The Best Three Years

A little girl can be sweeter (and badder) oftener than anyone else in the world. she can jitter around, and stomp, and make funny noises that frazzle your nerves yet just when you open your mouth she stands there demure with that special look in her eyes. A girl is Innocence playing in the mud, Beauty standing on its head, and Motherhood dragging a doll by the foot. ~Alan Beck

Ava Veronica, Born May 30, 2009

My little girl turned 3 yesterday. When did this happen? When did she go from toothless, gummy, cooing, infant to this beautiful, smart, helpful, sensitive, artistic, amazing little child? It happens so fast, let me tell you!

Ava at 1 year old enjoying her birthday cake

Ava at 2 years old

An artist hard at work!

And suddenly, one day, she is a person. A little bit of me and a little bit of Mike. A mini-us. She surprises us all the time with how clever she can be. Like just the other day she started reading two letter words. She draws people complete with faces, ears, hair, arms, legs, and ties sometimes! And she can manage easy math problems with a little help.

Ava and her best buddy Hammy

Ava made me a mother. From the moment that they placed that tiny (big!) baby on my chest I knew that I would do anything for her. I could handle anything that came my way, for her. I have never understood people wanting a break from ther children. I could spend the rest of my life with this person. I chose to have her and she is my gift, my greatest blessing. She is my first, always. Through her I learned how to mother. A friend of mine said that the first is a "trial by fire." I can say it no better. Ava taught me to hold my baby for she will be big too soon. Always bigger, but never too big for mama's lap. She taught me to sleep close to her, to nourish her with all that I have, to follow her cues, for she often knows better than I do what she needs. She taught me to just cry, to laugh at everything, and to enjoy the little things like buds on the trees and tiny ants crawling into their holes.

She taught me that it's ok to make mistakes!

She taught me that I am enough; enough for her, and that's all that matters.

The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new. ~Rajneesh

 Me and my mini-me :)

Happy birthday beautiful girl! I'm so glad you're mine.