Zoë is THREE!

Zoë Kayte, you are 3 years old today! You are such a joy in our lives!

Let's kick off with a birthday interview so we can look back and remember some of your favorite things as you turn 3:

What is your favorite food? "Umm, cake." 
What is your favorite color? Pink
Favorite movie? My Little Pony
Favorite drink? Juice! 
Favorite song? "Trolls ... Jesus loves me..." 
Things to do? "Play with my kitchen stuff. My cake and my birthday." 
{We completed her survey on 7/30/18 after not taking a nap so she didn't have a lot to say. :)}

- You are a lot of fun! You are always up for adventures and doing the things the boys ask you to play with them. Although, you are starting to move off independently and play on your own sometimes, especially creating tea parties as of late.

- You love animals and like to follow Dora around and try to pet her. She lets you sometimes because she knows you can be calmer than the boys, but it doesn't usually last for long. 

- Recently, as I'm talking about the things Naomi does, you like to chime in and say that you did those same things as a baby, ending with "...'member that?" If you're distracted while I'm talking to you, you'll whip your head up all of a sudden and ask, "What you say?" You call Naomi "No-mee" and when she cries you often come to me and say "No-mee need you." 

Look at those beautiful curls! 

Reading books while Zeke takes TaeKwonDo class

I thought you looked so grown up this day so I took a snapshot! 

- When you get dressed, often in skirts and dresses these days, you like to walk in to the boys and show them your pretty outfit for them to comment on. 

Reading with great-Grandma in IA

- You like playing with Naomi and are very aware of her presence or lack thereof. As timid as you were upon first meeting her almost 9 months ago, you have grown into your role of big sister beautifully! You are calm with her, don't get mad when she pulls your hair, like holding her for short bursts, try to be gentle with her, and love giving each other kisses before bed at night. I'm so excited that you have a sister to be friends with in the years to come! 

Mommy's Birthday

- You have begun noticing my earrings and we have chatted about the possibility of getting your ears pierced. You are not quite ready which is ok with me. You like playing with my jewelry and have taken an interest in my rings of late. You have several bracelets that you enjoy wearing and I think it is partly because of the one I'm always wearing. It's fun that we can share an interest in jewelry and things that make us look pretty!

- You know your ABCs pretty well, we just need to work on enunciation. You can count up to 15? I think? You love to sit at the dinner table and paint or color. And you like to carry around a pad of paper with a pencil and draw ALL kinds of squiggles and pictures. Your current notepad is completely filled with your drawings. You look like a little reporter going around adding to your notes.

- You have a daily rest time, but you take less naps these days. I'd say most weeks you nap 3-4 times which was an all-of-a-sudden reduction! You had been napping daily and then all of a sudden it was like you didn't need to anymore, but we persevered and I continued to make you lay there, so now you have circled back around to a few naps a week which I am thankful for! You play hard most days so I can tell you're exhausted about the time dinner rolls around on the days you haven't napped. You've started falling asleep in chairs and sitting at the dinner table on those days of no naps, but it sure makes for a nice evening for me when you go to bed early!

- You are a good runner! You can really pick up your legs and get them moving fast!

- You like to take pictures on my phone, so I have begun to find photos such as these

- You are potty trained and only wear pull-ups at night! You took a little longer than the boys to figure it out, but we also started you just a bit sooner, so I think you did a super job! 

Carousel Ride at the KC Zoo

Zoë Kayte, you smile more than you frown and love chocolate and have recently become really attached to me. I'm excited to take you out for your first movie theater movie and then dinner with Daddy and I and give you some special time. You have been so patient and become very independent with the addition of your baby sister. You like helping me in the kitchen, mostly stirring, and sometimes help us set the table in the evenings. Sometimes you help feed the cat and dog and you adore your cousin Miriam -- who gets to have a sleepover with you tonight!! Zoë I am so thankful for your enthusiasm in getting tasks accomplished and your willingness to help your family. You are a delight and I can't wait to see you grow and blossom into a wonderful girl as your life journey continues! Love, Mommy