Three years old

I can’t believe that it has been three years since I became your mother. It feels like only yesterday you came into our lives while at the same time I feel like this is the way it’s always been. I Love your sweet little spirit and your kind loving ways. I love your zest for life and your eagerness to learn and grow and be independent. You drive me nuts trying  to help out all the time and constantly wanting to know what I’m doing, where I’m going, or what I’m eating (and if you can have some too) but I wouldn’t have it any other way. You are such a big help with your little brother and you are always so concerned with his welfare. I am amazed every day at the things you say and all the ways you are growing and learning. I just love you to pieces!

 

 

Somebody’s Almost 3…

Last fall I took Lil to see a Disney on Ice production and she absolutely LOVED it. I was thrilled to find out there would be another one in our area the week before Lil’s birthday and that it would feature three princess stories. Knowing that Lil would flip her lid we decided this would be her main birthday present as well as her “party” for this year since we were going with two of her favorite little friends.

Lil was so thrilled to find out where we were going! I got her a terribly tacky birthday hat that she just loved and we even had a Tangled t-shirt to wear to the event, thanks to some very nice friends. I tell you what, I am such a sucker for making my little girl smile from ear to ear!

Part of her present was the train ride to the event. It would have been so much easier just driving down there instead of timing the train just right and waiting around for the train to take us home but Lil is obsessed with getting to ride the train! When we got on this time we were in a car that had backward facing seats and she was so concerned that we were going the wrong direction :). She loved staring out the window and for some reason wanted to spend most of the ride lying on the floor. yuck.

We had some fun with my phone camera making faces to entertain ourselves on the ride as well…

We actually made it on time to this one and we had a blast walking around in a sea of small princesses and tutus and crowns and ruffles. I kept trying to get Lil to open up her sweatshirt to show off her princess shirt but she insists that if she has a jacket on it is fully zipped or buttoned at all times, so…

Waiting for the show to begin…

Here are a few shots from the show. The first was Lil’s favorite part where Rapunzel and Flynn were flying through the air on Rapunzel's hair. Unfortunately this was taken with my phone and is horribly blurry.

Mickey, Minnie, and a sea of royal couples to close out the show.

 

We had such a blast and I am so happy we could do this together! I can’t believe my baby is almost 3 years old. I just love that little girl.

Almost 3 Years Old

LIly, you are just blossoming! I am having such a fun time with you lately. You are so smart and capable and most of all funny! You are becoming more and more independent and are desperate to be your own little person and do things yourself. This is sometimes frustrating but I try to let you do as much as you can and explore new things. The only time this is a real problem is when you want to run away from me and do your own thing when we’re out and about. You seem to know that I’m slower than normal and have at least one less hand while holding Miles and you put up a big fight every time we need to get in the car or leave the park, or church, or the library, or the store…

You are such a good big sister! You love Miles and always make sure I am taking care of him. You let me know when he is crying and always remind me to talk and sing to him. You help out when I have my hands full and will talk and sing to him yourself if I can’t pick him up. You still don’t seem to be terribly jealous of the time we have to spend taking care of your brother and I am so grateful for that. You like to “play” with him in the most amusing ways. For example, in these pictures below you thought it would be a good idea to lay with Miles and put highlighters on your backs. You were cracking up!

You know very well that I am very occupied while feeding Miles and like to take advantage of that. Foe example you’ll go through my makeup bag and try things out…

Or while I’m in the shower you’ll play with the wrapping paper…

Or find my office stamps and decorate yourself…

When I’m smart I’ll set up activities for you like Skype-ing with your best little friend Atlas who moved to Texas. That seriously is one of the cutes things ever since your conversations go absolutely nowhere but you two have the most fabulous time.

You have also recently discovered Play dough, or in your words, Play Toe, and you can’t get enough of it.

Recently you have become much more interested in girly things like ballerinas, princesses, clothes, and jewelry.  You are always complimenting me, especially on my necklaces so I decided to get you a little necklace and bracelet set. You quickly learned that if you stretch them too far that they will break. You were heartbroken but quickly cheered up when you learned that we could fix it. You gave a valiant effort while trying to put it back together and insisted that I not help you. That was very hard for me but once I let you be in control and give it a try you were so happy and eventually you allowed me to fix it for you.

I also found a doll house by the side of the road and brought it home for you and you are in love! You are always asking us to play with your “dollie” house along with you and we have a blast doing so.

One other HUGE milestone is that you’re finally fully potty trained!!! We have not had an accident in a few weeks and almost always stay dry through the night! The thing that finally did it was the promise of watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse videos if you successfully pooped in the potty. You are so proud of yourself and your accomplishments and I am too! My wonderful sweet little girl.

Christmas Time

You have had a wonderful Christmas! I am so happy to be able to spend these special times with you and your brother. I am loving you as you get older (as I always have), especially as we celebrate birthdays and holidays  because we get to experience all of these things again for the first time. Your excitement and joy warm my heart and I can’t get enough of it. You have been so excited about Christmas. Every day you would rearrange the ornaments on the tree and make sure everything was just right.  Every time you would see anything associated with Christmas you would get so excited and exclaim “Look! It’s Christmas!”.  You learned Jingle Bells, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, and Santa Claus is Coming to Town and sang them non stop while bouncing around to the beat. I had to wait to put the presents under the tree because the temptation was just too much for you to handle.

We spent Christmas Eve at your grandma and grandpa Aragon’s house and you had a blast. Your auntie Jen and uncle Tom and cousin Baby Colin were here visiting from Nebraska and you were over the moon. We talk to them on Skype multiple times a week and you were so excited to get to be with them in person. You loved sitting with aunt Jen and you had and Colin played all day long. You two even missed your naps. I am so happy that you are so attached to your family! They all love you so much and enjoy your little happy, sweet personality. You got some great presents from your grandparents and aunt Jen even made you some clothes :)

(trust me- this was the best shot of the bunch!)

The next morning we had Christmas back at our place. I was so excited for you to experience Christmas day this year. I found you some little presents that I knew you would love (jewelry, flashlight, a Mickey Mouse movie) and you were so excited for them. Your big present, however was a scooter and helmet and you were as excited as I hoped you would be! You have been riding that thing around the apartment non stop. Once it warms up a little we’ll let you go out to the park and ride around. I love doing things that make your little face light up and that bring you so much joy. It makes me so happy! The magic of Christmas is in your little eyes and sweet spirit and I couldn’t be happier. The hard thing will be explaining to you that we have to wait another year before it is Christmas time again

Big sister time

It’s been 3 weeks since little Miles came into our family and Lily has taken to him so well! She is like a little mom and has mostly been very helpful. She loves to help me change Miles diaper and likes to tell me everything she thinks he needs. Every time he cries, Lily will make sure I know and tells me to go pick him up, even if he is right in front of me and even if it means putting her down to do so. She wants to talk to him all the time and she’ll say “Hi Miles. How’s it going? You doin’ good?” I just love watching her interact with him. Her latest thing is grabbing his arm and making him “wave” to us, She thinks it is so funny! I just have to make sure she doesn’t tug on him too hard sometimes. She really loves being a big sister and I am so happy she doesn’t seem to be jealous or hurt that we need to give Miles so much attention.

One thing she loves is trying out all of her old baby stuff, like Miles baby chair…

And while I was looking through the baby clothes she found her first Halloween costume…

 

We’ve had a lot of fun lately getting ready for Christmas. Enjoying the festivities downtown and decorating the Christmas tree. Lily has taken the opportunity every day to rearrange the ornaments to make the tree “just right”

 

 

 

We went to our ward Christmas party and Lily insisted she bring her pumpkin to get candy, just like she did at the last church party we went to. Who was I to stop her? She wasn’t thrilled, however, with having to sit on Santa’s lap…

 

I just love the little person that Lily is becoming. She definitely has her moments, but I am so happy she is in our family and that I get the opportunity to help raise her.