Ashlyn turns three!!!

Our toddler turned three and what a blessings she's been to us!!!  Through the easy and tough training times her turning three gives a sense of relief.  Maybe the "terrible two's" will now calm down a bit???!!!  :)  Even though she can be our drama queen, we could never imagine our family without her!!!  We love her so much and she does bring such joy and life into our family!!!

She woke up wiping her eyes adorable blue eyes.  We were all loving on her immediately (that is always how it is if she allows it)!  She got the message loud and clear that it was "her birthday".  We showed her how to show it with her fingers!  We played the song "happy birthday to you" from you tube really loud!  She danced and took in the moment!  Watching her twirl around the living room floor and her long, blond pony tails swirling through each motion, is just way too cute!!!  Sometimes I really do just sit and adore her!!!

 

She loved all the birthday gifts that she got, especially these dress up shoes that sister Jody gave to her.  She clops all around the house.  Thanks to everyone!

 

Ashlyn loves to look at books.  We go through different stages and right now its a Dora book where you find pictures on the page.  We must have looked at it dozens and dozens of times.  She also loves, loves the "Captain Naaman/Little Maid" Bible story too.  I often read it to her after she's tucked in bed at night.  She loves to listen to it with CD too.  Puzzles is something she took interest in awhile ago and her collection has gotten bigger over the last few months.  She loves to put the same ones together over and over again.  I love that she does this because I think it's so good for her learning mind.  Her latest is playing memory.  She is actually good at it too!  She watches carefully and remembers.  Her young mind is growing!!!  Playing doll with baby Kate and Anna is a daily task!  Her kitchen foods and play sink is always rearranged!  She even started to set our dinner table by putting our spoons, forks and knives by each plate.  She feels important and likes to know she's helping too.  She likes to watch Peter Rabbit.  She knows it's a privilege when she gets to watch it!  She is still our veggie lover and has taken a big liking to apples recently!  She will push meat aside any day if there is corn or peas or cucumbers or string beans or apple slices available!

Turning three means that her independence is still growing.  She likes to do a lot of things by her self.  Sometimes it requires such patience and then other times it's kinda nice.  She loves to dress herself after a bath.  She does not like to have her long, blond hair combed out.  She lets her daddy comb it out for her Sunday mornings and he seems to have her calmed down by the time it's time to get a band in her hair.  I do that!  :)

I had good intentions on having a small party for her.  We bought the party plates and cups.  I did some very last minute inviting but it turned out that we celebrated just as a family.  She didn't mind really.  Maybe we will get to use her plates later this week as a surprise!

We love this girl so much!!!  We are blessed to have her in our family!!! 

Happy Birthday, Ashlyn!!! 

(PS ... I should add here that she did get dressed up real pretty for church and her hair combed so cute.  These 'real life' moments are so precious even if she's still in her pj's!!!)