Touchdowns and Sparkly Crowns: Sweetly 3

I have had this post titled and blank for so long; weeks before she turned 3 and now, over a month later, I'm posting. I'm not sure I was quite ready for it and perhaps I thought postponing this post would slow down time. However, that wasn't the case; it was inevitable.

How in the world is it possible that on December 15 my tiny baby turned 3? I wish I would have kept up with growing updates on this blog, but 3's a good number to start with, right? :) Anywhooo, I applaud you if you make it all they way to the end (I did add a ton of pictures if you'd just rather look at my sweet baby)!

To my Sweetly 3,

I love watching you grow, but oh how I wish you would just slow down!

Time flies. And it flies too fast for my liking sometimes. This is one of those times. I wasn't ready for you to be three. I took that much harder than I took one and two. I'm not sure why I didn't cry on those birthdays but you better believe that I cried on this one. I also happened to see this commercial on the morning of your birthday, maybe that's why I had such an emotional day. We'll just go with that. That was my graduation song from Memes and I lost it! Luckily your daddy was behind me and didn't see the crocodile tears come rolling down my cheek or he would have never let it down.

Maybe it's the fact that I love this age, not that I didn't love one or two, but who you are right now is my favorite! If I could bottle up 3 year old Brylee and keep you forever, I would, no doubt!

I love that you want to cuddle for at least 5 minutes each morning after I wake you up.

Speaking of waking you up, I love that you're just like your daddy and want it super dark until you're ready to see the light.

And speaking of light, I love when you wake up and see that the suns up because that means 'it's time to get up!'

I love that you still have dance parties with me and don't think I'm crazy. In fact, you ask me to dance with you all the time!

I love that you aren't quite ready for school yet, even though I think you are. You always just want me and it melts my heart every day.

I love your heart. You LOVE big with everything you do. Whether its Palace Pets, Layla and Dustee, or even the leaves on the bush out front, you love it big! I hope you always love like that.

I love that your a people person like daddy. You will talk to just about anybody that will talk to you.

But, I love that you can be reserved just like me! And daddy made the comment yesterday that you definitely get that attitude and temper from me. When we don't want to be touched, we mean it! :)

I love that you're so petite, although you are super hard to buy jeans for! I mean I will always love your ruffle girly pants, but you look like such a big girl in jeans. Tall and skinny!

I love that you're so smart! Even your pediatrician was super impressed with your development. Your nerd of a mama is lovin' this! Brains will get you a long way, cupcake!

Speaking of smart, I love that you love to read! I mean LOVE it! I hear 'read to me' about 200 times a day! Of course that's an exaggeration, but you really do love it.

I also love your athletic abilities. Girlfriends got an arm on her! Daddy always said you would be a volleyball player because of your height and he just might be right. You also love to dance and play soccer, which makes mama happy too. But, of course, you can do whatever Brylee feels happy doing!

I love how you sing. You sing about anything and everything. The sky is blue, let's sing about it! You have an Elf, let's sing about her too! Right now it's all Christmas songs. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer is your favorite and instead of Cupid you say Cuper and it makes me giggle every time!

I love that you're an entertainer. You want all eyes on you, and right now, you got it!

I love your laugh. It's so contagious. That big smile, too!

I love that you are such a girly girl! You love all things princess.

You're world pretty much revolves around all Disney Princesses, Palace Pets, My Little Pony, and even Paw Patrol!

You love makeup. And you love your hair to be done too. You ALWAYS want a bow! You like ponytails and braids AND just embracing your curls. They are so pretty and I'm always asked if I curl your hair.

You love coloring and puzzles. You will do the same puzzle over and over again until you match it with no mistakes and your coloring ability amazes me! You're beginning to be a perfectionist. :)

You love cooking in your kitchen and mine! You are always wanting to help me with whatever I'm doing, including dishes. You're favorite is when I let you pour the sugar when we make tea, yes I'm serious!

You love Layla and Dustee and they have the same feelings towards you. It took Dustee this long, but she finally came around and she greets you every day when you come home from school. It melts my heart!

You are such a home body! You do love to go places, but home is your favorite place to be. When we are out doing something, when you're ready to go, home is what you're talking about.

I love how you talk. Your little voice is so sweet. Some of my favorite things you say are:

-gorl instead of girl

-yesteryear or lasterday when you're referring to yesterday

-when something is wrong you 'have a terrible problem and need me immediately' like when the gel decals fell off the door. :)

-and daddy's personal favorite 'my daddy didn't raise no fool'. He is so proud of this and I'm just waiting on you to embarrass him with it.

My sweet, sweet girl. That's how I coined the term Sweetly 3. Yes, you are a total threenager at times, but for the most part, sweet sums it up. Although I said I would bottle you up right now for forever, I cannot wait to see what joy you bring us this year. If I kept you just like this, I'd never be able to see everything your capable of.

I love you, Brylee Nichole Smith!

Happy Birthday!

Love, Mama!

And just for some birthday fun, I decided to survey you every year on your birthday, starting with three, of all your favorite things, according to you! :)

Color: Pink and Purple

Toy: Treasure (a Palace Pet)

Food: Mac and Cheese

Snack: Apples and Marshmallows

Drink: Apple Juice

TV Show/Movie: All of them

Outfit: Entire Closet!

Game: ABC on LeapPad

Animal: Horse

Song: Old McDonald

Book: Little People Places

Friend: MooMoo