3 Years Old

Dear Avery,

You are three years old today!  That is so hard for us to believe.  In the blink of an eye, you've grown from a tiny baby into a loving, smart, and joyful little girl.

At your check-up, you weighed 27 pounds and were 37 inches tall.  You grew about 5 inches last year!  Dr. Applewhite noted your slow weight gain but isn't concerned.  I think one weight recording in June was incorrect with your clothes on, and that threw off her numbers.  All that growing up accounts for something too.  You are mostly in 2T clothing.  Some tops are 3T and some pants are still 18-24 months.  Your shoe size is 7.5-8.

In addition to growing, you've grown up a lot since your 2.5 year post.  You agreed to let Toes the Ef take your pie pies in February in return for a new truck.  You've done just fine without them, though I did see you sneak Sam's a few times.  You've also grown into your new role as a big sister, and you've done a fantastic job.  You love your brother so much, and you love to quote your big sister book, saying, "I a big sister.  I can help."  Sometimes your help is questionable, but luckily Sam doesn't seem to mind.  Your getting lessons now about why Sam is touching you or your hair, but you take it all in stride.  I look forward to your relationship continuing to grow and can't wait to see what you two get into.  Your language, attitudes, and opinions have grown as well.  Two was really not so bad, so we're hoping three will be the same.  We do have some whining and disagreeing to buckle down and work on, but we're blessed that overall you are such a good girl.  Let's keep that up!

We moved into a new house in April, and you've got a new pink room all the way upstairs.  You are so proud of your room and show everyone who comes to the house.  You have a big girl bed all set up but are still choosing to sleep in your crib.  I love that you're contained and know it will all work out when your ready.  We've been having lots of nighttime storms making you nervous, so that is adding to the big girl bed concerns.  You can stay in your crib as long as you fit!

Your sleeping and eating habits basically remain the same.  You wake between 6 and 7 a.m., nap around 1 p.m. for 2 hours or so, and go to bed between 7 and 7:30 p.m.  You do just fine if you stay up later, but it rarely results in sleeping later in the mornings.  You still eat fairly well most of the time.  Sometimes you love something one day and won't touch it the next.  Some of your favorites include pancakes, oatmeal, yogurt, PB&J, turkey and cheese, and various vegetables and fruit.  You aren't so crazy about snack foods, which is good but also makes snacks tricky.  Some of our go-to food are Goldfish, cereal and milk, and graham crackers.  You'll turn your nose up at a cookie at home but eat them up at Jennifer's or church.  You still drink mainly water with the occasional lemonade or milk/juice box thrown in.  I'm afraid I kept you on too much water as you never want to try other things to drink.

You still entertain yourself beautifully and don't require much to do so.  Bitty and her accessories are still a favorite, and you find all sorts of treasures around the house to help you care for her.  You still like to read books and now want to read them to us.  A few shows have been added to your favorites list, but we still work hard to limit what you see each day, much to your disappointment.  We hate that it's so hot and humid these days, because you like to be outside strolling, playing ball, drawing with chalk, or playing on your playground.  You were a little fish in the pool recently using your Puddle Jumper, so we need to squeeze in more time in the water.

You are so ready to go to school, but after a lot of thought and prayer, we decided to keep you at Jen-Jen's this coming school year.  You'll have a great time there and will get just what you need as a three-year-old.  Things could change mid-year, but we think you have plenty of time for school!  You'll be busy in the fall anyway, starting Bible Zone at church and dance.  During story time at the library, you love the singing and crafts but get a little antsy during several stories, so Bible Zone will be a great "school" for you.  We're not sure if we're ready for nighttime activities, but you'll love them both.

Avery, we are so thankful that God chose us to be your parents.  Your inquisitive mind, infectious laughter, and love for your family bring such joy to our lives.  You fill our hearts with sunshine, and we're so proud to call you ours.


Daddy made this video with pictures of you today.  It certainly does feel like you've done all that growing in just a few minutes.  Slow down just a little.  We love you to bits and pieces.

Love,
Mommy and Daddy