Happy Third Birthday my Sweet Girl

Today my sweet baby girl turns three years old! Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine getting to spend an entire year uninterrupted watching her transform from a spunky two year old to an energetic, fun-loving, kind, spirited three year old. I sit back and think of all her milestones in the last 12 months and I’m truly floored at how children adapt, grow, learn seemingly on their own, but in reality from watching us. Sharing a few snaps from her birthday party that we celebrated this past weekend!

Not to say an entire year working from home with a toddler wasn’t tough, but my gosh I wouldn’t trade this year with Sophia for anything, especially since she wont be an only child for much longer! Last year I mentioned all the lasts that I didn’t realize would be the last and this year I have been so much more mindful of things that she does or asks for because it could be the last time. The last time I rocked her to sleep for a nap, the last time she slept in her crib and all of sudden, the last time she said mommy and started calling me mama! Thankfully she hasn’t outgrown wanting “uppy” or wanting me to put her to sleep at night.

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A girly girl through and through, I don’t think we’ve gone one night in the last 8 months without being fully decked out in a princess dress, shoes, a matching headband and jewelry to go to sleep. This was also the year I learned to pick my battles and if that makes bedtime easier, then go for it! Also, one day she may just decide to stop this dress up phase and I’ll miss it!

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To say that she has taught me patience this last year would be the understatement of the century! I have’t mastered it at all, but she continues to teach me! I know each stage comes with it’s own challenges, but man those emotions in a toddler are wild! But in the same vein, the sweetness of a toddler is pure deliciousness and gives you as a parent the extra boost needed to get through those tough moments.

Just like I do every year, I write Sophia an email on her birthday so that she can look back on these letters and know how much we did, what she learned, how much she grew but also – all the funny things she says! Here’s just a snippet of the sweet little things she says:

• Mommy, I’m going to be an astronaut so I can catch my boo-boo in outer space
• That’s HI-larious 
• Oh my god, what is going on!? 
• Is that a deal?! 
• Mommy, I’m going to get very angry again! 

We tackled some really big milestones this past year and all of the changes that we have thrown at her, she has taken like a champ. Honestly, I worried more about her reaction than gauging how I would react to them. We made a huge move out of the city, she started pre-school, we’ve prepared her on becoming a big sister and the most recent change – moving into her big girl bed! I also can’t get over how much her vocabulary exploded this year – I am constantly amazed at the sentences that she forms and how much she knows. Like when she randomly started counting in Spanish to 10!

I am so thankful for this year with Sophia – full of laughter, tears and some hard moments – because we all grew this year! My darling girl, I am so grateful for you and the love and life you have filled our home with! May you be as wild and free as you are today, always!!

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Balloons from Fig Balloon & Co

Cake and cookies from Allie Emmas

Sophias dress

My smocked dress