Firsts

Dear Cordelia,

Turning three seems to be the time when babyhood ends for good and yet for you there have been so many firsts in the past few months, it's like babyhood all over again! You have reminded me yet again what a brave, confident little girl you really are.

First, you had your first trip to the eye doctor. Rachel had gone before, but did not remember it so the two of you were quite nervous and not sure what to expect. Your eye doctor was very nice and you immediately warmed up to him. Rachel went first, but you and I were in the room watching. When it was your turn in the chair, you were hesitant but began responding and doing what he asked in no time. Your vision is perfect.

Next up was the dentist. Rachel doesn't mind the dentist, so you were less apprehensive about this one. You do know Dr. Vern, but of course you are shy. When we got there, Rachel went first again and you surprised me by hopping up in the chair right away and opening your mouth. You had a full cleaning and polishing! Afterward, Vern gave you a lot of toothbrushes and stickers. Perfect teeth!

Waiting for your cleaning to begin.

Helping out the hygenist doing the flouride.

Holding the sucking thing.

Cheese! Look, Ma! No Cavitites! 

Third, you had to go have your three year check up with the doctor. This was an appointment that you and I attended on your own, so you didn't have your sister to show you that there was nothing to be afraid of. There were no needles, nothing to be scared of. You bravely sat on my lap while Dr. Hyndman looked you over and declared that you are healthy and well.

About a week after all of these appointments you told me that you were sick and had to go see the doctor in the hospital like Kingsley. Kingsley goes to a lot of doctor appointments, and up until now you had no reason to be jealous of that fact. Now, however, you see the doctors as somewhere that you get a lot of attention, praise and stickers.  You are all over that.

Today was the latest in your list of firsts. At three years, three weeks old, you had your first hair cut. Finally! You didn't have any fear of this one. I told you it wasn't going to hurt and you believed me. You even told me that we could just get Daddy's clippers and buzz your hair. Um. No. Just a little bit? No. Just on top? No. I am going to hide the clippers because I'm not sure where that idea came from, but I wouldn't put it past you to try it out.

You watched Kingsley get his haircut (his third) and then sat up in the big chair to get yours done. The stylist trimmed off the dry baby hair in the back and evened out the length. It looks very sweet, just like you.

Before - total bed head!

All wet and ready for your trim!

Getting a feel for what was there.

Snip, snip! All done and even. Beautiful!

Love Mommy

Trouble

Dear Cordelia,

Oh, my Cordie. What on earth am I going to do with you? I was ready to sell you to gypsies yesterday.

For starters, your main method of communication right now is screaming and whining, with a side of crying. You want to do things your way and your way only. You and I butt heads countless times in a day.

We somehow survived getting ready for school without too much blowout, only to get in the van and realize that you had played with the lights and left the trunk light on and killed the battery. When I finally got that resolved (thanks to a rescue from Nana and Grandpa), I was sitting at the kitchen table and realized that you had taken a bingo dabber to the white carpet in the computer room.

When I picked you up from school, you were on a fast track to chaos. You yelled, screamed, argued, smacked a glass of milk out of my hand, pulled Rachel's hair, you screamed and woke Kingsley up from his nap, broke your doorknob cover when I tried to put you in your room... it went on and on and on. I finally dragged you guys out to the mall to get out of the house and give Kingsley some time to practice wheeling around. You ran around like you'd never been let out of your house before. It was a bit of a disaster.

This morning, you woke up with the biggest smile and bounced out of your bed to go see Kinglsey and smother him with kisses. And all of yesterday was a distant memory. It amazes me how you are sugar and spice, so blended together. One minute I want to lock you in your room, the next minute I want to be in there with you.  I love you so much, Cordelia. I hope we survive this phase. ;)

Love Mommy

Three

Hi Sweetheart,

You are now three! You had an awesome birthday. With all of the birthday's that happen in the first few months of the year (Kamille, Kingsley, Aunt Kristi, Uncle Kevin, me, Rachel, Eric) you were asking for weeks when it was going to be your turn. Once in March, Rachel told you your birthday wasn't for another month and you immediately burst into tears and insisted that she was wrong - there was NO WAY you had to wait that long for your birthday.

And then finally it was here! I had been planning it for ages.  You are still in love with Jessie the cowgirl, so we did a Toy Story theme.

Your birthday fell on a Friday. Daddy had to get off to work early, so we woke you up together and he gave you birthday hugs and kisses before leaving. Then you and Rachel joined me in Kingsley's room and while I fed him you opened your presents. You were so adorable opening them up and getting so excited about each one. We gave you a Jessie t-shirt, a stuffed dog that you have to teach to be house trained, a dress, a Toy Story game and a Toy Story book. You and Rachel loved the dog and thought it was HILARIOUS that you could feed it a bottle and then it would pee. You played with it all morning after we dropped Rachel off at school.

You, Kingsley and I went grocery shopping for your party and then shopping at the Party Store so that you could pick out the treats for the loot bags and prizes for the games. Going to the party store for your birthday party is a favourite thing of you and Rachel and something you look forward to each time someones birthday comes around.  Grandma and Nana both came to visit you during the day. Grandma brought you some small pink roses which she does for every birthday.

It was a gorgeous day, so we spent a lot of the afternoon outside. You played in the sandbox and in the water table and blew bubbles. We had pizza for dinner, which was your request. We ate it outside when Daddy came home, then came inside for cupcakes.  After dinner, Daddy and I gave you two more birthday presents: pink cowgirl boots and a new Barbie tricycle. Both were pretty exciting. 

After all of that, it was time for bed! You had to get to sleep so that you'd be fresh for your party the next day.

Your birthday party day started out with breakfast in bed - something we did with Rachel this year and you felt pretty special to be getting as well. Mini waffles, fruit and juice.

I made Daddy keep you and Rachel occupied all day so that I could clean the house and get the final things ready for your party. It started at 3pm. Nana, Grandpa, Grandma, Aunt Carol Anne, Eric, Scarlet, Molly, Nicole and some of my friends all came. You guys played freeze dance and pin the badge on Woody. There was a lot of playing with your friends, eating, dancing and running around. You had a great time! I made chocolate cupcakes with orange buttercream icing, which was what you had asked for, then topped them with Toy Story figurines. You got a lot of really nice gifts such as clothing, books, a sprinkler for outside, and stuffed Jessie and Bullseye dolls.  Grandma also got you a picnic table for outside, which went well with the picnic basket that Aunt Kristi sent you.

After the party, Daddy had to leave for another party and we just hung out here until bedtime. You were all tired and worn out from the great day. You fell asleep almost instantly.

I loved watching my sweet little Strawberry Bug be the centre of attention and get all of the love and adoration you deserve. I hope every birthday is as happy as this one.

Love, Mommy