McQuay Memories: {Happy 3 Years!}

You guys....my baby turned 3 this week. 3!! That's official "kid" territory. We have left "baby" land behind for good.

We started a new tradition on her birthday. Sean and I made this height board a few months back to keep track of the girls' heights. On each birthday we'll mark their height with a piece of washi tape with their name and age on it (I marked the previous birthdays). Evette thought that was awesome.

She's 3 ft 2 inches!

She's in size 3T clothes, size 9 shoes, is a great eater, sleeps for 11-12 hours at night, and is fighting me everyday about taking a nap...but still desperately needs one. If she doesn't take a nap she is so grumpy by 4:30. It's horrible. We're still working on that one.

After measuring her up on Sunday we took a drive to the Temple to spend some time on the grounds taking birthday pictures and to visit the visitor's center. Fell asleep in the car - score!

I am in awe of this child. She astounds me everyday. I learn so much from her.

Her spunk and personality and unmatched.

She is so incredibly hardworking and persistent. I have tried to acknowledge her accomplishments by praising how hard she has worked, and not how "smart" or "talented" she is (WHICH SHE IS but I want to drive home the point that she can do anything, whether she has an innate talent for it or not, if she works hard). After running really fast, or painting a beautiful picture, or writing her letters, she comes to me and says, "Mom look! I work so hard on this!" It's awesome. And lately I've heard her telling Miriam, especially as she's learning to crawl, "Wow! Good job Mir-rum! You working hard! I proud of you!" I'm proud of HER.

Her ability to communicate is incredible. She speaks so well and is very articulate for a 3 year old. She's able to express complex ideas and feelings and it's fun to be able to see how her little mind works. Such creativity - such imagination.

I love this picture. This is her default face. Downturned lips and furrowed brow - not grumpy - just her normal thinking face.

She is so playful and full of joy. Her laugh is contagious and her vivacity is awe inspiring.

She loves to play dolls, paint nails, and to pick out a dozen hair clips for the day. But she also loves to play with her train set, "duclos" (duplos), race cars, climb trees, play soccer, and dig in the dirt. She loves to paint, loves to draw, loves to read, loves to cook, loves to ride her bike, loves to wrestle.

Her favorite things are books. Books. Books. Books. She devours them. She cannot get enough. If you read to her, you will become her best friend. I get asked at least on an hourly basis to read books to her. She loves working on her ABCs because she wants to be able to read on her own. Once she can read on her own, I'm not sure she'll do anything else!

She's a good friend and a good sharer (most of the time). She likes to make sure her friends are happy and she is concerned when someone is sad or grumpy.

Watching her grow as a big sister is one of the sweetest things for me. I don't think there is another big sister out there who is so caring for her baby sister (except for me with my baby sister :) ). They are the best of friends, as Evette tells me every day. She loves to sit by Miriam, loves to hold her hand, loves to feed her, loves to give her toys, loves to read her books. She literally gives her food from her own plate and bites grapes in half for Miriam. Watching her learn to love and care for Miriam so deeply is so sweet.

She is my sunshine.

Evette loves this movie at the visitor's center at the temple. It talks about how, through the temple, our families can be together forever. I love this gospel truth. My family is the most important thing to me on this earth and I am so blessed to know that as long as we live faithfully, we will be together forever. I was pretty emotional all day and this was the cherry on top.

Then Evette grabbed the camera and took this picture of the Christus and the sweet sister missionary who was talking with us. Is this not a great picture? It makes me laugh. She took it all by herself!

Since we celebrated her birthday a week earlier with the great grandparents I didn't think her actual birthday would be a big deal. It was. I was on the verge of tears all day. Evette is such a blessing in my life. She has changed my life in every way. I am so grateful she is a part of our family!

Evette and I spent a good chunk of time that day looking at pictures from the day she was born and the next couple days. It was so fun to tell her stories of when she was born, who came to visit, and how loved she is.

My earliest memory of my life was at my 3rd birthday party at my Grandparent's house. I remember that day. I remember the birthday with the pastel M&Ms on top, I remember thinking I was officially a "big girl" I remember the lamb stuffed animal I got as a present (which is in the girls' room now). I have memories from that time in my life.

I am now scared, terrified, to be truly honest. When Evette and I have had hard days, and we've had some HARD days, I think to myself, well, at least she won't remember this day and hopefully soon I'll be able to be more patient, be more understanding, have a better handle on this whole "mom" thing. Guess what, that day is NOW! I hope I have the patience, understanding, and strength to fill her childhood with memories of love and laughter.

I just want her to know that she is loved. I just want her to know how important and special she is. I want her to know of her potential. I want her to know that I would do anything in the world for her. I want her to know that she is amazing.

Look at how far we've come!

Here's the original birth day!