Our Sweet Pea is Three!

Where has the time gone?  This past year has zoomed by at a pace that is uncomfortable to me.  Our beautiful Margo Faye has blossomed into an amazing little three year old girl.  No longer my baby, but always my baby, I am wishing for time to slow down.

This year Margo's birthday fell in the midst of a major home disaster that was so traumatic for me I will spare you the details.  Nonetheless, we made her actual birthday special and I think she loved it despite it being a somewhat disappointing day for me.  Margo woke up cranky to balloons, a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse wall mural and a few presents from mommy and daddy.  She tried to really love it, but it overwhelmed her and she was not feeling well.  I realized after I picked her up from school that the fluid on her ear had most certainly turned into an infection.  A good dose of Advil and an antibiotic we had on hand helped a lot.  She came home to a special surprise in her room, which was a baby changing station from grandpaw and maw maw that included a baby mobile and a washing machine (recently saying it was her favorite toy).  Pretend play with her babies is one of her most favorite things, so she was beyond excited!

Early morning gifts!

Our delight!

Beautiful in every way!

Changing her baby

Figaro!!!

When daddy got home she got her BIG surprise which was a little trampoline for toddlers in the back yard.  I cannot remember the last time I saw her so excited!  She jumps everyday and it has been the best medicine for falling asleep at a much faster pace than usual.  As you will see on her birthday questionnaire, this was her one wish and she had been asking for a trampoline ever since her first trip to a trampoline park.  I am so happy we could make it happen for her and I have been so impressed with the quality of the little trampoline we got her.

Margo's birthday questionnaire is not surprising to me at all, except maybe that elephants make her laugh.  That came out of left field, but tickles me.  It gives a little glimpse into who our girl is and I plan to do this every year.

What is your name? Margo
How old are you? Three

What is your favorite thing to do? Go to the park with Daddy

What do you want to be when you grow up? a flower girl

What is your favorite food? M&M's

Who do you like to spend time with? GiGi and Papa

What do you do really well? Take care of my babies

What makes you laugh? elephants

What is the best time of the day? time with mommy
What are you afraid of? alligators
Who is your best friend? lucas
What do you like to do with your family? make banana bread
What do you love to learn about? abc's
Where do you like to go? the grocery store with mommy
What is your favorite book? carl's birthday
If you had one wish, what would it be? for a trampoline

My precious Margo, she is just about all girl, without too much prissiness, and is of course amazing to us. At three years old, her incredible imagination exceeds her age. Her teacher recently described her as liking to tell stories--that's our girl. She loves to mimic just about any experience in her life and embellish, from playing restaurant, school, cleaning house and the endless care of her animals and babies such as doctoring their boo boos, packing their lunch box and soothing them goodbye at school drop off to changing endless poopy diapers and giving baths. She entertains me all day long and is so fun to observe.

As recently described by her teacher.

Reading at school to her friends

She LOVES music and can just about memorize any song or jingle after hearing it once.  She uses her musical skills to put on multiple daily performances and has quite the dance moves too.  She enjoys putting together puzzles, but lacks any kind of attention span for games.  Books are still one of her favorite things and thanks to her amazing favorite new show, Word World, she has taken a serious interest in letters and words.  She knows every capital letter by sight and is enthusiastic to learn their sounds and spell.  She can count out items now rather than just knowing her numbers and once you explain to her what something is she never forgets. 

Dancing Queen

Sweetest Girl in the Whole Wide World

My Margee!!

Margo eats really well, preferring veggies over fruit, but has a penchant for a cheeseburger and French fries.  She is on 100% almond milk which solved some major digestive problems this year, but still enjoys cheese and other dairy.  She loves treats in the form of candy and cookies, but does not like cake or ice cream.  She requires an average amount of sleep, 10-11 hours a night and a 1.5-2 hour nap each day.  It usually takes her over an hour to fall asleep and she obediently plays in her bed, but once she is asleep she is out until morning.  Early rising has somewhat improved and she is required to stay in her bed until 7:00 am when her owl tells her it is okay to wake.

Our girl is full of energy and spunk!  She is like the Energizer Bunny, our "GoGo Girl".  I call her borderline strong willed.  She tries to test us constantly and is not easily impacted by any form of discipline.  However, she has such a pleasant and happy disposition most of the time that I would consider her delightfully challenging.  We have time out WARS, which is an understatement and I have taught her the unfortunate art of screaming... at the TOP OF HER LUNGS!  Like mother, like daughter.  Margo is hopefully reaping the rewards of some of my positive traits, but without a doubt has already learned some of my negative ones as well.  Once she finally gets it through her head and gains an understanding of her boundaries, she backs down and realizes that we are in charge.  I also think she thought discipline was a bit of a game for a while and has recently seemed more impacted by going to time out and has asked me to please not be loud when I raise my voice too much.

Most importantly, Margo has the most beautiful little spirit.  She is incredibly loving and often lists out all the people she loves ending it with, "I love everybody" and holding her arms out in the air.  When I asked if she had a favorite friend at school she claimed to love all her friends.  Margo seems to be an innate caretaker and I already feel like her calling in life may very well be a mommy.  She is nurturing to everyone including her baby brother.  She is purely joyful, often exclaiming, "I am so happy"!  And she is happy, almost all of the time, she wakes happy and ready to conquer the world and she goes to sleep telling me what a great day it was and thanking God for her blessings.  I love her innocence and the way she delights in everything.  Just this morning, she marveled at the mushrooms growing in our yard as if she had discovered a rare jewel.  She is affectionate and grateful and thanks me "so much" for the simplest of things.

Happy Happy!

Joy Joy!

At her three year appointment she measured in the 25% for both weight and height.  I am so happy she is petite.  She is just starting to fit into a 3T and if you can't tell, she loves to dress-up in her clothes but hates to do her hair.  Her curls are just beautiful and getting more pronounced everyday.  Those dark brown eyes speak to me in ways I could have never imagined before becoming a mommy.  She is the definition of pure beauty, inside and out, this amazing child of mine. 

At her Three Year Appointment

My Margo, Margs, Margee, Marginator, my spunky monkey, my daily dose of delight, the sunshine to my cloudy days, the gift that keeps on giving in the most extraordinary ways... I love you plain and simple, more than words could ever say.  God gave us the most incredible blessing in you!  I thank the good Lord for you everyday.  You make my world a better place and make me a better person and I am so proud to be your mama!  There are just not enough words, my angel girl, to say how much you mean to me!