To My Three Year Old

Dear Gia,

 Today is your birthday. Today you are three. You've officially been mine for three whole years. Some days it feels like you've always been here and I can't remember life before you.  Some days it feels like you just got here, and we've only just begun to enjoy this mother-daughter journey together.

I've been thinking about writing you this letter for a few days now and I don't think I can possibly put into words all that I'm feeling. 

Let me start with this: I cried last night after you went to bed. They were happy tears, with only a tinge of sadness mixed in. It was the last  night you'd be two, and three just seems so big, so grown up. There isn't anything I love more than watching you become this amazing little person. But it's still a bit sad to watch my baby disappear before my eyes. 

Today was the most wonderful day. It's so much fun to celebrate you and your life. Last night daddy and I decorated the entrance to the kitchen so you'd have a fun little surprise first thing this morning. You LOVED it. 

Then we took a trip to the Maritime Aquariam in Norwalk, CT (aka "ee-quariam," as you say). You saw fish and sharks and meerkats and birds. We bought nectar for you to give the birds, but they were big and they scared you. One landed on your head and you kind of freaked out. You did get a kick out of daddy feeding them. Later you pet a crab and held a hermit crab and that was much more your speed. Then we had lunch & you napped on the way home in the car.

Once we got home we opened presents. Of all the awesome presents you received, your favorite is the $2 pair of safety scissors I got you at Wal-mart. You love to cut and we've talked about the fact that 2-year-olds are not allowed to cut, but when you turned 3, you could have your own scissors. Mommy made good on that promise and you were tickled pink. You spent a good half hour cutting up wrapping paper. Happily.

 Yadi & Joepa came over for dinner. You were thrilled that more of your people were here to celebrate with you. After dinner we went to the Melting Pot (aka "the chocolate restaurant") and you must have said "this chocolate is deee-licious" 75 times over the course of the evening. 

sign at the Melting Pot

And then it was time for bed, time to end this perfect third birthday. You insisted on wearing your new "Ree-punzel dee-jamas" to bed and you were so adorable in them, how could we say no? 

Gia, the past three years have been the best years of my life. You are a joy and a blessing and not a day goes by that I don't realize that and thank God for you. In this little family of ours,  I'm the lucky one: lucky to have YOU!

Happy Birthday Sweetie Girl!

Love, 

Mommy

On the evening of your party...

Dear Gia,   Today was your 3rd birthday party--a carnival party! We had it at our house, in the backyard, and it couldn't have been a better day. The heatwave broke and although it was still hot, it was a beautiful summer day.   From the moment you woke up, you were a bundle of excitement. You were extra agreeable all morning. We painted your nails and toenails, gave you a bath, and set up all the decorations. (And then you a managed to eat two cupcakes while I was in the shower.)    

  The men delivered the bounce house and you stood there and watched them like a little supervisor.   

    Daddy went to pick up some of the food and the balloons and when he came back your face lit up in a way that melts my heart. You were SO happy to see the horse balloon you picked out last week.    

You were so excited to put on your party dress and you looked so beautiful and like such a big girl. 

When the guests started to arrive you were a gracious little hostess and said hello to everyone. You even got out of the bounce house to say hello to Aunt Dawn & Jenn Jenn! That was a proud mama moment for me. You're so friendly and appreciative of everything.

The petting zoo arrived and you were the first one to go over to the animals. You stayed by their side for the entire time they were here, petting them and feeding them every apple, carrot and cheese doodle you could find. 

You barely had time to stop and eat more than one bite of pasta and meatball. But, when it was time for cake and for singing "the happy birthday song," you were ready! You happily wore the hat we picked out at the party store last week (your new favorite store, by the way).

The princess ice cream cake, with your picture on it, was a surprise for you and you were thrilled with it.

Your expressions, while everyone sings to you, are priceless. It's pure joy and it makes my heart burst with love to see you so happy.

At the end of the night, after everyone left, you finally calmed down enough to eat some salami and Italian bread. You also had quite a few sips of sodie (aka soda), which you love. We asked you what your favorite part of the day was and you said "the bounce house, and the petting zoo and the swings".  So basically, you loved it all! We'll call that a successful birthday party!

Thank you to everyone who came to celebrate with us today. It means to world to all three of us that you were a part of this awesome day. Gia loves "all her people" -- and so do we!

Busy!

We're in full party prep over here. Gia's 3rd birthday is on July 27th and her party is this weekend. Much more to come on that. For now I've been busy making lists, food shopping, cooking, assembling goody bags and delighting in the overwhelmingly excited almost three-year-old that is Gia. 

   The mantra goes something like this: "Mommy, I'm 2, but I'm gonna be 3 in a couple seconds." "It's my birthday and we're gonna have a party!" "There's gonna be a petting zoo with animals in my BACKYARD!"  "All my people are gonna come and bring me presents!" All of these are said in a high-pitched squeal. It's really freakin' hilarious. And adorable. She's just so happy about everything.   

  And then, of course, there's the heat. We've been spending a lot of time indoors. It's just too hot for this pregnant mama to be outside for long. The most I can handle is going from the house to the car to a store. Thankfully, Gia has gymnastics camp and swimming lessons, so she's able to get out and be active, despite my inability to deal with this weather. Hope you're all enjoying the summer!