3 Year Old Well Child Check-Up

Luci had her 3 year check-up yesterday. She was sooo apprehensive about it all day yesterday...and immediately began to cry when they called us back. Once she warmed up a bit, she was fine. I think she was a little scared since it has been so long since we have been there. Healthy Child=less time in Dr's Office!!! We love her doctor and she was completely fine once he walked in! I hope next time will be tear free!

Weight- 31.2 lbs - 50th percentile
Height- 36 inches- 75th percentile

Everything is great and on track for her. We are still doing Zyrtec and Singulair, but we have now switched to chewable tablets. Luci takes those sooo much better!!! Her doctor said she was doing great!!!

A few quick tidbits about her just so I have them down for the books!!!

Favorite Foods- Cheese (always!), cottage cheese, apple sauce, mac and cheese, pasta, chicken, beef, peas, carrots, green beans, gold fish...and of course candy, chocolate, ice cream, cookies!

Favorite Drinks- Milk (always), juice, lemonade, and she always likes to sip the foam off my Diet Cokes! Lol!

Foods she doesn't like- Most fruit and most raw veggies

Drink she doesn't like- Water...she still is required to drink it...but def not her fav!

Favorite TV Shows- Mickey, Dora, Max & Ruby, and Calliou

Favorite Things To Do- Play outside, play baby, play pretend, and color/write

Other random facts:
She can count to 14 consistently
She knows her colors
She knows lots of her shapes
She knows her ABC's
She loves to sing
She loves to be bossy
She loves to hide in different spots around the house
She loves her cousins and wants to talk about them often
She is full-potty trained
She loves to Facetime all of her family
She loves her gymnastics class
She is wearing 3T clothing and size 7.5-8 shoe
She loves to be a helper
She hates the dark
She loves to hug and says "I love you toooo much!"
She loves to lay on Mommy or Daddy's shoulder to go to sleep

Luci's Birthday~Branson Style

We spent Luci's birthday in Branson for our Annual Memorial Day Weekend trip! When she woke up Saturday morning, she was greeted with her presents from Mommy and Daddy, Mimi and PePaw, Aunt Renata, and Joe and Judy!

After presents (and Mickey Mouse pancakes made by PePaw), we got ready to head out to Silver Dollar City. We stayed for a couple of hours until Luci fell asleep and then we headed back to the condo so we could get ready to go to White Water for a few hours!

This was Luci's first time at White Water. She was soooo scared. But after a little encouragement from us (and a lot of hand holding!) she had a blast! It was so could to see her overcome her fear! That right there is some of the best moments of being a parent.

We only stayed like an hour and a half (I try to limit her sun exposure as much as I can while still allowing her to have fun...it is just such a hot spring this year), but it was a great time even if it was short!

After White Water, we went back to the condo to get cleaned up and head out for dinner. We went to the Aussie Outback and it was very good! We brought Luci a cake (that she picked out) and let her celebrate at the restaurant.

After dinner, we did a little shopping and then headed back to the condo for the night!! It was a busy, but fun, memorable 3rd birthday for our special little girl!!

Happy 3rd Birthday My Girl

I've got sunshine

On a cloudy day

When it's cold outside

I've got the month of May

I guess you say, what can make me feel this way

My girl

My girl

Talkin' bout my girl

My Girl

~Happy 3rd Birthday Luci~

A Letter To Luci On Her 3rd Birthday

My Sweet Luci,

Ok, I can't even get started! I just burst into tears as I started typing. I am sure this letter probably won't be the best written or sound the best, but I just want you to know how much I love you. You are absolutely everything  to me and your Daddy. Everything we do in life is now because of you. If someone told me 5 years ago how much I would love you, I don't think my mind could have comprehended it. I know that we are a little partial, but you are absolutely perfect to us in every way. There is nothing I would ever change about you. Always know that. You are beautiful, thoughtful, and have the most contagious laugh!!!

This past year I have really felt that I am coming into my own as a Mother. I am learning more about you as you are getting older and able to communicate more. You and I are becoming inseparable at times! You are my special baby girl. Yes, baby girl. We have this conversation a lot...

Me: Let me hold you little baby girl!!
Luci: No, I'm not a baby!
Me: You will always be my baby!
Luci: Not when I get big. Then you can't hold me anymore.
Me: Momma's arms will always be big enough to hold you!!!

You make me laugh so much!!! I am still working every day 8-5. I have really come to terms with that over the last few months. You are thriving at day care...and Mommy is thriving at work. But not a single day goes by...probably not a single hour...that I find myself just staring at your pictures in my office. It hurts my heart so bad that I cannot be with you all day...but you need daycare. You love your friends and you love your teachers. You are always asking when you get to go see your friends. It makes me so happy that you are so happy during the day when Mommy and Daddy are working.

Mommy and Daddy are not very hard on you. You get away with lots of things. Your punishments are few and far between. However... we do expect you to have good manners, be kind, and be respectful of God, yourself, and others. As long as we get these things out of you, we couldn't ask for more. Mommy and Daddy couldn't have been more proud of you at your birthday party. You stopped playing every single time a friend arrived at your party so you could help Mommy and Daddy greet them, you played with every person there, and you said thank you over and over again for your presents. I have never been more proud of you.

I wrote this in your 2 year old letter, but I want you to know these things again...

1. We love you and have always wanted you.
2. Mommy and Daddy love each other very much.
3. We want you to know how much Jesus loves you and how much he blesses our family daily.

You are our Sis, Sister, Sissy, Sunshine, Suess, Petunia, Princess, Beauty Queen, Bartholomew, Bart, Baby Doll, Baby Girl, Lover!!!! (Not sure where we come up with all of these names from! You have a silly Mommy and Daddy!!!!)

WE LOVE YOU!!! We are so glad you are ours!!!

Love,
Mommy

Birthday Party Weekend- 3!!!!

WOW!!! Luci had quite the Birthday Party Weekend!!! Her actual birthday is this Saturday (Memorial Day weekend), but we decided to have her party a week earlier! We will celebrate in Branson this Saturday with a small cake and the rest of Mommy and Daddy presents!

Her past birthdays I went all out and did everything myself. This year, I rented us a spot at The Monkey House (bounce house) and showed up with cupcakes...and it was awesome!!!! No set-up; No clean-up!! The only thing I did was bake 40 vanilla cupcakes with cotton candy frosting!!!

Luci had such a good time! We had 13 kids there and plenty of adults!! She got so many nice things and had such a fun time playing with all of her friends and cousins!! She is truly one blessed little girl!!!

Cupcakes (before the cotton candy topping was on!)

All dressed and ready to go to her party!

 I'm 3!!!!

Presents!!!

Cupcakes with the cotton candy toppers!!

Treats!!!

After the party, Mitch and I decided to give her the big b-day present from us...this is her patiently waiting!! We made her turn around so she wouldn't see Mitch rolling it out of the garage!!

 Her first look at her big girl bike!!!

Just cruising around!

After all of that partying...she was pooped!!! Daddy and his little princess!!!

Mommy Day 2012

"Making the decision to have a child - it is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. - Elizabeth Stone

I had a wonderful Mother's Day Weekend! Some of our plans had to be changed because Luci was recovering from Hand, Foot, and Mouth virus...but all in all, I felt loved and blessed!!!

Mitch and Luci got me a bunch of fun stuff!!! I got Pioneer Woman's new cookbook, a crock-pot warmer for my office, some hanging flowers for outside, and a relaxing Saturday morning breakfast at the Egg and I followed by a pedicure!!! Luci also brought me home a really special flower that she made at school!!

On Sunday, we went to church with my Mom, Nana, and Quinn...and had a delicious lunch that we all pitched in to help make...Chicken Spaghetti, fresh peas, green beans, broccoli and cauliflower salad, rolls, and strawberry cake with fresh strawberries!!! Yum!!!

I am so thankful that I come from such a strong, beautiful line of women who taught me...and are still teaching me...to be a good Mommy to Luci!!!!

This past week I also had the privilege of being at the hospital when Tasha delivered sweet PA into the world!!! It was such a long day with such a beautiful ending!! I am so excited that Tasha gets to celebrate her first Mother's Day with her sweet 7lb, 5 day old little Princess!!!

Happy Mom/Mother/Mommy/Momma Day to all Mommies!!!!!