3 years feels like a lifetime...

And for Reese it has been. I can't believe how quickly the last three years has gone. My little baby is a full grown little lady and she reminds me daily that she's "so grown up mom".

Stats:
Height - 39 inches 91%
Weight - 33 lbs. 79%

Smarts:
Knows her alphabet
Can count to 13
Knows all her shapes & colors
Can spell her name
Can read (or recognize) a few small words

I'm always writing down the cute and funny things that Reese says, and I think they paint a pretty good picture of her personality and fun little spirit, but I didn't want her her third birthday to pass without also writing down a few of my thoughts and feelings about my little Reese.

At her 3 year doctors appointment Dr. Wynn asked if Reese can dress herself. I almost burst out laughing. Can she dress herself?? She insists on picking out her own clothes and dressing herself and doing just about everything else you can think of for herself. If she had her way, she would would be cooking, cleaning, doing her own laundry and working at the mall by now. That is until she stubs her toe, falls out of the bath tub, or has a nightmare, then she's wants her mommy. Ok, so maybe I'm being a little extreme, but Reese is definitely one independent little lady. And for the most part, she is pretty successful at anything she tries or sets her mind to.

For example...

When we moved Reese to a "big girl" bed, a couple months before her 2nd birthday, we of course put a safety railing on the bed. Well a few months ago Reese decided she didn't want the railing on her bed anymore. I'm not sure why she was so bugged by it, but she would throw a fit every night. I was so worried that she would fall out of bed so I insisted that she keep it up, but after I would leave Reese would get out of bed and put it down. (stubborn and determined) However, I would still put it back up when I would check on her before I went to bed. Then one day I found her trying to rip it off her bed. She almost had it taken apart and I was afraid she was going to brake it, so we finally gave in and let her sleep with it down for a few nights. She did great, so we let her take it off.  It's been several months and she's only fallen out of bed once and that was at the beginning. Now she's a pro at staying in bed.

There really are no words for how much I love this kid. She makes me laugh, smile and want to smother her in kisses daily. She's the best big sister. She's so helpful and loving with Anniston. I feel so blessed to have two little girls and I'm so glad they have each other. I've said this before, but I really feel with all my heart that I was meant to be a "girl" mom. I think Heavenly Father really knows what he's doing when he sends us the children that he does. Reese is so much like me that sometimes I have to verbally remind myself that she's her own person and not a carbon copy of me. I know through out her life she will continue to bring us so much joy, as well as give us many challenges and frustrations, but I will gladly lead her or walk beside her through the storms of life as long as she'll let me. If the time ever comes when she doesn't want me there, I'll just follow and be two steps behind to help lift her when she falls.

I love you Reese!  Never doubt it!

Reese through the years...

Reese 2 weeks
 
6 months




1 year




18 months

2 years




3 years






3 year interview:
What's your favorite...
food - carrots...oh oh oh..and broccoli
drink - water
treat - chocolate, like daddy
surprise - lots of presents
T.V. show - Micky Mouse Club House
movie - Gnomeo and Jet  (Gnomeo and Juliet)
book - Wacky Wednesday
color - yellow and pink
song - twinkle star
place to go - park
thing to do - play outside
friends - Roro and Brynny
thing to do - play toys
thing about mommy - just everything mom
thing about daddy - when he plays toys with me
thing about Anni - holding her and play with her

What's your favorite thing about...."I gotta go mom. No questions. I gotta play..."

6 months

...and what does that mean???

 Real food baby!!! Anni's a big fan so far!



Stats: Weight - 15 lbs. 31%
Height - 28 in. 98%
Head - 16.5 in. 34%

I love 6 months! It's a good time in a baby's life, especially our little Anni.

She's eating like a champ. Food she's tried so far include, green beans, peas, graham crackers, apple juice, rice cereal, and otter pops.

She sleeps 11-12 hours a night and takes 2-3 long naps a day. She also puts herself to sleep. She wakes up happy and fills our day with lots of giggles, smiles and just like her sister...some serious squealing! That's right, she has the Nordfelt lungs!

She rolls both directions and manages to get just about anywhere she needs to go with her own unique little rolling system. I've seen her get up on all four a couple of times, but I still think crawling is a little far off for her. But who knows, maybe she'll surprise me.

She sits up on her own for very short periods of time, but doesn't seem too interested in it. She always goes for her feet and falls over.

She loves her play jumper, and playing with her big sister. Even when I'm sure Reese must be hurting her, Anniston just squeals with delight and laughter when ever Reese is paying attention to her.

She no longer has a Binky. She never would latch on to one, so we decided to just get rid of it instead of trying to force it on her. She just loves to suck her hand and fingers and something tells me she may turn into a thumb sucker when she gets a little older, but again...I could be wrong.

In the last few weeks she's turned into a real mommy's girl. She'll go to just about anyone, as long as she can't see me. If she gets any glimpse of me or hears my voice...all bets are off.

Bottom line...we love this kid and wouldn't change a thing about her!

Reesy Piece...

Reese was watching me get dressed one morning. I was putting on my bra...

Reese: Mommy why I not have one of those.

Me: Because they're for big girls.

Reese: I a big girl.

Me: You are a very big girl, but they're for even bigger girls with big boobies.

Reese: I not have big boobies??

Me: No sweetie, but when you grow up you will and then I'll get you your very own bra.

Reese: (With total elation) THANKS MOM!!! You're the best! I love you mommy!

Reese and I were looking through some old photo's. She found one of me at Disneyland with some friends, before she was born.

Reese: Mommy that you at Disneyland castle.
Yep: Yep.
Reese: (with a total look of confusion) Where me at mommy?
Me: You weren't born yet sweetie.
Reese: awww...not fair mom!

One morning I was very tired, because Reese had woken me up in the night several times with night mares.

Me: (yawning)

Reese: you tired mommy?

Me: yes, I am very tired! A little monkey kept me up all night.

Reese: (laughing) that me monkey?

Me: yep, you were the monkey.

Reese: you should take nap mommy.

Me: yes, I should take a nap. Maybe I'll go do that right now.

Reese: (with panic) Nooooo!

Me: but you just told me I should take a nap.

Reese: but I just teasing you.

I was sitting in the living room feeding Anniston when Reese appeared from the basement totally naked...

Reese: Hi mom. (as she plops herself on the couch)
Me: Ummm hello. Where are your clothes?
Reese: downstairs. I naked.
Me: I can see that. Why are you naked?
Reese: I pretending to be baby.
Me: babies don't walk around naked my love. See, Anni has clothes on.
Reese: no, I pretending to be naked baby.
Me: Well as much as I hate to squash your creative spirit. I'm not running a nudist colony, so I'm going to insist that you go downstairs and put your clothes back on.
Reese: PLEEEASE mom!!!! No squash me!!

Tricks...

...what kid doesn't love them.

Have I mentioned how much I love these two! I especially love how much they love each other...

The big 3 Party!!

When I asked Reese what she wanted to do for her 3rd birthday there was no hesitation. She wanted to have a water balloon party and she immediately started listing all the friends she wanted to come.

Reese was excited to pick her birthday cake and to my surprise she picked Tweedy Bird. I thought for sure she'd pick a princess or Mickey Mouse cake, but the second she saw the Tweedy Bird cake, she was sold.

The crew: Harper Tate, Rowan Tate, Addy Hart, Reese, Cohen Vohs, Brynn Tate, Claire Nuttall, Lucy Nuttall, Austin Messmer, Gavin Messmer, Gavin Gardner, Kyson Sumpsion. (Friends that showed up a little late and didn't make it into the photo, Brea Wild and Blake Baker)

The aftermath...

After the water balloons were gone, we got out the sprinklers and all the kids rode their bikes through the water.

These two little best friends...are trouble on wheels!

Reese and I both owe Arnold a big THANK YOU for her awesome party. He took the day off work and spent several hours filling over 600 water balloons and he even cleaned up the aftermath. He is the best daddy and husband ever!

If your wondering where Anniston was in all of this...she cooperated perfectly and slept through the whole party.

The big 3!

Originally we were going to be in Idaho for Reese's actual birthday, so we planned her "friend" party for the day after we would be getting back. But at the last minute our plans changed so we were home on the 10th. We couldn't let her actual birthday pass without a little celebration so we decided it would be fun to spend the day together as a family having some fun.

We started the day by going to get donuts. Reese loves donuts and we don't get them very often. She got to go to Day Light Donuts and pick out which ones she wanted. Then we opened her presents from Mom, Dad and Anni. I love the intensity in which she open's presents. She loved everything she got. Then we surprised Reese and took her to Chuck E Cheese. She's only been to Chuck E Cheese one other time in her life, but she asks all the time to go again. I'm not a huge fan of Chuck E Cheese, but I figured I could sacrifice and let her have some fun. It was a success. We all had a great day!

Build A Bear

Reese's cousins Riley and Mycol, and her Aunt Jen wanted to surprise her for her birthday and take her to Build A Bear to make her very own personalized friend. They picked her up the Saturday before her birthday for a special "girls day out". As I was getting her ready to go that morning, she kept saying, "mommy, you and daddy can't come...just Reesy." She loves Riley and Mycol so much and had so much fun. Honestly they could have taken her anywhere and done just about anything and she would have been thrilled to be with them.

Girls!

I love my girls so much! Everyday I realize more and more that I was meant to be a "girl" mom. I wouldn't trade these two for the world. I hope as they grow up they love each other and have as much fun together, if not more, than they do now.

Reesy Piece...

And it continues....

I came upstairs one morning after running on the treadmill. I was dripping in sweat...

Reese: Mommy? You take a shower in your clothes?

Mom: No, I was excising and this is just sweat.

Reese: What sweat mean mom?

(After an obviously too complicated/too complex explanation of sweat...)

Reese: What ever mom...it's just yucky!

After running on the treadmill for 40 minutes Reese looks at me and says, "Good job mom, you getting so big." ...ummm..."big"?? Some times the encouragement of a 3 year old leaves a lot to be desired. Fortunately I think she's just reflecting what I always tell her; that she's growing so "big" and strong.


Mom: Reese, let's go get dressed for the day.
Reese: Why mom? Where we going?
Mom: (as if we need to go somewhere to get dressed) To the moon, for lunch.
Reese: (with a very puzzled look) you got a rocket mom?
Mom: yep, I borrowed one from NASA.
Reese: (an even more puzzled look, followed by a big smile) you teasing me mom?
Mom: yep, I'm teasing. You're just too smart for me kiddo.
Reese: (while laughing) yep, I very too smart for you mom.

I love the way Reese says certain words incorrectly, and while I know I should correct her and help her learn to say them properly, sometimes I just like the sweet innocents of her cute little baby language. Some examples include:

Reese trying to say my name: "Your name minkama mommy?"

Bubble gum is "gumble gum"

A bath tub is a "pad pad" (this one baffles even me)

Chocolate Milk is "choco milk"

Old Navy is "Old Lady"

I call Anniston "Anni Banani" sometimes, Reese calls her "Bany Anni"

Delicious is "elicious"

Cereal is "c-low"

licorice is "lick-o-lis"

I know I should change this, but I often use the phrase, "oh crap" when something goes wrong, I drop something, etc... When Reese hears me say this she always responds, "Oh crap what mom?"

I'm really careful not to talk about loosing weight in front of Reese. I never tell her that I'm dieting or exercising to "loose weight" or because I'm fat. I always tell her that I exercise to be healthy or I'm trying to eat healthy. The other day she came up the stairs carrying one of my weights. I asked her what she was doing... "I'm being healthy mommy. Exercising being healthy."

Reese: Mom, help me with my puzzle.
Mom: Ok, (I sit down and start working on puzzle, but then Reese stops working on puzzle.)
Mom: Aren't you going to help me?
Reese: I tired mom
Mom: I thought you wanted me to do the puzzle with you? We don't have to do the puzzle if you're tired.
Reese: No mom I want you do the puzzle. I just watch.
Mom: What, do you think you're management around here? I do all the work and you just watch?
Reese: What "magment" mean mom?

I have a hard time waiting for surprises...

I'm really good at keeping secrets. Ask any of my long time best friends. I'm a vault. But I really suck at surprising people. I'm a terrible liar, and I just want people to know what awesomeness is headed their way.

I was super excited about our "big" birthday surprise for Reese. She's wanted a plasma car for quite some time, and quite frankly we were tired of her borrowing all her friends when we were outside. So, once is came in the mail we couldn't resist just giving it to her early. I say "we" because Arnold was just as excited as I was. After all there are only so many days of summer left. We figured she might as well enjoy it for as long as possible.

I think we definitely made the right decision. She's only had it for 3 days and it's already warn in. It looks like she's been riding it all summer.

Bridal Veil

We realized last week that we hadn't been up to Bridal Veil Falls yet this summer. By this time most years, we've been up the canyon more times than we can remember. I guess baby Anni has put a small crimp in out ourdoor style.

So last Sunday we took an evening drive. Reese had a blast playing in the water. It didn't matter to her how cold it was.

I just hung out on the bank with this little cuttie, who flashed these baby blues at everyone who walked by.