Three Years Old

Dear Mary Frances,
You are my big three year old!  My how you have grown since last year.  You are 30 pounds and 37 inches tall.  About fiftieth percentile for each.  You are running, jumping, climbing, and twirling.  You have become more adventuresome at the park and are not afraid to tackle new climbing walls or steps.  You are still a cautious child, however, and take in new situations with lots of observation and contemplation.  When we first went back to the pool this summer, you would hardly put your feet in or wade out past your ankles.  Now you have quickly adapted and are a regular little fish.  And just last week at the Brookers, you were amazed when the boys drove out of the garage in their little cars.  How eager you were to drive and then when you got the chance, the jerking of the car scared you to tears.  Before we left, however, you were driving like a "big kid."  We were so proud :)  I hope that you keep that cautious spirit as you grow and that the Holy Spirit will use that to keep you in check and out of trouble.

You with your self decorated birthday cake

You and I are a lot alike.  Daddy calls you my "mini-me."  I guess that makes you, Mommy and Papa three peas in a pod, for as Papa likes to say, "We were made from the same mold."  You love order and to give orders.  You also love rules.  Many times you like to test those rules but are not afraid to hold others to those rules.  Like Daddy, for instance.  I am sure Margaret will have her day in the lime light once she is old enough to get in some trouble.  You can also be emotional (you get that from me), and so I do understand when you get upset about not being listened to, or get your feelings hurt.  Sometimes it is so hard to be three and I am very proud of you for starting to learn to control your emotions and your voice instead of succumbing to temper tantrums.

While you are a lot like me, you are also a lot like your Daddy.  You get your showmanship from him.  You love to entertain a crowd, as long as you are familiar with every one in that crowd.  You can also talk about anything.  Girl, you talk all day long!  We say Margaret is louder than you were at this age, but I am not sure she talks as much as you did as a baby.  We will see!

Striking a pose :)

Roasting marsh mellows with Daddy on
your first camping trip

You have so many interests.  You love doing art projects as long as they are simple and quick.  You love to be outside and play.  You love music and sing a lot.  You love to read.  You love ballet.  You love to explore and have had fun at the aquarium, zoo and botanical gardens.  You love your friends.

Checking out your new binoculars

Loving your new art easel!

Having fun at your ballet recital

Exploring by the lake on during the camping trip

Checking out our "flowers"

Working on an "experiment" which kept you
entertained for 30 minutes

Mary Frances, your Daddy and I are so proud of you in so many ways.  One of the ways I am most proud of you is your love for God.  You know so many things about His nature already and I hope that as you grow older your knowledge will turn into a true love and dependence on the Creator and our Savior.  The other day I was frustrated with myself for not accomplishing more in the day.  At some point during that day you turned toward Margaret and said, "It's okay, God will take care of you, Margaret!" and later, "God has a rescue plan!"  Then I realized that if all I am accomplishing during the day is teaching you about God (despite my failures and myself) then that is enough!  We couldn't ask for more than for you to love God with all your heart and it is toward that end that we pray for you.

Mary Frances, you are such a gift to us and we love you so much.  You are a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day.  I cannot wait to see how you grow this next year!

I love you,
Mommy