 99% in height (Jacob was 38.5 inches at his 3 year check up).  At this rate, this "little" girl is going to grow up to be 6 feet tall (and likely taller than her big brother!)  Where did we get these tall genes?!

A little bit about Maddie at 3:

• She HATES dresses.  Hates them.  Refuses to wear them unless a serious bribe is involved.  Her outfit of choice everyday is jeans or shorts with a t-shirt and tennis shoes -- she will wear skirts as long as they have the little shorts underneath (aka, skorts)
• She refuses to wear anything in her hair but one little small clip that pulls her hair off to the side.  No braids, no pony tails, etc.
• If we are in the company of boys and girls, she always chooses to play with the boys (the OLDER boys).
• She loves all kinds of sports -- soccer, baseball, volleyball.  She'd much rather be outside playing with a ball then inside playing with a doll.
• When she gets nervous or anxious or is just unsure about something, she sticks her fingers in her mouth.  I always know when she's uncomfortable, because in the mouth they go.
• She LOVES school.  She asks me everyday if she's going to school and when it's not a school day, she's deeply disappointed.  The Director, Miss Lauri, pulled me aside shortly after she started preschool and said to me "Angela, I don't know why I was ever worried about her age.  She is a model student."  Consequently, I almost started shedding my tears of pride right then and there (The back story being that because she didn't technically meet the cut off for preschool, I still fought to get them to accept her this year -- I'm so glad I did!)
• She is still very much Daddy's girl.  She goes in phases where her obsession with Daddy ebbs and flows (it's always there, mind you, but at times it's stronger than others).  Right now, we are in an over-the-top-obsession-with-Daddy phase and Mommy is feeling a little slighted.  Just a little :)
• She has to know what we are doing every second of the day.  From the moment we wake up, she's asking me "Mommy, what are we doing today?" and when I tell her the first thing, she says "and what do we do after that?  and "what do we do after that?"  It doesn't matter how many things I mutter off to her, there is always a "what's after that"? I eventually end it with "then we go to bed and start all over again tomorrow". 

We celebrated Maddie's birthday at Safari Run.  I really want to be one of those Moms that can throw a super cute, creative, themed party at the house but I get a headache every time I think about doing it so we always opt for the ease of a birthday party hosted at a play space where they manage 20 kids, feed them and then deal with the clean up!  That alone is worth all the money in the world!  Rest assured, one of these days I WILL plan that super fun, creative party at home but I just haven't had it in me yet.  She LOVES Safari Run and so do the other kids so they had a blast!

Happy Birthday sweet girl.  You are one of the most beautiful, kind, loving, smart and strong little girls I know -- I couldn't be more proud of the person you are becoming.  We love you so much Maddie!

Her BFF, Nathan!

Her friend, Annie, and her attacking Daddy

The big boys, Jaxxon, Owen and Jacob

Her friend Emily getting her groove on to play freeze dance.

There they are -- the fingers in the mouth.  She wasn't so sure about playing freeze dance!

Coming out of the fast slide with Benjamin's Daddy, Jeremy (Benjamin was the little boy of the family we shared a nanny with.  Now that Benj and Maddie are both in preschool, they don't see each other as much anymore but they still LOVE each other!)

The whole gang!  (Warner, Owen, Luke, Cameron, Samantha, Annie, Maddie, Jacob, Griffon, Ellie, Annabel, Emma, Matthew, Jaxxon, Emily, Olivia, and Nathan)

I have not had great luck with Maddie's birthday cakes.  She really wanted an ice cream cake and this one was from Baskin Robbins.  Even though Safari Run assured me it wouldn't melt in their refrigerator, it was melting by the time we served it (not the right hand side collapsing!)  It was still delish.

While singing her happy birthday, she was a little anxious (note the hands in the mouth!)

But she expertly blew out her candles

 At home ready to open her wonderful presents!

Every time we went to Target, Maddie begged me for this Incredible Hulk hands.  Good thing Jaemie, Matt, Owen and Nathan knew she loved them!  It was their gift to her!  She was so excited!

Happy Birthday Maddie!