Where has the time gone?

October 4, 2006

1st Birthday

2nd Birthday

3rd Birthday

I have been putting off this post because I honestly don't want to think about the fact that my BABY is THREE! I can't believe how fast the past three years have flown by! Laura Ann started this past year with a paci, in a crib & diapers! She has truly gone from toddler to little girl this past year. Although I do miss having her as a baby, she is tons of fun everyday. So, Laura Ann, here are some things I want to remember about this past year:

*your girly laugh & squeal, that your dad & brother seem to bring it out the best
*you still sleep with your blankie & piggie
*when you don't understand something being said to you, your response is, "wha you say?"
*your response to lots of questions is, "uh-huh" (we're working on manners: yes mam, etc., but the way you say uh-huh is super cute!
*speaking of manners, you have please & thank you down pat & use them often
*you have been known to throw a fit & are very DRAMATIC about it- my favorite is when you say, "I'm going to go in my room & cry"- you then run to room, throw yourself on your bed & attempt a very fake cry- it's really funny!
*you have learned the art of 'smart talking' from your brother & are even better at it than he is!
*you think that you should be able to do anything Daniel does & you work very hard at keeping up with him
*although you give him almost constant grief about something, you absolutely adore your brother & think that he is very smart & funny; unless you are mad at him, he is always your 'prince'
*you put on a tiara or crown as you call it, as soon as you wake up every morning & wear it all day
*you wear your high heels most of the day too (at home)
*BABY DOLLS- you line them up at various places throughout the house & play all kinds of things, Sunday School, playground, birthday party, naptime, snacktime, lunchtime, etc. Their names are all 'Baby' except for the one doll with hair & she is 'Girl' I love that you converse with them as if they are real babies.
*besides dolls, you love babies in general & often comment on how cute/sweet they are when we see them at church or the grocery store. You loved Baby Jesus all during Christmas & still refer to the baby that came with your dollhouse as Baby Jesus.
*speaking of Christmas, you LOVED Frosty & would squeal very loudly every time we passed the inflatable snowman in Trussville, 'LOOK MOM, THERE'S FROSTY!!!!!!'
*you walk on tip toes constantly & you LOVE to dance
*you are all about anything princess- shoes, dress, jewelry
*you refuse to wear tshirts & the only way I can get you to wear one is by tying 'princess' ribbons on the shoulders
*you basicly potty trained yourself in about a week & have been dressing yourself for quite a while (you still get help with buttons & occasionly put things on backwards)
*you are EXTREMELY independent & insist on doing everything by yourself (when you potty trained at 2 1/2, you started getting yourself up in the mornings- you would take off your pullup & throw it away, go to the potty, put on panties & pjs back on, along with assessories & high heels, then come in the kitchen ready to start your day!) That is a big change from me getting you up & putting a dry diaper on you!
*you are generally 'fearless', but everyone has some fears & yours are carnival rides (Disney should be fun! :), the leaf blower & Daddy's 4 wheeler
*you dropped your nap when you 'lost' your paci in May, so now you have quiet time instead, only sometimes it isn't too quiet
*your many 'quiet time' adventures- the vaseline in your hair is probably my favorite...
*you are my 'climber' which is why the crib was taken out of your room & why the refrigerator that goes with your kitchen collapsed. I also suspect this is why your shins are lined with bruises????
*you learned to pedal and swim over the summer, all in an effort not to be outdone by your brother
*you are a 'people' person- you rarely meet a stranger & have very little 'separation anxiety' from me- you walk right into Sunday school & your class at the WEE Center
*you like to paint, color & play with stickers
*you LOVE to sing (I'm sitting in my bed as I type this listening to you sing Bibbity Bobbity Boo over the monitor, so, so, sweet)
*you have thoroughly enjoyed the beach on our trips this year- you start squealing as soon as the ocean comes into sight & have so much fun running on the beach & splashing in the waves- you also like to chase the sea gulls, but you have yet to catch one!
*you enjoy helping with any task in the kitchen, especially stirring
*you have become a very picky eater, which is strange, because a year ago you ate a lot of just about anything. now, when asked if you want ___________ to eat, your repsonse is, 'no, tank you, I not wike dat'. You LOVE just about any fruit, strawberries, apples & grapes are your favorite & you can never get enough of those
*your 'spunky' personality (ok sometimes this part of you is difficult, but I think it will be GREAT in about 13 years when some sweet talking twirp comes along, you won't hestitate to put him in his place!:) On this note, you are very hard headed & always want the last word (don't know where you get this from!)
*how you crinkle your eyebrows when you are thinking hard about something
*you love to give hugs & kisses
*you love to cuddle & I love to cuddle with you!
*your pigtails
* you love life everyday & almost always wake up happy (if not you are w/i a few minutes) & are anxious to get started on whatever we have planned for the day- even if it is just to stay at home *you love playing with your brother, but you are also just as happy to play by yourself & are great at entertaining yourself

I suppose I could keep going as long as I sit here, but I will stop for now. Laura Ann, you are more precious than words can say. Gran calls you her sunshine & that is definitely true for all of us. You have made our lives brighter than we could have ever imagined. You truly are the princess of the James castle & always will be. I love you sweet girl & look forward to all that lies in your 4th year!