Things My Almost 3 Year Old Does Well

A few weeks ago, I shared the ways my daughter drives me crazy. While it is still true that she has her days when she makes me lose my mind, there are far more times when she does something so small and sweet and cute that it feels like I could not possibly love her more. You’re familiar with this feeling. It’s how God made mothers.

On top of all the adorable things she does on a daily basis, she also fills our world with laughter. She has the zaniest personality and she continues to surprise us with all her sass and sophisticated come-backs. In honor of her last month as a two-year-old, I’d like to list the things she does so well.

1. She has mastered the art of sneaking out of her bedroom and into her brother’s room at night. On several occasions, we have awoken to find her sound asleep in her brother’s bed without us having any idea she’d even left her room. 
   
2. She is the best cuddler. In the mornings, she will tiptoe into our bedroom and climb into bed and curl right into me. She will rest her little head beneath my chin and lay there quietly until I am ready to get up. 
   
3. She sings loudly and often. She sings songs from the radio and she makes up her own. She loves Broadway and female belters (Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, etc.) and Reba, of course. Her favorite song at the moment is “Girl is on Fire.” 
   
4. She knows how to show true appreciation. When she genuinely loves something, there is no hiding it. She cheers, she screams, she wiggles and she giggles. She expresses her thanks to everyone in sight. 
   
5. She dances freely. She twirls and jumps and shakes her butt. She knows music means freedom and fun. 
   
6. She knows good food. When she eats something she enjoys, she closes her eyes in ecstasy and makes “yum” sounds. It is hilarious to see this little person showing her sheer pleasure in the way something tastes. 
   
7. She is fiercely loyal. She loves her family – and her brother the most. If anyone messes with her brother (except for her), then they better be prepared for her wrath. 
   
8. She listens to what I say and repeats it…but with her own spin. For example, when I tried to teach her about private parts, she went around yelling at everyone (including strangers), “Don’t look at my body!” While important, I didn't mean for her to YELL it when someone looks at her. 
   
9. She is an adorable mixture of tomboy and priss. She can switch seamlessly from pretending to be a shark to spinning like a ballerina. She gets as excited to see sports on tv as she does princesses. 
   
10. She marches to the beat of her own drum. She does things differently, in her own way, and she gets them done. She does not walk in a straight line – she zigzags and spins and leaps and stops to smell the roses – but she gets there. 
    

In her little life, she has taught me so much about love and grit. I am honored God chose me to be the mother of this little girl who radiates silliness and beauty.  And, on my best days, I am just happy to bask in her glow.