3.5 years old!!!

bowie rae you are officially three and a half years old!!!  lately, i have been looking at your face and your cheeks are thinning out, your features are shinning through and your expressions are hilarious.  i'd be lying if i said three is all sunshine and rainbows, it is also filled with power struggles, lots of negotiations, bribes and big emotions.  but we are still learning and growing together as a family.  you are curious, intelligent, kind, caring, sweet, funny and beautiful inside and out! 

you have completed your first month of preschool and i think we made the right choice for you!  you are bringing home so much art work, recognizing letters, becoming more confident in social skills and making friends, and i am noticing your vocabulary and thoughts are becoming more mature and complex.  you love to play, whether it be at the park, an activity bin or independent play with your dolls or magnet tiles. 

you are compassionate and empathetic.  as i am writing this, you came up to me and started to rub my back.  when you know someone is sick or sad you like to give hugs and check in on them.  you love animals, and are building a strong bond with your brother.  it can be hard to share with him, but you guys have been playing more and more.  my favorite thing to do is when i drive you to school and ryder is blabbering and you ask me "what is he saying?"  and i pretend to interpret to you.  it goes something like this:

bowie: "mom what is he saying?"
ryder: blabber blabber blabber
mom: "bowie, he says make sure you go potty at school and make a new friend today."
bowie: "otay ryder, i will."
ryder: blabber blabber blabber
mom: "bowie, he says he will miss you and he wants a big hug when you get home."
bowie: "otay ryder, i will miss you too and give you a hug when i see you."
ryder: blabber blabber blabber
mom: "bowie, he says he loves you."
bowie: "i love you too ryder."
ryder: blabber blabber blabber
mom: "bowie, he says you are the best big sister."
bowie: "i am!"

you are so sweet and kind to your younger cousins.  you can be shy around strangers, but there is no denying how much you love your family.  you gave up naps this summer, but it does make bed time a little easier and earlier.  you are a picky eater.  your normal favorites are "noonies" (some sort of pasta), fruit and cheese, but even those have been striking out lately.  you love to sing and dance and your current character obsession is paw patrol.  you are a head taller than most kids your age.  you probably loved swim class the best out of all the classes/activities you have done. 

we love you so much and you will always be my best girl!  keep spreading your light!

stats:

~5T clothes, but can wear some 6/6x
~size 10 shoes (went from size 8 to 10 this summer!)
~approximately 45 pounds
~golden light brown hair
~dark hazel/light brown eyes
~very very tall!!!
~no naps, bedtime around 7:30pm wake up around 7am
~potty trained around 3 years old but pull ups at night