Mia is 3- wah!

Happy birthday, Mia!

I had grand dreams of letters to you girls on your birthdays, each on right on time and full of details about who you are at that moment and what you love and enjoy doing.  Hasn't quite happened... At least I can blame it on you girls and how busy life gets. 

You wouldn't mind anyway.  You are the easiest kid, almost all the time.  I thought the other day, you are as tender as a lamb.  And stubborn as a mule. How's that for a contradiction?? You are such a sweet one, really. You are obsessed with amals (animals) and have them all named and carry one with you everywhere.  In the car, to the store, downstairs for breakfast. For your birthday, you got some new ones: a big Lambie, a little Lambie, Linda, Magic, Roxy, and Honey. Wow. You keep up with them all and when we ask where one is, you know right where you've put them. Your bed is just ridiculous with all these stuffed things taking up all the comfy spots but never complaining, you just make your space amidst them all.You tuck them into your arm and absentmindedly, pat them while you watch tv.

Another thing you do that's pretty cute is when we go to a thrift store (one of our weekly adventures) you get all the animals out and line them up along the closet couch and sing and talk to them all.  When it's time to go, all we have to say is to hug them and put them away and you willingly do it.  So funny.

You also asked for a xylophone for your birthday. Maybe to match the flute and harmonica Santa gave y'all for Christmas.  What was he thinking!! You got the xylophone and also a pair of bongo drums from Aunt Molly.  Sheesh- it gets pretty loud in here!

You aren't into trying new foods lately.  That's an understatement, considering you gag and whine and eat mostly goldfish, fruit snacks, apples with no peel and cheese sandwiches.  And chips, you LOVE chips. But then, you almost exclusively drink water, so there's a little healthy side to your junk.  You do love blueberries, strawberries, pita chips, peanuts and pistachios, and ranch dressing.

You love your daddy and will kiss him on the nose, the cheek, his forehead, his chin.  I'll come home from being out and you and daddy will be snuggled up on the couch, snug as bugs.  You are just his little spitting image and we have lots of people comment on that. 

We are trying out ballet classes right now and you don't love them... you'll try but end up sitting in the back or crawling around.  Not a fan.  Same with gymnastics. You are so brave to try and I think you like some of it, but you're timid about the tall beam and jumping into the pit and swinging on the rope. 

And can I just tell you, your little body is the cutest thing.  In your gymnastics uniform, you are so long and tall with a big belly.  Your hiney is just the squishiest and your love handles... oh, my Mia. You are beautiful, your long and dark eyelashes, and those little piggietails lately, just get me.  You and Hen are close to the same size and I get asked all the time if y'all are twins. Nope, just "befrends" (best friends) you girls say. You two play all day long, pretty happily.  Of course, lots of arguments and bickering happens too, but mostly, you get along and create these elaborate games and scenarios to pretend.

I love to hear you talk; your voice is like a little old lady.  You always say the T sound for C or K so cupcake is tuptake or cat is tat.  You have some lotion that you call "twanberry twinkle". 

You are a pretty easy kid- you usually let Hen be the princess and you will be the prince, or Hen will get the pink balloon and you are happy with the blue.  She pretends to be Anna Kate and you have to be Trip.  Haha, you are just easy and ok with being the shadow instead of the spotlight all the time.  Well adjusted, maybe is the word. 

You were feeling sick the other day and I held you and thought about how I was so surprised by finding out I was pregnant with you. Before you were born, I would rub my tummy and pray, God, let me make sure this girl knows I love her and she's not a mistake, just a surprise. What a good and sweet and happy surprise you were. Still are.  Crazy about you, my Mia Ruth. Happy third birthday.

cold snap, again

Today is day 3 of cold weather here in Texas. Meaning, yesterday, we didn't warm up above freezing all day.  And since all of us also have runny noses and coughs, we just have been being lazies inside. On the couch. Or in the bed. Snuggling. All 3 of us together, NONSTOP. Also known as "Mommy is two seconds from exploding at any moment"...

Just now, Mia is running around a bunch of helium balloons left from her birthday.  She is singing a made up song that goes "Balloons, balloons, are very fun. Balloons, balloons, are very fun." Henley, who can't find her bunch of balloons (seriously? a bunch of 4 floating balloons is missing??? how is that even possible?) suggests we all start singing HER song. "You should share, share with your big sister. Her balloons are missing, and that would be nice."

In all honesty, lazy days are nice. We've been snacking instead of regular meals, painting and building forts and who doesn't love to just keep jammies on all day long?

I'm ready for some sunshine, though. The weather is supposed to warm up to a week of sunny 70 degree days.  Trampoline time and picnics and windows open will be such a treat.