Dear Delaney, age 3

Dear Delaney,

Yesterday you turned 3 years old. We had a party for you on Saturday and just about everyone in your life who you enjoy was there. We were missing family, and a few friends who couldn't make it, but all in all the people who bring you joy came over to celebrate with you.

We were supposed to have your party at the park, because we thought it was only fitting that our park girl would celebrate there, but Boulder brought out the rains and thus we had to move it to our house. There were 14 kids under the age of 4 in our house and lemme tell you, it was a sight to be seen. I think you were thrilled to have so many close friends over to share in your day.

On your actual birthday we had Gabe come over to watch Garrett so your father and I could take you out to breakfast. You were in heaven getting to spend time with the two of us all by yourself. Although you never even commented that you were enjoying it, or mentioned the lack of your brother, it was clear you were having fun. You also spent the day in the backyard with the whole family, running in the sprinklers, blowing bubbles, at the park with me and running around with Finley.

The last few months have been a bit rough as you have tried in many ways to push us around with your strong will and temperament. I think we hit the high crescendo when Moma was here helping me during dad's recent trip to China. You were not happy that she was here and you would not let her help you in any way. You complained about most things going on in your day and generally made life difficult for everyone. As a result I bought about 6 books that try to help parents through the toddlerhood phase and I am in the middle of my second one. I think by reading them I am gaining a little bit of an understanding about where some of your behavior comes from and I am trying to watch you closer to get to know you better. Sometimes I have a tendency to rush to frustration but I am doing my best to really understand the Delaney inside and what makes you tick (and explode, incidentally). I think the bottom line is that you are a very strong willed, opinionated, stubborn, active, perceptive and strong girl. That is never going to change. You have been that way since you were born and it's about time I figured out how to nurture that better so we don't go to battle as much as we have been lately.

I must admit I do love your spirit and energy. I am constantly amazed by it, and I also really love and admire it. I don't have that and I am glad you got it. You have been the absolute best big sister to Garrett that I could imagine. You are kind, helpful, nurturing, funny, and a great companion to him. Maybe things will change once he starts moving around but I hope not. I love the generosity you show towards him and it really is one of the things I enjoy most in life. In fact we noticed yesterday that he lights up more for you than anyone else in the world. He loves you because you are so nice to him.

Your athletic abilities have started to come shining through as you have taken a liking to dribbling a basketball, kicking a soccer ball, and hitting balls with your baseball bat. Bike riding is coming along as you have progressed a lot on your scooter and Skuut bike (bike with no pedals). We were in Mexico recently and you nearly learned to swim. You can propel yourself but haven't figured out how to stay up while you lift your head up. I predict this summer you will really learn to swim. You are quite an athlete. I see lots of sporting events in our future. Also you love all of the equipment at the park... the slides, big girl swings, monkey bars, jungle gyms, tunnels, diggers and more. You can spend hours at the park at not blink an eye.

Your favorite foods have changed a bit recently and I wish I could come up with a long list of foods that you enjoy, but the sad truth is that you are getting more picky by the day. You like chicken, hamburgers, sausages, hamburgers, quesadillas and bread. You will eat some veggies and most fruits, but it saddens me that very often you sit down to meals and only eat three or four bites.

Your favorite toys are your musical instruments, puzzles, Play Doh, games and your cars. The Memory Game is your favorite game and you continually amaze us with how good at that game you are, and how you play (and win) with such ease. You are not particularly into your dolls or stuffed animals, although occasionally you will pick an animal to join you in your bed for the night. Mina blanket, super Mina, and Mina pillow are all still very important to you. I am glad we have multiple versions of those and we swap them out regularly so that they will last longer. One little polar bear (actually he is a lamb) named Jeeky Deeky came around last summer and has been sleeping with you ever since. Most days at home you carry Mina and Jeeky around with you everywhere you go and they sit under your dinner table chair while you eat.

Television is not too important to you, although you do like Sesame Street and have warmed up to a few movies like Madagascar and Finding Nemo. You would much rather play with an adult or go outside. Your inability to sit still is obvious as you roam around the family room while you watch TV. I fear that you will struggle in school due to your "fidgetyness".

Jasper is still your closest friend and has been so for the last year. You also love to play with your other schoolmates, namely Cecil, Abilene, Nella, Eben and Gaby. Kids from my mom's group are also fun, especially Spencer and Kyra. Finley, your neighbor, is a regular playmate especially when the weather is nice. Playing nice with other kids is a strong suit and always has been. Sometimes you play the role of "beat up kid" a little too much but we are working on how to stand up to behavior that you don't really like.

We bought you a shirt about a year ago that was "Little Miss Chatterbox" and nothing could be closer to the truth. You are always talking. You make astute observations and chatter on about anything and everything. Your vocabulary is wonderful and you pick up phrases and words so quickly. Yesterday we were walking home from the park and we briefly lost your basketball in some bushes. I looked at you and said "uh oh" and you said "wait Mommy I have a plan!". I had to chuckle. My three year old had a plan! And you did... I would hold the bushes back and you would climb in. Classic Delaney.

Your teachers at school say that you are very easy going at school and always game for any game or activity. Your imaginary play has increased as you regularly lead your classmates in pretend games of swimming, house, cooking, etc. You do the same thing here and I love it when you bring me some strange object and tell me it's "chocolate" or "bananas" when it is nothing like those things. And just agreeing with you isn't enough as you stand there and make SURE I enjoy and eat what you have brought me.

I think this year we will have some kind of turning point in that maybe I will figure you out a little better, learn how to react appropriately and you will figure out life a little bit more. I hope so, although I am trying to enjoy the precious time that is toddlerhood and the really cute moments that happen. Just a few minutes ago you walked into our room and said "are you almost done working Momma?" and I said "yep, just a few more minutes". And then you said "ok, I'll come back and check on you in a few minutes and make sure you don't need anything". So cute.

Thanks for being you, Delaney, and for forcing me to be a better person everyday. I feel like I will be invincible once we get through your childhood because you are teaching me SO much about myself and the world. Delaney, Laney, Laneyloo, Bug, Bugalicious, Laneybug, Bugaboo, Laners and D. Happy 3, my whirling dervish.

Love,
Mom