On Being Three

Dear Erin,

Almost a month ago you turned three years old.  And I am just now getting around to writing to you about your three-year-old self.  I apologize, my Fair Hill baby.  I am afraid your birthday is always going to be a hectic affair for me.  And I am most grateful that you have wonderful grandparents and aunts who will come hang out with you for your birthday, when I am unable to do so.

Aunt Jeanne came down the weekend before your birthday and we had fun taking her to Dansko to buy some shoes, and to Cherry Crest Adventure Farm for a day of fun.  Aunt Jeanne helped us put up Halloween decorations on Sunday morning.  And then Sunday afternoon we all went to Nichol Park for a little birthday party for you, with your Godzilla Princess birthday cake.  When I told you what a Godzilla actually was, you said "No, Mama, I don't want a monster on my cake.  Just a princess."  So we settled for a picture of a kid stomping on a sand castle.  And, strangely enough, you have not called yourself Godzilla Princess since that day.  Anyway - Grandma and Grandpa joined us at the park for cake and bike riding, and then we headed home for dinner and presents.  Grandma and Grandpa went to Longwood with us on Monday, and then out to lunch.  And Grandma joined your preschool class at Lytles Pumpkin Patch on your birthday, for a very special preschool field trip that included a hay ride and picking your own pumpkin.

Aunt Maria arrived on your birthday and stayed for almost a week, with Wylie Bird in tow.  It's always a fun time for both you and your brother when Wylie comes to visit.  He is a fan favorite.  Nonna and Grandpa and Aunt Christy all arrived on Friday to celebrate your birthday some more.  You helped them decorate an awesome rocket ship cake for your birthday.  You took them to Fair Hill for a morning to play in the corn box, and to the pumpkin patch again on Sunday morning to bring home some more pumpkins and go for another hay ride.  I think you had a lovely birthday celebration.  And this whole age concept is tough for you.  Every night you take three drinks, because you are three.  And every night you ask me "Am I still three?"  Yes, my dear.  You are still three.

I just looked back at 2014 to see what I wrote about you for your second birthday.  Aaaaand - I sucked last year, too.  Nothing.  I wrote nothing.  I am sorry, little one.

I have a hard time picturing you as anything other than your strong-willed, independent self.  Who, ironically, also LOVES helping with things around the house.  So long as it is your idea.  So I am not sure how much you have changed over the course of a year.  You are talking a ton, but you always did that.  You are walking and running and jumping, but you always did that.  You are trying to do everything your big brother does, but you always did that.

Jumping in to leaves.  That's a new skill for you.

On that note - I finally noticed today that you are no longer sucking your thumb while I read you books before bed.  I asked you if you still sucked your thumb.  Nope.  Not any more.  I asked why.  Because Dexter doesn't suck his thumb, so I didn't want to suck mine.  Oh, the power of peer pressure.  We also talked today about kids at play group who take your toys, so you don't like those kids.  And a friend who throws toys and screams, so you don't like that kid any more, either.  And we chatted about how you have learned so many awesome things from your big brother, and your brother has taught you how to (mostly) make good choices - no toy throwing, no hitting, no stealing toys.  And those friends you do not like don't HAVE big brothers to teach them those things.  So they might need a little extra help from their friends to teach them.  It's amazing to me that we can HAVE these conversations.  And that I feel like you understand.  And even MORE amazing to me that you

can express how you are feeling, and tell me what is wrong, and tell me WHY you are feeling a certain way.  Last month you told me you had an ear ache.  I was floored.  Three year olds (you weren't even three yet, but close) can notice those things?  And can TELL ME?  Amazing!  It was amazing.  I know you learn a lot of things from Dexter, and know a lot more about emotions and how to express emotions the right way, because we talk about that so much with Dexter.  So I expect you are ahead of the eight ball there, when it comes to emotions and empathy and knowing what is right and wrong.  But your brother - he's not really capable of telling me how his body is feeling.  I don't think HE knows how his body is feeling.  So for you to know, and to be able to tell me those things - it really was an incredible thing.

A week or so after you turned three you stopped wearing a diaper, and started peeing on the potty.  Like most things in your life, you have done awesome with this, so long as it's on your own terms.  If I ask you to go potty, inevitably nothing will come out.  But you know your body, and you know when you have to pee.  So when it's your idea, all is well.  M&M's help, too.  You've had remarkably few accidents, and I pretty much have forgotten to even worry about you having any accidents.  Well done, kiddo.

Next on the horizon is moving you to a big girl bed.  I would happily keep you smooshed in your crib forever (you sleep sideways instead of long-ways, so space is really not a issue.  There's an entire half of a crib that is totally empty - we could rent it out to another baby) but you have asked for a big kid bed.  Which is no problem.  Except that we have always intended on moving you to the green room when you have a big kid bed, so you have more space.  When I first floated that idea, you were not so psyched.  But after a few days you have warmed up to it.  So we're slowly working on a big kid room and a big kid bed for you.  Maybe over Thanksgiving we will make the move.  We need to install a closet organizer in there first.  And get some new blinds.  And curtains.  But everything else is ready, it's just a matter of moving you over.

What else have you been doing?  School.  You love school.  We had teacher conferences last week, and your teacher said you're great.  You play well with all the kids.  You play with all the toys.  You've got a couple boys who you play great with on the playground.  You will do the crafty stuff, but you don't really like getting messy.  And you like showing your friends how to do things the right way.  Need to know how to sit criss-cross-applesauce?  Just look at Erin.  She'll set a good example.

TOOOOOTALLY not setting a good example at the school Halloween parade

You thoroughly enjoyed Halloween, although many of my pictures would not have you believe that.  We did oodles of Halloween activities, and you wore three different costumes.  I think the issue is that you don't like people LOOKING at you, and making a fuss, and saying how cute you are.  You get a little shy, and your shy looks really grumpy.  You finally settled on a dragon costume for Halloween night, and wore it well with a tutu.  Which we didn't really pay attention to, because you wear tutus all the time.  But apparently people thought it was pretty darn cute to see a dragon wearing a tutu.  Good choice that day, hon.  Well done.  (You totally pick your own clothes every day.  And man, do you come up with some interesting outfits)

In the spirit of "you're a big kid now!" we finally turned your car seat around so you face forward.  And then, when you got mad and started kicking my seat, I promptly turned it backwards again.  You are forward again now, but I do reserve the right to turn you around any time I so choose.  It almost happened again yesterday.  Watch yourself, girlfriend.  You have been warned.

Also in the "big kid" spirit, you've lost the booster seat at the table.  Oh, it still is sitting on the floor, ready to be called in to service at a moment's notice.  But so far, so good - you've been booster free for several days.

You go to the doctor on Friday for your three year well visit, so we can see how ridiculously huge you have actually become.  I've already pulled most of the 3T clothing out of your drawers and given it away, and have re-stocked with 4T.

You have an irrational fear of skunks (you have never seen one, but have smelled one, once).  It now has turned in to a bit of a phobia of groundhogs.  Who knows why, don't ask.  You made me sell a pair of Halloween PJ's that have a spider on them, because they were "too scary."  And yet you walk around the house with our enormous fuzzy black spider we use to decorate for Halloween.  You love your stuffed horses, but the real thing is still a little too scary for you.  You are afraid to go upstairs by yourself if it is dark, but you will happily run in to the bathroom and close the door to see if your shirt glows in the dark.

You love to sing.  You dance to the obnoxious Elmo doll that Aunt Kathy gave Dexter many years ago (damn you, Aunt Kathy).  You know the names to most of the songs we listen to in the car, and you know a vast majority of the words.

You tell terrible knock-knock jokes.  You are sweet.  You are stubborn.  Often times your favorite word is NO.  You want to put on your own shoes, put on your own coat, carry your own lunch box, pull up your own pants, take a shower all by yourself.  And still sometimes you'll lift up your arms and ask someone to "cahwah me."  Yes, I will carry you.

Happy Birthday, Erin.  You are awesome.

Love,
Mama