36th Month

[Insert explanation about how this should have been posted on Saturday, but it wasn’t because you were too tired, short, thirsty or old. Something along those lines.]

Dear Sarah,

Oh my gosh, you are now three years old. Three! Aghgh…. [Insert all sorts of sentimental babble about time passing so quickly, heart-wrenching clichés about motherhood and the smell of puppies here.]



The very first time I (hesitantly) took you in my arms I wondered who you were and what thoughts could be lurking behind your blue eyes. I wonder no more.



Who are you? Well, you can take on several different personalities and often do just that in fractions of a second.



You can be a tremendous pain in the rear. Oh, I love you dearly, sweet one. That’s why I must tell you that you can be insufferable. A skipped nap or the sharing of toys/turns/food/air/etc. can bring out a monster that I would love to cage and forget about. [Insert stories involving whining, screaming and kicking here. Note: these will not require any exaggeration.]



At other times, you will squeeze me so hard and plant the biggest, wettest kiss on my lips that…[Insert sappy stuff about angels singing, doves crying and world peace here.]



You also have a tremendous sense of humor. You crack jokes and assign nicknames at the drop of a hat. You’ve assigned your new teacher, Peter, the name Peter Patter. Your dad’s rugby friend, Corny, is now Poppy Corny. And…[Insert really, really bust-a-gut laughing funny antics here. No. Like really funny.]



You may also have a touch of OCD. There are rituals that must be followed and followed to painful degrees. In the morning,…[Insert extended, painful details about the ritual involving Caillou and vitamins that must be carried out or gravity will break here.]

[After a few more cups of coffee, insert examples of athleticism (probably a future Tour de France winner), fearlessness and amazing ability to wipe her own nose here.]



What are you thinking? Oh, I wish this were still a mystery. Seriously, Sarah, you speak clearly and incessantly. Not kidding. You talk all of the time. [Insert a detailed list of every phrase she’s ever uttered followed by photos and videos of her ever-moving mouth here.]

Life with you is nothing like I could have ever imagined. I could have never imagined something so truly fantastic. Our life is now…[Insert magical stuff like double rainbows, dancing unicorns and the completion of vital organs here.]

All my love,
your mama