Three Years, Eight Months
Yesterday, Little Girl turned 3 2/3. How did this happen? How did my little premature baby, so tiny, get to be almost 4 years old? Ready to start her first “formal” dance class in a week. Going potty on the big toilet all by herself without any help whatsoever from the two of us. Telling me that elevator sounds like alligator. Talking to strangers and not being shy. Giving hugs to little girls she’s never seen before and probably will never see again at her dad’s mall gig. Playing ball with little toddler boys. Able to be amongst people she doesn’t know very well and chit chat and smile and not be clinging to my side every moment. Where did my baby go?
I was talking the other day to a friend about how I took the classes on child development, so I know what’s supposed to happen, but to actually see it unfold before my eyes is beyond amazing. She now tells me what certain signs say. “That’s says Target, Mommy!” or “That says PetSmart!” or “That sign says Stop, Mommy!” She’s “reading” and it’s a glorious sight to behold.
The other day, Mike gave her a stack of paint chips (you know the little pieces of cardboard you get with different colors of paint on them when you’re trying to decide what color to paint something), and she sat there and sorted them, so that all the different sizes were in their own piles. And yes, I know this is a typical thing for a 3 year old to do, but it’s the watching her do typical 3 year old things that blows me away, because I’ve never been able to watch a child develop before my eyes.
These are cherished moments, not because they’re earth-shattering, but because they’re simple and amazing. There is nothing more precious than watching your own child grow and develop and see how their awesome little brains work. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Here are some pictures from the past month…
And a video of her impromptu concert the other day…
Comment by Bright Star (B*)
August 3, 2008 @ 4:51 pm
The video is all sorts of awesome. I love watching the dog during the video, especially, and then LG incorporates the dog into the act! (Where did she think the audience was sitting? Maybe she imagined she was performing at Celebrity Theater?)
Comment by jen
August 3, 2008 @ 6:13 pm
She is so stinkin’ cute I wanna scream! LOL!
Comment by rochelle!
August 4, 2008 @ 5:57 pm
She’s gettin so big!
Comment by Kris
August 4, 2008 @ 6:50 pm
I love when Melody comes in, cocks her head, and becomes the topic of the song. LOL!
LG needs some ice cream after that performance. That must’ve been exhausting. ;D