Three??? It can't be...

Three.  It's when babyhood gets left behind.  It's the year of the little big kid.  And I can't believe you have reached that milestone.  Wasn't it just yesterday that you were taking your first steps, laughing and so proud of yourself, as you toddled toward me with your arms outstretched?  And today, you spent the day laughing and running away from me as you jumped off the edge of the pool, over and over again.  No fear.  No worries.  Just a little big girl that I couldn't help but be mesmerized with.  I'm not sure I am ready for it but you don't seem to be slowing down and waiting for me to catch up.  You just keep forging head first into your growing up.  No looking back.  No waiting for anyone else to be ready for it.  You are just shedding layers of your toddler hood as quickly as you can and are adding new skills (like jumping off of the side of the pool) at lightning speed.  I love watching you grow into the person that you are going to be but I also sometimes want to slow you down.  You are always trying to keep up with your big sister and it has you growing up so very fast.  I wish I could just tell you that there was time enough to learn it all, you don't have to do it all today, but I know that it would fall on deaf ears.  It always has.  So I stand back and watch, in wonder and awe, as you sprint head long into your fourth year...Fourth.  Ugh.

But you are my baby.  Always will be.  You will never be able to escape it and for that I am forever thankful.  Because I need you to keep being you.  The little sister that is enamored with her big sister.  The youngest baby that has her Daddy wrapped around her finger.  The daughter that has me smitten with everything about you - even your stubborn streak.  

I need you to keep that quick smile.  I need you to stay vocal about injustices, voracious about learning and vivacious in your personality.  I need you because you are the perfect final piece in our family puzzle.  We needed a spitfire with an out sized personality.  Someone who could remind us not to take life too seriously, to laugh more often, to be more curious.  And we got it.  You are passionate, opinionated, talkative and intelligent.  You are empathetic, sweet, sour and incredibly loving.  And you contain it all in such a beautiful package.

You are you and I wouldn't change a single thing.

I love you more than you will ever know.