Three Years of heaven on earth, my sunshine girl.

 There's a reason I call you my sunshine girl.

 From the moment you wake till you lay down at night, you make the world smile.

Today we celebrate 3 years of loving your soul and watching you grow.  I'm so thankful for this day, thankful for your health, for your happiness....oh your happiness!!!  and I'm thankful that God gave me the gift of being your mother.

 You showed us you wouldn't back down from a challenge even as an infant, but your strong willed ways have been quite apparent in this last year of development.  You won't let someone tell you what to do even if you have to shout your opinion from the roof tops (or dining room table).  There is a constant playfulness in your personality that makes it hard for anyone to be upset at you for more than a moment and you have learned how to butter us up with the thickest of smile laced spreads.

 Your heart is made of pure gold.  The way you love others and want to make them smile is a gift from God.   Someone gets hurt?  You're right there to check on them.  Someone runs out of a drink or food?  You're the first one to offer to help them get more, even when the task is bigger than what you can handle.  You are a natural caregiver and a compassionate soul that will be a gift to this family for all of your life.  

 You love something fierce, and it can be seen so very clearly in the way you treat your brother.  He is your favorite person in all the land and there's nothing he can do wrong in your eyes.  You are his biggest cheerleader and you delight in making him happy too.  A million times you've told him "Henry, I love you."  "Henry you so handsome."  and a million more times you'll say it with all the truth in your heart.  If there's a moment he finds himself upset, sad, or scared you are full of compassion by his side checking on him with complete sincerity.  

Just in case you ever doubt the way he feels about you, let it be recorded that he once gave you a hug as he left for school, patted you on the head and said this: "Have a good day Moo!" turned around and patted you on the head and then walked to the car as he professed "Ah Moo, I like Moo! She's cute, and funny and she's fast and has puffy cheeks!"  That's true love there sister.  

The way you love is pure, you dare not hold back a single ounce of what you can give to someone and for that my darling girl you are already admired.  So far in life you lack a selfish bone in your body and would gladly share your last piece or favorite toy with a smile on your face.  

 When I think of how our life has been arranged by God this year I think many thankful thoughts.   God always planned for you to be a big sister, you were made for this role in life.  I can not wait to see how perfectly you adore your baby brother and how much big help will come from tiny little you.  

Mallie Lynn Estelle three years ago my heart grew as I held a baby girl in amazement for what God created.  In you I see a fire that will never be easily put out and a light and love for life that is hard to find.  You are going to do some incredible things for His Kingdom I just know it, and I'm blessed to call you mine.  

 I love that:

You are a spitfire, little spunky monkey, and a jokester all rolled into one beautiful personality.  

Your sense of humor and love for laughing keep us all rolling.  

You can run like the wind and rest assure no one can out match your energy.  

You're a daddy's girl through and through and no one gets him emotional quite like you do.  You are blessed with one of the best.  He loves you so tenderly, so dearly; I hope you never doubt the princess you are to him.  

Sweet Mallie Lynn, Moo Moo, Moo, Sunshine Girl, Sugar Girl, Sweetie Pie..........You're all of it and more and we wish you the happiest of Birthdays.  Thank you for being you, for being so amazing at 3! I love you dearly.

Love you more than all the marshmallows,

Your proud Mama

Mallie Lynn's 1st day of school....Evah! PreK3

See this smile?  This smile is to remind you I'm ready for this big day!  No matter what hesitations you may be having mom you're doing the right thing, I promise!  

I've wanted to go to school for a good year now as I watched Henry go and have fun.  I've wanted a special backpack and lunchbox all my own and have talked about it for a few months too.  

I love to play and make new friends and learning new things always excites me!

Last night we put this girl to bed excited as she could be.  If you can't tell by that grin she was proud to read a book like Henry and talk about her impending 1st EVER day of school.  

Henry sweetly prayed "God please give Mallie Lynn comfort tomorrow, and God help her to make lots of new friends."  

 

I know I look small, and I'm your little princess and all, but Mama I promise I've got this!  It's going to be a great day, and you'll probably cry more than I will!  

 What do you mean your thinking about just keeping me home?   That's silly!  Henry went to PreK 3 and I want to go too!  I mean I'm almost three!

 Plus, as spunky and confident as I am I'll probably be more ready than any of my friends who have already turned 3.  I'll be sure to make new friends and will probably make them laugh a lot.  

 Mama, seriously it's all going to be ok, don't ask me again if I'm excited because I think we've already gone over this.....

 So let's get going, I don't wanna be late!  I know I'm your baby girl and this is tough for you but this won't make me grow any quicker it will just let me spread my wings a bit.  

 I'll give you kisses before we part ways and it's going to be a "willy awwwesome" day.

 Eeeeeek my backpack and lunchbox oh my!!!!  This is what I've been waiting for!!!!!

 Last year I swore she would have walked into Henry's class with him and stayed if I let her so it seemed only natural to sign her up for PreK 3 this year.  Henry had started a program 2 days a week when he was three and it had been really great for him, though looking back I realized at that age he was still such a baby!  So I was caught off surprise the past few weeks when I began to second guess my decision.   All of a sudden my thoughts surrounded the fact that she is our baby girl, and well, she's not quite even 3 yet.  Though she is emotionally mature and such a confident soul, I questioned why on earth I wouldn't just keep her at home with me!!?  I mean, we have soon much fun together even if it's just a trip to the grocery.  

Today came in a rapid fashion and ya know what?  Mallie Lynn was right, she was more ready than I could have imagined.  

She walked right into her classroom, found a spot to hang her backpack, made SURE I had her lunchbox and walked straight to her table.  She said Hi to her teacher and then began exploring her room in an excited fashion.  

She had talked about all the toys she couldn't wait to play with since our visit day last week and her eagerness showed.  So mesmerized by the train table was she that she barely even looked at me when she gave me a goodbye kiss, (at my request).  I slinked out of the room and stood in the doorway waiting for her to look for me, to freak out, to want to wave goodbye.  As I walked out into a thunderstorm that had my shoes swimming through the parking lot, my face began to resemble the rain drops running down my car.  Then I remembered, this is what we had hoped and prayed for her, that she would be confident and comforted and have a wonderful day.  So I gave God thanks and continued to cry my way home.  I think I'll be letting the teachers know mini boxes of kleenex might not be such a bad thing to pass out to mommy's that first day.  :)  

Keeping with family tradition I prepared warm cookies for her to come home to on this very special first day.  I had a wonderful helper too who couldn't stop talking about how he hoped she didn't cry.  

 So how was her day?  She shed zero tears, walked out with a smile and a sucker and made sure I had her lunchbox and water bottle before we pulled out of the parking lot.  She chatted the whole way home about what toys she played with and how she sat by a friend named Henry and ate "fishgolds" for snack time.  :)  This girl was ready, and almost seemed puzzled as to why Henry and I made such a fuss over her being a big girl.  PreK 3 I hope you're ready for this spunky, sweet ray of sunshine.