Wordful Wednesday: On Your 3rd Birthday, a Letter to My Marlie

Dearest Marlie,

Happy Birthday sweetheart! Three years ago today I pushed you out into this world after 11 hours of labor. That should have been my first clue that you were going to be a challenging child. Even though things have been hairy since we moved out to California a month ago, I will focus on the positives in this birthday letter because I am sure you will turn back into my pumpkin when the clock strikes twelve. You are my feisty warrior princess and I love your bright, spirited, imaginative, charming, headstrong qualities. Your growth in the last year has been something to behold. I no longer see a toddler before my eyes, but a little kid with big kid ideas and an even bigger will. Your personality has fully emerged and taken root.


You are a natural at batting those eyelashes and playing coy when you want something and you can turn on the waterworks on cue. It's music to my ears when you break out in song..."row, row, row your boat gently down the street! Merry, merry, merry, merry! Like is butter dream!" I can just picture you on a stage somewhere in the future. Then again, you have such a nurturing soul and love to take care of people and animals so maybe you'll be a veterinarian like Doc McStuffins. Then again, you have your parents' wit and wicked sense of humor like when you named your brother's pee-pee a tail. Maybe you'll be a comedian. Why not all three...a Broadway-trained vet who cures sick animals with laughter like Patch Adams? Sounds good to me!


We have had our fair share of battles this year, but we survived the Terrible Twos which I am learning was just practice for year three. You are certainly making your daddy and I earn our parenting stripes. It's okay though because we will never give up on you.


You've experienced some pretty big milestones this year:

• You officially became potty trained in February with not a moment to spare because...
• You became a Big Sister on April 2nd when we welcomed Desmond to our family. You are so good to him and it melts my heart watching you two play like when you mushed his cheeks together and said, "he's a goldfish!" You can be sweet like that which showed when...
• You told me to apply pressure to my cut and wrap it in a Band-Aid. I know the move out west has been a tough adjustment for you punctuated by some behavioral setbacks, but...
• You are starting preschool soon and I know that you, being the social butterfly you are, will quickly endear yourself to your new teachers and classmates.

I look forward to what this year will bring--getting your first library card, making up more stories at bedtime, playing dress-up, and celebrating our first Christmas with your little brother. You make me so happy (even when you are being extra), and I couldn't be more proud of you my beautiful little girl! Before you came into my life I missed you so bad. When you read this years from now, Google that phrase and listen to the song this lyric came from, it was very popular the summer you turned 3!

Love always,

Mommy