Dear Lissie - 3.5

Mommy/Lissie selfie at Laurel Falls

Dear Lissie,

I'm starting to slack a little - you're half-birthday was almost a month ago! It's crazy to think that you are closer to four than you are to three!

You're still my sweet, smart, smiley, and shy little lady.  I love our nightly Jungle Dances (thanks Daniel Tiger) and singing songs off-key into your hairbrush "microphone."  I also love your manners - especially when you thank me without prompting for fixing your meals or taking you somewhere.  Oh, and I love that you take your little purse with you on our daily walks with Rupert, and you fill them up with nature treasures to keep in a mason jar at the kitchen table.

Here are a few of your favorite things:

• Road trips.
• Sleepovers at Lolo and Lola's.
• School.
• Reading - especially the Tickle Monster book with Daddy.
• Watching Daniel Tiger and Team Umizoomi.
• And, of course, cooking in your play kitchen.  (You did tell me that you want to be a "cooker" when you grow up.)
• When Xavier goes to school and you can play together at recess.
• "Shower the People" by James Taylor
• Talking in Spanish (both real and pretend.)
• Putting together your U.S. map puzzle.

And some dislikes:

• Being woken up from nap (which makes picking you up from school challenging since I always have to wake you up!)
• Eggs.
• Unexpected changes in plans (like when Daddy got you up and ready for breakfast because Mommy wasn't feeling well, and it took you all morning to get over that.)
• When Xavier doesn't share.

I am enjoying watching you learn and grow.  I love you very, very much.

Love,
Mommy

And here are some random, silly pictures over the last six months:

A hair cut and a lollipop.

Training for your kid's race.

Pretending to be an altar server.

Dress-up mommy.

You found an old nursing bra, put it on, and declared yourself a nurse.

Pretending to be a pregnant mommy.

Getting all dolled up.