Happy 3rd Birthday Sophia

Honey Sunshine Girl (as Daddy appropriately nicknamed you),

Today you are three! Our baby girl is THREE!

I wasn't sure how best to capture this moment in your life and have started and restarted this entry so many times I almost gave up. I started by writing about all the many milestones you accomplished over the year and became overwhelmed thinking about all the many ways you've grown. I wanted to describe  all the ways you've changed our lives and had a hard time thinking back to a time when you weren't with us. Celebrating the many things that make you special, wonderful little YOU is not the hard part. The hard part is finding a way to adequately describe how blessed we feel to have you with us for these past three years. 

You are our treasure. You are our love. You are growing into an amazing, brave, strong little girl who takes on life, learning and loving with so much joy that it has, in turn, changed the way we approach life.  Each morning you enter our room filled with so much enthusiasm for the day ahead that we can't help but be excited with you. Even on the hard days, the days that your "enthusiasm" for testing limits has landed you in the corner countless times and us near the breaking point, we always go to bed thanking God for allowing us the priviledge of being your parents.

We love you Sophia, at three years old until forever.

Mommy and Daddy

The Pink and Brown One

Sophia has a favorite blankie... her lovey that she turns to for comfort and security each and every night.  

It's been around since she was a newborn. (Given to her by Thalia or Beth I think!) It was at one time an incredibly sweet, pink and purple, soft little thing complete with bright happy flowers. At some point  around her first birthday Sophia picked it out amoung the many, many other blankets she had as a baby and adopted it as "her blanket". The poor thing has since been subjected to more use (and abuse) than should befall one single item. In an effort to keep it presentable I've washed, bleached, and treated it more times than I want to admit to. Unfortunately it's clear that it's beyond my help.  One side has actually become coarse from all the washing but rather than find a softer, newer alternate Sophia simply makes sure the "soft side" touches her skin at night.

I wasn't sure that she noticed how dingy the thing had become until today. She was frantically looking for her blanket in preparation for her "nap" (although she never really naps anymore... with the rare exception of today... oh miracle of miracles thank you!). When I asked her which one so I could help her look (as if I needed to ask) she actually replied: 

"MY BLANKET, THE PINK AND BROWN ONE!!!"

Wow.. Maybe love isn't that blind after all.

Sophia and Her Blankie in Their Newer, Softer Days 

 

Sophia and Her Blankie Now- Both older, rougher but very well loved (notice that the coarse side facing up)

When Do Two Babies = A Break?

When you have a nearly three year old that = the determination, energy and noise volume of three kids.

Don't get me wrong. We love to spend time with Sophia. She's smart, funny, loving and full of energy. But the kid is also nonstop and seems to live for challenging authority! Some days I think she wakes up with the sole mission of breaking the record for time spent in a corner.  She's a little force of nature that we contend with 12+ hours a day. Sometimes it's great to pass that fun onto someone who isn't as weary.

This weekend Grandma Nelson volunteered to take her for the day.  She was excited, Grandma was excited, we were thrilled...fun for all! Upon dropping her off Patrick and I excitedly ran through the list of things we could do without contending with a combative three year old. Go out to eat, the movies, early shopping for Christmas gifts, quiet stroll outdoors? What freedom! The possibilities seemed endless!

Funny thing is we still had two kids with us. Two eight month old babies no less! Who would imagined that having only two babies with you could seem like a break.

Autumn in New Mexico

It's been a year since we moved back to New Mexico and while there are many great things about being home I was recently feeling "homesick" for the cool, crisp Autumn weather and seasonal  events I had grown to enjoy so much in Minnesota.  Although temps here are still lingering in the low 80s we did recently discover a local  place to enjoy some seasonal fun.  Our twins group held our monthly meet up at a local corn maze/pumpkin patch.  Sophia was really excited about the idea of picking pumpkins and looked over at least a few dozen before deciding on the perfect five to bring home. The boys, as always,  were their happy little selves and enjoyed sitting in the sun discovering dirt, plants and pumpkins.

Who Are These People?

Well Rested? Carefree? Able to travel without the aid of a minivan, stroller, diaper bag or even a purse filled to the brim with snacks, sippie cups, random toys or wipes. Notice how we're actually BOTH in the picture, together. What a novelty!

Hard to tell but this is the real us... The real us BEFORE kids that is!

I rarely ever use this PC but since Patrick is currently on the lap top I took this as a chance to look through some of the pics saved here. A ran across this one and was surprised by how much has changed for us in the short five years since it was taken. This particular day we were at a wedding for a friend of ours from grad school. Besides having a great time at the wedding  I distinctly remember driving an hour and a half home so that we'd have time to change and go out later that night. As in go out twice... in one day! In one weekend even! Imagine that... what a concept!

Times have definitely changed for us but I'm still holding out the hope that once the kids are old enough to be left with a babysitter (rather than a babysitting team) we'll get a chance to sneak away for a day or maybe even a weekend.

Whatdaya say Nelson? You up to going out TWICE in one day?