You My Friend, Are Doing This Right

Dear Prayse,

I tell you every day how proud of you I am. Proud of going potty by yourself, proud of washing your hands without me fighting you about it.  I am proud of you taking initiative and brushing your teeth (w/ a little help from Mama just to finish up). Proud of you for picking out your own clothes and putting them on, proud of you for helping me pick up your toys.

All of that is excellent babe and it’s important that I tell you – but there’s one thing. One not so little, biggest thing ever that I just had to capture, to write to you about – and to acknowledge publicly how very very very proud of you I am. I am proud of the heart that you have for other people. It’s amazing that even at the age of 3 and a half you are showing love for others in your own way.

New Year’s Eve we had a family day. It was fabulous! We had lunch together, went to see the Yogi Bear Movie, and played games afterward. Then we went to Champions Fun Center to play some more games and go bowling. And of course play together in the fun maze. I do want to acknowledge that your 18 week preggo mother was crawling up and through and around this two story maze of ropes and slides with you… just wanted to mention that We were also going to go bowling together and then out for “shi-shi” (sushi). But we got a call that our best friends, Jaxon included were leaving for dinner right then and did we want to join them. You told me, “We should go because Daddy misses his friend Reggie!” You also told me later you missed Jaxon. So you chose your friends over bowling.

That’s not even the best part – you had all of these tickets w/ points so that you could get prizes from them. Without me saying a word you began picking out one of whatever you wanted for you and one for Jaxon. You put so much thought into what he would want (example – Jaxon got a Spiderman tattoo while you picked out Ariel for yourself, and Jaxon got the green pen while you wanted pink). I almost cried babe. You thought of your friend, knew you were going to see him, and shared half of your hard earned points so that he could have prizes too.

We were also at Jaxon’s house yesterday playing, eating, the boys watching football. We were snuggled up downstairs looking at the “computer” and you heard that the boys upstairs needed Dominoes. You had received a game of Dora Dominoes for Christmas that we played a few days earlier. The Ellis’ as part of your Christmas gift gave you a box of Dora game cards that came in a tin looking exactly like your dominoes. You overheard someone talking about the boys and looked at me and said, “The boys need dominoes?” “Yep,” I said. You took off, shot out of the our blanket and headed upstairs. It took  me a minute and then it dawned on me what I thought you might be doing. I went upstairs and your Daddy was looking at you like you were crazy – the Dora box in the middle of the table w/ the guys (grown men) all sitting there. Daddy said, “She just came up here, grabbed her game and threw it in the middle of the table.” He was so confused (don’t worry – it’s a guy thing).

I told him, “She heard you needed dominoes. That looks exactly like her Dora domino set. She was coming to give you her dominoes to play with.” You melted the heart of everyone there sweetie. I about started crying. You are loving, you are giving, you are independent and stubborn as all get out – but babe, you, you at the age of three are doing this life and love thing right. There are grown adults (myself included some days) who don’t yet have this figured out.

No wonder Jesus said that he loves the little children. What an amazing example you have been for your Mama my dear.

I am proud of you. I love you.

A few pictures of the past few months – babe, I mean it when I say I’m proud of you. I have fun everyday that I’m with you (save for the nightmare of brushing teeth every night when you do your best to stall out on me… but it comes w/ the territory and I love you through it.)

We went to Minneapolis this November so you could play with your friend and I could play with mine! A dear dear friend from college, it’s been fun to see our two girls grow up together (as much together as a 7 hour difference can give us).

The drive went fast with our in-SUV entertainment:

And then you in the “bus” – in Mall of America. You’ll hear two ladies in the background commenting on little girls that scream. They’re talking about you!

You showing off your masterful photography skillz.

Mama posing for the photographer!

Ahem, like father, like daughter…

You and I got pedicures together at Scoops.

The finished product. Your choice of colors, not mine (just for the record).

Riding on the roller coaster with Kenzy!

Eating lunch by the eel at Rainforest Cafe.

I so thought the Rainforest Cafe frog dude would freak you two out, but you loved him!

Mamas and their girls at lunch.

We went to see Curious George Live – you and Kenzy felt like you should hold hands up the escalator. You fight like sisters you two, but you also love like sisters!

This December we went to the Children’s Museum (which you love by the way) to decorate candy houses. We had fun, but in reality it was just a really expensive sugar high for you! We may just stick w/ the regular old gingerbread house next year. We did have a blast though!

You about 90% of the time we were there…

The not-so-innocent look when you realize you’re caught.

You and Daddy posing

Working so hard on your side (may or may not be b/c we told you we weren’t going to play if you wouldn’t stop eating candy and at least try to help us w/ this thing).

The proud artist!

Your beautiful Christmas dress – complete with accessories from our friends the Canaday’s. You love love love picking out your own clothes and accessories, it makes you all the more beautiful I think. You were giving me a thumbs up here with your new lovely gloves right before the Christmas Eve services at church (or you know, night before Christmas Eve services).

And finally… New Year’s Day. You just had to “eat with the boys.” You love “the boys.” Makes me nervous for what’s to come, not gonna lie about that one.

I love you babe. I love you who you are, I love who you are turning out to be.

Love,
Mama