My baby girl...

My baby girl...

I am going to be this many years old

Today you are three! THREE! I don't know how you can possibly be three years old yet I struggle to remember a time before you were here, how can you possibly have only been in my life for three years?

Naomi, I love you.  I have loved you from the moment you appeared in my life but as with every day I love you more now that any day that has gone before.  You are incredible child and I still consider it my honour and my blessing to be your Mummy.

You are such a brave little girl.  You tackle every new situation with vigour, enthusiasm and energy.  Yesterday I watched you run into nursery, having never done anything like that before and you just gave it your all.  I love to watch you throw yourself into all these new situations, I like to think of myself as being quite confident but it pales into insignificance next to you.  You know who you are and you love who you are.  I will do everything in my power to keep that being true for as long as possible as it makes you even more beautiful.

You are very sure of your mind.  I'm happy to admit that when you and I are getting a little grumpy with each other, most of the time it is because we are both equally sure we are right and yet we disagree.  In the years that follow from now you will teach me to be gracious and to be gentle about this, you will help me grow and I hope you will allow me to help you do the same.  Don't ever lose your sense of self though, you are precious.

Naomi, you have so much energy, I have no idea where you get it from (although I secretly think you steal it from me, somehow) and you just never stop doing, thinking, being, moving...  The main thing you use your energy for is to imagine.  Your imagination is greater than any person I have ever known, you are constantly in some land of make believe or dressing up or creating scenes for your dolly or teddies or whatever you have lying to hand.  I struggle to keep up with whatever is going on your brain but I look forward to hearing stories you write and seeing the scenes you draw and paint.  Your creativity is one of your main strengths.

You also love to be physical: running, jumping, skipping, dancing, swimming, climbing, rolling, spinning.  You love it all.  I love watching you be healthy and happy being active.  One of your favourite activities each week is Jumping Beans where you learn to balance, to climb, to throw, to bounce.  I have been very proud of watching you develop in this class, you are very good at listening for the next task to do and at waiting your turn on all the equipment.

I love watching your with your sister.  I always knew you would be a good big sister and you have exceeded my highest expectations.  You care for your sister so much, I see you at toddler groups making sure no-one else gets in her way or steals what she is playing with.  I see you trying to help her learn and trying to teach her your games.  I can see you desperate for her to become a better play mate and she's getting there, I promise, I can see you will be the best of friends.  A few days ago you told me "I love my Miriam".  I love that you love your Miriam, I love watching your relationship grow.  It makes me love you all the more.

At this point in life, Naomi, you are changing from Mummy's little baby into a beautiful, (more) independent, little girl.  Doing things for yourself, making decisions that effect other people as well as yourself and learning new things all the time.  I am so proud of the decisions you make, largely you make caring decisions that benefit others, you choose to include others in what you are doing and make sure no-one is left out.  If I am honest I am a little daunted by the task of helping you continue down this path but I am sure we will work it out between us.  You'll help me grow as I help you do the same.

Baby girl, I love you.  Let's make this year the best year yet!