Letter to Makaia

Dear Makaia,

Well, we are officially six days away from your 3rd birthday! I can't believe it. You are definitely not our little baby anymore, something that you remind us of every single day. You are a strong-willed kid and have been telling us lately to "just listen" to you (we crack up because you use so many hand gestures and facial expressions while you sit there and try to reason with us...like you are actually going to change our minds so you can have things your way.) You love telling us how things "ashually" (actually) need to be and "no, no, no Mommy, this is the tooth" (truth)...

You love watching gymnastics on TV then practice your somersaults on the floor and couch.

Something new you have been doing is demanding to dress yourself. This has made getting out of the house each day the equivelant of climbing Mt. Everest. The other day I put a blue dress on you and you took it off because you wanted the pink one. I think if I allowed you to buy your clothes, they would ALL be pink.

Today, I put you in bed for your nap in jeans and a cute pink shirt. I came downstairs to start this blog and saw you on the monitor being restless. I could tell that sleep was not on your agenda so I told you to stay in bed and rest your body. Then I saw you get up and move around your room. An hour later you came downstairs and said that you were done resting your body. I took a second glance at you...What?! Ummm, you are in a completely different outfit! You changed all by yourself! Look at you big girl. I called Grandma and she just laughed at me and said, "Oh, Sabrina. You're in for it now. Not only is Makaia a big girl, but now she realizes it. That spells trouble." The jury is still out between Daddy and I on what will be tougher, age 3 or age 13. We have figured that, either way, you are going to be a challenge for us.

At your 1st dance recital. We couldn't get you off the stage!

Telling the crowd your name and age

Tap dancing (second from right.) Not sure what happened to my shy kid at the recital, because a limelight-loving kid took her place that day.

That's you in the middle, high on your toes. You are a dancer like Grandma for sure!

We have been in the new house for a month and a half now. I'm still trying to unpack because, although you are settled in, you don't like to be left alone for a single second. If I go into the garage for a box, you get paranoid, so that has made things a bit difficult around here. I also can't go up or down the stairs without you because you think I am leaving you somehow. We really have to get over that soon, sweetheart. That is going to drive Mommy crazy! You love our new neighbors, and I love them too. Joselyn and I trade off taking you and Gibson off each others hands. It's so nice having someone to leave you with if I need an hour to go run a quick errand (without you.) Although I LOVE being with you, sometimes us Mommies just need an hour break to re-gain our sanity. You love playing with kids your own age too, so that's what has been so great about the new neighborhood.

You have said some funny things lately that make me laugh out loud...

When it was raining a bunch recently, you looked out the window and said, "Wow! Mommy we need a bellela!!!" (umbrella)

You also think that your vitamins are candy. I always tell you that you can only have one a day. The other day you told me, "I not feel good, I need some vitamins all day!" Yes, I bet you would love to have some candy all day. If only Mommy would allow that!

Last but not least, we got rid of your pacifiers for good yesterday! We have been preparing you for weeks to "give" them to baby Ellie around the corner. You picked out some cute onesies and booties and a bag you wanted it all to go in. Then you placed all your paci's in the bag and you carried it over to Ellie's house yourself. It felt like a walk of passage for your father and I. Are we really (finally) getting rid of these things for good? We were nervous about you freaking out, but you were such a big girl and we were so proud of how you handled it. Zach and Laura were expecting us and they showed Ellie each of her presents. She smiled at you, which I am sure made you feel good. We walked home and that was the end of that. You did wake up this morning saying, "Where's my paci's?" Then you looked out the window and said, "I gave them to baby Ellie!" You seem to be okay though. Whew!

I love you sweetheart,

Mommy