While we try to teach our children all about life,
Our children teach us what life is all about.
~Angela Schwindt
What a big year you've had, you 3 year old. You've gone through so many changes and learned so many new things and had so many new experiences. There were a couple of times this year, especially during the summer, that daddy and I agreed that we'd had enough of the big-girl, monumental things for a while and wanted to keep you little for just a bit longer. All of a sudden it seemed you moved from your crib to your big girl bed. It took you a few nights to get used to it, but you finally did, and for the most part, you're a good sleeper. Lately you've decided an afternoon nap is not necessary, even though I think otherwise. And shortly after you moved into your big girl bed, you started using the big girl potty.
One Wednesday morning you just decided you were going to use the potty and you really never looked back. It was the least stressful thing for us. We had tried a few times before, with limited success, but we should have known not to try to rush you or make you do it, because when YOU decided you were ready, you just did it completely. We shouldn't be surprised by this--you prove time and time again that you do things when YOU are ready. This is a trait Nene, your physical therapist, knew too well. You finished with her in December, though we had been decreasing our meetings with her for several months. It was down to a couple of times a month, then once every six weeks, then once every couple of months until she said she didn't need to see you anymore. Her last day with us was a bittersweet one. You came so far with Nene. You weren't even crawling the first time she met you and then you were this crazy, running and jumping girl who loves her tumbling class when she left. What an amazing progression to witness.
Oh! And tumbling. That was one of the best things we've done for you. It has boosted your confidence and has helped you with your balance and leg strength. Monday nights are your favorites, because that's tumbling night. You love to dance to the music and run around and do the obstacle course. We've seen such a change in your strength; the first time we went you couldn't hang from the bar and now you can hang and pull your legs up.We see this carry through to your everyday life too, from the way you've become so brave and confident and just climb up the biggest slide at the park to how every curb is a balance beam.
This year was also your first time staying with someone other than family. And maybe it's possible that mommy and daddy were more nervous than you were the first few times you went. But it's been a good thing for you (and us, too). Most of the time you really look forward to going to play with your friends once a week. It's fun for us to listen to you tell us what you did or whom you played with.
One of the things that makes us so happy is your incredible imagination and your curiosity of the world. Mr. Wilson still visits from time to time and lately you've taken to standing in the middle of the living room and announcing, "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girl of all ages, welcome to the Eva Show (or sometimes skating show or Eva's carnival)" and then you proceed to entertain whomever is around and is willing to watch and listen. You're also so interested in globes and maps and the planets. You always have to stop and look at the globe when we're at the library and it takes everything you have not to give it a big push and watch it spin. And then there's your interest in Spanish. You're always asking how to say this or that in Spanish, a lot of times stumping mommy and a few times even stumping Nana, but you're learning and you know a lot of words and a few phrases in Spanish.
Eva G., this was a really tough year for our family and you lost two very important people in your life. We were so thankful through it all to have you running around and playing and for being the reminder that we have to keep going forward; that the memories we make are more precious than anything else. We'll make sure we tell you stories and show you pictures and help build those memories for you.
Sweet, sweet girl, we are so glad you are ours and thank God every day for the amazing gift of you. Eva Grace, you make us smile!
Happy birthday! We love you!
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