3.5

Avery Grace Lankford!  You are 3.5 years old today.  I refuse to believe that in 6 short months you will be four.  I thought 3 sounded old until I started thinking about 4.  You bring so much joy to our lives and we are always eager {and sometimes nervous} to see what you'll come up with next.

I have no idea how much you weigh, but I don't think you've reached 30 pounds yet.  You wear 3T tops and dresses and are moving into 3T pants.  You wear a size 8 shoe.  You are definitely growing, but not at a super-fast rate, which is just fine with me.

Several new things have happened since you turned 3.  In September, you started Bible Zone at church and dance.  These have been your first organized activities, and you've done well.  We've had some tears, but nothing that caused you to go back home or leave early.  At dance, you of course love to dance, and at Bible Zone you love to sing.  You put on quite the show at the Christmas program and left many wondering who that cute little sheep was.  You also made the transition to a big girl bed in the last few months.  We are still working on a few rules like no jumping, no kicking the head/foot board, etc., but overall you have done very well.  I'm thinking of buying your brother the crib tent now so that he will make it as long as you did!

Naps were suddenly no longer needed when you turned three.  They ended very abruptly, much to my dismay.  You nap occasionally at home and sometimes at Jen-Jen's.  I still make you stay on your bed for about 2 hours each afternoon.  Your idea of quiet time and mine are very different.  You can get extremely loud in there.  I really think you could rest most days, but your little imagination gets the best of you, and before we know it there is a lively production going on.  Even when you don't sleep, we try to keep up until about 7:30 p.m., which usually allows you to sleep until about 6:30 a.m.  You wake up quickly in the mornings and more slowly from naps.

You still entertain yourself beautifully.  Bitty and cooking like the Pioneer Woman are your two favorite activities.  You are still cooking with your Halloween candy downstairs since your kitchen is upstairs.  Your imagination has taken off, and you might be doing crafts with buddies in the foyer or riding your stick horse like Sofia the First.  You can think up just about anything to play and pretend.  You have shown more interest in us joining in your games lately, but most of the time you have your own thing going on.  I'm sure Sam will be playing along with you soon.  Last night you wanted him to be the wizard in your castle, until he started shaking your castle...a lot.  You have taken interest in longer Disney movies, and at Christmas we watched a lot of Miracle on 34th Street and Home Alone 2.  You watch a recorded episode of the Pioneer Woman every day.  You are playing more with the iPad now for short periods of time, so I think a LeapPad 2 is in your future.

Your speech has come along so well, but there are still some sweet things I would love you to say forever.  We eat at the Sign Pancake (Cracker Barrel) and most things we watch on TV or DVD are the TBD.  We paint fingernails with paint polish, and many of your opinions are followed up with "I fink so" (He's coming over here, I fink so).

Love pours from you for those you love.  You tell us "You da best" and call me your precious or shuga like I say to you.  You love to hug and kiss and you especially like to cuddle.  I made the mistake of telling you that all your kisses were for me, so Daddy has had to resort to your smooches.  You and I have a very special bond, and I am so thankful to have the daughter I prayed for.  I can already see you wanting to do what I do, wear clothes like mine so that we match, etc.  It is both heart-warming and overwhelming.  I know I will not always be viewed as a magical, magnificent Mommy like I am now, but I pray I am always someone to look up to.

Avery, you are a wonderful treasure from God, and we give thanks daily for you.  You are full of wonder, full of joy, and full of love.  I could go on and on about how special you are, but just know that you have made our lives more full than you can ever imagine.  We love you to bits and pieces.

Love,

Mommy and Daddy