Dear Lexie,

 

Today is your third birthday, although in keeping with how you express yourself these days, I should probably scream and cry that TODAY! IS! YOUR! THIRD! BIRTHDAY! – because there’s not a doubt in my mind that today is going to be a day filled with CAPITAL LETTERS and EXCLAMATION POINTS!!!, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.  

 

This last year has been wonderful with you, despite your screaming-terrible-two-tantrum-throwing-self lately.  You can scream and cry one minute and tell me that you love me and kiss me the next.  You love to dance around the room in your pretty dresses and shoes, making every minute of a tantrum worth enduring.  You are very serious about your dancing and act as if you have had years of ballet lessons.  

 

You are an amazing little girl.  You are incredibly intelligent.  You taught yourself to spell your name at 2 1/2.  I was floored when you came to me and said “Lexie, L-E-X-I-E”  I taught you to spell more words and you picked them up instantly.  But you still think Dad is spelled “D-O-D”  I have no doubt that you will follow in your brother’s footsteps and teach yourself to read this year.

 

Speaking of your brother, Dalton is your best friend.  You two play very well for hours and hours.  You have your moments also, but they are few.  I have no doubt that you will be the best big sister to your baby sissy.  You are excited and can’t wait to meet her and “carry her around” and “put her in your bed” and “sing her songs to put her to sleep”.  Her life will be so much better with you as a big sister.

 

Your wide open enthusiasm and love for people is a constant source of wonder. I take great delight in the realization that your extroversion is so innate that there’s no way I can change it even if I might want to do so at times.

 

I enjoy our morning milk “snuggle time” and I treasure it like crazy because I know that one day you will be thirteen and prefer that I respect your six-foot radius of Personal Space while you’re busy trying to pretend that I don’t exist.  

    

Our life is infinitely richer and deeper and better simply because you’re here to share life with us.

 

I love you so much,

Mommy