Katie Beth is three!

Dear Katie Beth,

Happy birthday sister!

Your third year has been filled with many changes: moved to a new house, got a big-girl bed, became a big sister and got potty trained! Whew, that's a lot of growing for a little girl. With each change has come some adjustments...for instance, learning that the water table on the front porch is not a potty, and that Baby Will can't play Ring around the Rosie yet. And sleeping with baby gates on your door so that you could no longer wander down the dark stairs and into our bedroom every night (which was sweet at first until all three of us were continuously sleep deprived thanks to your loud-paci-sucking-heavy-breathing-leg-kicking-elbow-poking-terribly-annoying sleep habits). So up went the first gate. And after you started climbing over that, up went the second one, right on top. That settled that. Now if we can just get you to "stay in my bed all night long until my clock turns green and no screaming or yelling" every night, we'll consider it success!

Many night you'll climb out of bed after we leave and fall asleep right in front of your gate. We just move you when we head to bed. 

You do still nap every day for two hours, longer if I'd let you. You still have your lovey from Aunt Amanda and paci at bedtime (and roadtrips), although we've been building up to the paci's imminent demise now that you're a big girl. Here's hoping that's a smoother transition for us both than I'm expecting!

snoozing with Coco

what bedhead?

Enough about your sleep issues! That rest is important though considering that from the moment your door swings open in the morning, and I hear an ear-splitting "Mom! Mom! Moooom!" I know it's time to grab some coffee because you go strong allllll day long.












From your songs, facial expressions to playing pretend or even eating your favorite food...when you're in, you are ALL in. Sweet, hilarious, loud and always very passionate! But that's just the way you do most everything - with passion. Happy, sad, excited, scared or mad, everyone in earshot knows how you're feeling at that minute...or second!

On the flip side of moments like the one above, when you're being sweet you are soo sweet and funny and can talk a person's ear right off. Lately when I'm trying to turn your mood around, I'll say that I want to see your happy face and then make a big deal of it when you smile. So you of course have made that into a game and frown on purpose and say, "Mommy, you want to see my happy face? (long pause) It's co-oming!" and then bust out a big cheesy grin. 

Your pronunciation is really good, aside from a few little things. Like, Fix it! becomes "Pix it!" Doggie is "goggie" and God is "Gog".

Speaking of the Big Man, you love to be the one to say the blessing. And 99% of the time, it's God our Father. When you get to the "we bow our heads to thank you", it's "bah bah tank you." And it's precious. 

"talking to Jesus" at the Easter service in Rosemary Beach

You still love all the men in your life and always ask when Daddy is coming home, where Ben is, if you can hug "Baby Wheeeeel". 

I knew I was forgetting so much, so I thought I'd play the 20 birthday questions game that Ben does each year to help remind me. We'll see how far we get!

Katie Beth, what is your favorite color? pink

What is your favorite toy? Minnie Mouse 

What is your favorite fruit? apples (I don't wike stins)

What is your favorite tv show? Mickey Mouse, no! Doc McStuffins

What is your favorite animal? horsey

What is your favorite song? Itsy-bitsy spider

What is your favorite book? Princesses

What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? strawberries This is a lie. You like them ok, but your favorite lunch foods are macaroni (called "wackawoni"), peanut butter and honey sandwiches (no crust), and applesauce. And you l.o.v.e. pizza and pancakes. This is also the point in the interview where I smiled at you, and you said, " Mommy, you look special. Don't talk to me anymore. I have to go poop." Alrighty, I'll take over the questions from here.

What is your least favorite food? green vegetables of any variety

What is your favorite thing to wear? a tutu. Or at least a skirt or dress. You're very opinionated about your clothes already, and even if I give you two choices it's usually still a battle. I bought several boutique bubbles for this summer, and the first time I put you in one, you screamed, "No -this is for a baby! I cannot dance around in this!"

A little bribe goes a long way...you changed into your purple Ariel dress in the hallway immediately following this picture.

What is your favorite game to play? Ring around the Rosie at school, dancing with Mommy, chase and hide-and-go seek with Daddy and Ben

What is your favorite snack? fruit snacks, raisins and goldfish

What is your favorite cereal? oatmeal

What is your favorite thing to do outside? swing

What is your favorite drink? orange juice

What is your favorite holiday? Christmas

What do you like to take with you to bed? lovey, paci and Coco her monkey

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? pancakes (an adult-size portion)

She did answer one more that was especially cute: What do you want to be when you grow up? I want to play!

And I hope you always do. 

Fiercely independent. Hilariously funny. Disturbingly mischievous. Ridiculously cute. Incredibly smart. Down-right exhausting. We love you, Katie Beth, and can't imagine our family without the spunk and sparkle you bring!

love, 

Mommy and Daddy