Happy New Year!

It's time for a new year. I'm not sure where the last one went, but I guess that's what happens to time, the older you get. When I was little like you, I remember feeling like time went by so slowly.

We went to the 1st Night Fayetteville celebration at the mall. It used to be on the square, but I think they started having it inside, because it's too cold. It was pretty fun. you guys got your faces painted and made some little noisemakers and listened to some music. When you're a little older, we'll all watch the ball drop together. But for now, you're snug in your beds, and tomorrow will be the start of a whole new year.

I love you!

Love, Mom

Merry Christmas, Every One.

You were born into kind of a weird family. I think you fit in pretty well, though.

Stuff like this makes my heart almost explode.

I love seeing your little drawings around the house. You made this one today. I think it might be you and sam, but you're sleeping now, so i will ask you tomorrow. You are turning into quite the little artist.

love, mom

Happy Birthday to you.

I can't believe you're 3. and sam is 6. wow.

So far, you've had a good birthday. Snow White was a hit, as was the care bear. you rubbed his nose immediately, as usual. and here's more photographic evidence. (the latter old picture is a care bear peep from easter)... it always makes me smile that you're so consistently YOU about certain things.

For thanksgiving and sam's birthday, we went to grandma and papa's. today, on your birthday, we're going to some more fun at Fun City Pizza.

I love you! Happy Birthday!
love, mom

Happy Halloween!

You made the prettiest little Snow White i've ever seen. It took a long time to make your costume, but you loved it so much that i think it was definitely worth it. And you really really really really like candy.
Love, mom

Time is still flying.

A month from today, you'll be 3 years old. how did that happen??

You're expressing yourself more and more lately, in words, in drawings, in song, in play, etc. It's been a lot of fun to watch.

You like to draw little faces, with mouths and eyes and eybrows, and lots of arms and legs. yesterday you wanted me to teach you how to draw glasses, and you

surprised me by how quickly you caught on. I showed you how to do it once, and you copied me easily. You can also make shapes and pictures with little bits of the chains i use to make my necklaces. you call these cast-off bits "wormies," and one day we noticed you were shaping them into eyes and eyebrows and mouths that look JUST like the faces you draw.

You love disney movies. Even Sleeping Beauty, which i didn't expect you to like that much, because it's a little bit slow. You're going to be Snow White for halloween, and I've been busy making your costume...

I love seeing you grow up, though it is a little bit sad to realize that you are quickly leaving your baby phase behind and becoming a little girl.

I love you, little girl!

love, mom

if we don't see you for a few minutes...

usually something like this is going on.

some of your favorite destructive things to do:

get the toothpaste and all the toothbrushes out, and eat toothpaste. i'm pretty sure it escalates from actually brushing your teeth to just sucking the toothpaste out of the container. in times past, you have also snuck off with my deodorant and applied it to your body, then nibbled on it a little bit. finding toothmarks in my deodorant is a little unnerving.

draw all over yourself and/or everything else. see pics.

your favorite place to do these things is up in sam's bed, for some reason. i guess maybe because it's also a place you're not really supposed to be. that's where you went to cut your hair a while back...

i think we need to buy you a cowbell.

love, mom

I was sad for you today.

You woke up, walked down the hall, and told me, "I can't find sam." Then you went and looked for him in the kitchen. I heard you crying, so I went in there and picked you up. you wailed, "I want Saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaam!" It was pretty heartbreaking. You're really old enough to miss your brother when he's not around, and now that he's started school, he'll be gone for several hours every day. I know what that's like; I was a little sister too. Hang in there, little girl- your time will come!

Love, mom

today you got your first bloody nose.

you were standing in time out for being WAY too loud (this is what you and sam get time out for most often, lately), and suddenly you turned around, and your finger and your nose and upper lip were covered with blood. i'm not sure if the finger went in before the bleeding and caused it, or if you were feeling the blood and sent your finger to investigate. it made you a bit nervous, and you kept requesting a bandaid. this wad of toilet paper seemed to satisfy you.

i hope you don't get too many nosebleeds! but i'm glad you handle injuries pretty well. you're tough!

love, mom

you found the scissors.

earlier today, you apparently went into the bathroom, got some scissors out of the drawer, took them to your room, climbed up on sam's bunk, and proceeded to cut yourself a few bangs. there are several things i should be thankful for, here:

1. you didn't hurt yourself.

2. you stopped after the bangs and didn't proceed to cut it all off. it kind of could have started looking like a mullet if you'd gone further with it.

3. it's not completely obvious. noticeable, but it doesn't just jump out at you.

i was pretty sad about it, though. you've never had a haircut, and you have beautiful hair. also, i was pretty set against bangs. i think i'm just going to leave it be and let them grow out... maybe you're onto something, and it'll be the next big thing.

mostly, i'm hoping you never do it again.

once again, you've lived up to your old nickname, "destructobaby"....

i love you even if you have weird hair.

love, mom

you like the great outdoors.

last night we decided to camp out in the backyard. you liked running around and being silly, and you liked to yell and listen to your voice carry in the night air. i'm not sure how much the neighbors loved it. you also liked standing on your chair and making us afraid you'd fall into the fire. we had to tell you to sit down a whole bunch.

you really liked sitting on amber's lap and helping her roast the hot dog octopus, which you then helped her eat. you also ate about 20 marshmallows, then you said your belly hurt. not surprised!

it's fun watching you enjoy new things!

love, mom

Happy 4th of July!

you celebrated your third 4th of July, and with each passing year, you enjoy the fireworks more. this year, you sat with Ivy in Holly's lap and clapped and shrieked every time you saw one. it was pretty funny and cute. you were sad to go home, and you looked for fireworks out the car window the whole way back to our house.

it's fun to see you get so excited about things. i love you!

love, mom

happy fathers' day!

the tradition around here is to wear shirts that say nice things about daddy and then get your pictures taken outside. you were much more cooperative this year than last year.

thanks!

we had a good day with daddy. you and sam made cards for him at church with your foot and hand prints. then at home, you brought him a present with candy and cologne and some new boxer shorts with alligators and sharks and skulls on them. he sure does love you. and you love him too.

love, mom

we're playing catch-up!

a couple weeks ago, your brother graduated from preschool at Growing God's Kingdom. you'll probably be going there in another year or so. i can't believe how quickly you're both growing up. anyway! grandma and papa came up for graduation, and they brought their new puppy, ida bell. she was quite a hit with you. and no, we can't have a puppy.

love, mom