a note to my beautiful daughter on her third birthday

Dear Janers,

Wow! What a year you had!  You learned and grew so much this past year.  I think the biggest change for you happened last spring when you started talking ALL ON YOUR OWN.  In several word sentences.  It was amazing to watch you go from a silent little girl to a talker literally overnight.  It was a humbling lesson in allowing you to develop at your own pace.  Having Sol has also given you a chance to grow as you've had to learn to share your toys but also your mama!  Here are some new things you are doing now that you are BIG THREE!

You love to read books.  All books.  And recently, we started reading you chapter books.

We are reading Magic Treehouse Dinosaurs Before Dark
  and it is VERY suspenseful and a little scary! 

You are very interested in letters.  You know all of the uppercase letters and most of the letter sounds.  And you picked all that up from play, books, and art.

Playing a letter sidewalk game that we
made up

You are still such an artist.  Recently, your artworks has taken a major shift from process to product (but we still do process artwork, too!).  Pictured: dinosaur drawing and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Tree

You get so excited when you get to do "homework".

You've had your big green bike for several months but only recently gained the confidence to ride it.  This is just another reminder to me that you need to do things on your own time, when you are ready.

You have your father's engineering and science brain.  You gravitate towards play activities that involve building, problem solving, and constructing.  You are very good at logic games and puzzles.

making an ABAB pattern

You love to get dirty!

super sandy

You almost always let Solly join in on your adventures.  You often "never mind" (i.e., don't mind) if Solly knocks over your creations or takes a turn, too.  You and Sol are such great friends!  The other day you actually slept in.  Solly did not sleep in and went into your room looking for you and calling, "Nay" (that is how he says Jane).  He wanted you to get up and PLAY!

Enjoying the beach on our recent vacation to California

You become obsessed with characters or subjects inspired by movies or books.  This year you went through a Cars phase, a Curious George phase, and you are recently on a dinosaur kick.  You learn a lot, but the repetition drives us crazy!

Playing Cars

Snuggling George

Making a dinosaur picture

You have a very difficult time when things don't go your way, especially if you are tired or hungry.  My top hope for you this coming year is that you learn to become more flexible and find more productive ways to express your big feelings.  

I miss the days when you were teeny tiny...but my oh my do I LOVE doing all these big girl activities with you!  You are such a smart little girl and it really is such a privilege to be able to spend my days with you!  Love you little lady!

Love, Mom

Here is the 2 year old post

Here is the 1 year old post