Mother of Love Bugs: Avery Victoria turns three!

Dear Avery,

Today is your third birthday. Three short years ago, your daddy and I welcomed you to this world with open arms. It was the happiest day of our lives. You see, we had dreamed about that day for so long.

We had no clue if you were a boy or girl, and we really didn't care; however, when they announced you were a girl, I had a pure joy in my heart that I cannot even explain. I had hoped for you. Yes, YOU. You were the answer to all of my prayers. You were (are) my blessing. The love in my heart grew a million times over that day.

Since then, our relationship has grown to be one that I will forever cherish. Sure, we bump heads, because after all, we are the same person. I often say that you get just as sick of me as I do of you. But we have a love for each other that is indescribable with words.

I will forever cherish your hugs and kisses, your jokes and giggles, your stories and voice. Avery, you are one of a kind. You are smart. You are sassy. You are a know-it-all. You are funny. You have the ability to make a bad day, good. You dance to your own beat. You will go as far in life as you put your mind to, for you will not take no for an answer. You are the best big sister in the world. You are a great helper. You love to read, and color, and play. You love to watch T.V. You love school. You love the moon and hate the sun (at least when it shines in your face). You love your friends and cousins. You love family hugs, and kissing your brother. You are inquisitive. You remember things that you shouldn't. You are the best YOU, EVER!

Today, on your third birthday, I wish you joy, love and happiness. I wish you a year of exploration, as well as lots of trial and error, for that is how you will learn. Mostly, I wish you to be the best you, you can be. I will be here every step of the way, and I'm telling you here and now, I can't wait!!!

I love you up to the sky and down to ground, my sweet Love Bug.

Happy Birthday!

Momma

Here are some things we want to remember about you at 3-years-old:

- You weigh 29.4 lbs. (Height and percentiles will have to wait until your check-up in a couple of weeks)

- You are total girlie-girl. You love dresses and are extremely scared of bugs.

- You love to talk. And talk. And talk. Quite frankly, if you are awake, you are talking about something.

- You are a picky eater and will only eat a couple of fruits, lots of apple sauce and no vegetables.

- Your favorite food right now is peanut butter sandwiches, but you love noodles, pepperoni, and cheese; however, you are picky about the way each is prepared.

- Your favorite thing to do is read. You will "read" all day long to your self and take in every word when we read to you.

- You love to color and draw. You create masterpieces and put them on the refrigerator yourself. I often have to go through and clean off the many pieces of art work, or we can't even open the door.

- Your favorite thing in the world is your "gankie" (blanket). You have to have that thing to sleep. You bring it out of your room every morning and if you don't, you say, "oh, I almost forgot my gankie."

- You just learned the sign for "I Love You" and you do it for daddy every morning before he leaves, along with a "drive carefully, daddy."

- You are a great pretender. You have your "kids" and those kids do everything. They are very well taken care of by you.

- You are learning your right from your left and 9 times out of 10, you get it right.

- You love your brother more than anything in the whole world, but you aren't smothering to him either. You let him do his thing, while you do yours, but you often stop what you are doing to entertain him and make him smile. Sometimes you get a little jealous if I'm feeding him and you need me to do something for you.

- You love to look at the moon and try to figure out what it is shaped like (a circle, a banana, a smiley face, etc.)

- You love your family, extended family, etc.

- You are terrified of dogs, but love horses and cats - go figure.

- You love "Hucky Cheeses" (Chucky Cheeses), even though you have only been there a couple of times.

- You love to play tag and hide and go seek with who ever you can get to play with you, but always give up your location with a giggle or your loud voice.

- You are in love with the idea of your birthday. We have been counting down the days since around July when you went to your cousin Payton's birthday party.

- You love to dance and will make everyone in the room dance with you.

- You are super bossy and pretty much a know-it-all

- We know you are in your "fast run" when you arms swing beside you, up near your armpits.

- You want to go back to Disneyland so badly, because you are obsessed with everything Disney - Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and the Princesses.

- You love to run errands with me and sit in the big girl part of the cart.

- You are extremely timid, but once you warm up to someone, you will talk their ear off.

- You hate getting out of the bath, because you get cold.

- You have to have both your night lights on in order to sleep.

- You are a great napper. Usually, you will take a 2 to 4 hour nap every day. If you don't, though, watch out. You are one grouchy little lady once 7 p.m. hits, then it's off to bed for you.

- You go to bed at 8:30 p.m. and get up at 7 a.m.

- You can't wait to play sports with kids your own age.

- Your best friends at school are Piper, Marcus and Evan

- Your teachers are Mrs. Elise and Mrs. Patricia

- You still haven't gotten the hang of your tricycle, but we are planning lots of practice times this year, so you can get a big girl bike either for Christmas or for your fourth birthday.

- You are the coolest kid I know. ;0)