To My Dear 3 Year Old,

Today, Monet, is your 3rd birthday. 3! Now, that's amazing. Just like you.

You never cease to amaze me in everything you do. Where do you learn this stuff? How did you learn to talk so very clearly and who taught you to use all those words? Was it I? Or daddy? I have seriously no idea.

We've had a fabulous year with you which has hopefully taught you about the good things in life. We live in an amazing part of the world and seen many lovely places which I hope you remember. You've been to the Daintree Rainforest a few times. Whenever we ask you what you want to do on a particular day, you sometimes say "We'll go to the Daintree". That's how come I know you like it there.

You've got an amazing memory so that's how come I know you'll remember the places we've taken you.

You are 9 times out of 10, wonderful in public. Impeccable in fact. People are always saying just how well behaved you are, but they don't know you in your home environment do they? *heehee*

If you could, you would spend all day in your nighty. All day. It is a struggle sometimes to get you dressed. Sometimes you're still lazing about in your nighty till 11am.

And if you could, you would spend all day on the swing across the road at the playground. You love the swing. Even at Playgroup you spend half of our time there on the swing. And everyone knows that we can be found at the swing. The past week we've been practising you using the 'big kids' swing, rather than the little kid swing with the belt. You are getting really good at using the slides and climbing the play equipment.

Speaking of climbing, you love to climb. Pity it is the lounge suite you climb and whoever is sitting there had better watch out! You love organising your little chairs in a row and climbing from chair, to chair, to chair. Or climbing from your bed, over the bed rail, onto the chair, onto a little chair, to the floor. You'll be in your room and will be constantly doing that. Backwards and forwards.

You enjoy singing. You told me in the car that Madonna's song 'Sorry' was your favourite song. And you love 'Monsoon' by Robbie Williams. And I cannot forget 'Dirty Harry' by the Gorillaz. You sing quite well to these songs. But not as well as you can sing the Alphabet song (which I only sang to you once and you remembered it!) or 'I'm a Little Teapot'. You are beginning to like Justine Clarke's kiddies songs too. You've requested her CD because of the 'Watermelon' song which got stuck in your head. (And mine too for that matter!)

Dora the Explorer, you discovered this year. Auntie Sarah gave you a DVD of Dora for your 2nd birthday and you haven't looked back. Dora, Dora, Dora the Explorer. She has taught you numerous words in spanish and you can count to 7 in spanish, which I am amazed by. You were very excited to meet Dora at Dreamworld.

You love books. Any books, all books. I often find you in your room, sitting in your cubby, reading to yourself. Favourite books this year include 'Biscuit Bear', 'The Snail and The Whale', 'Lulu loves the Library', 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt' and 'Hairy Maclary'. I've made myself a promise this coming year to buy you a good book, once a month. Books are wonderful and I know that you know this.

But most of all this year, you have discovered cooking. Mixing, baking, making a mess and licking the bowl. Both Grandma and Nanna know this because they've given you baking gear for your birthday. Sometimes you know I don't have the patience which I apologize for. You're just trying to help. Sorry my dear.

I see a lot of me in you, but most of the time you are so much like your father it makes me laugh.
You're a sweet, intelligent and good natured girl. Except when you get grumpy and boy, do you get grumpy! You get all cross and say "Don't say that", which daddy always replies "Don't say, Don't say that", which daddy and I always laugh at and then you get more cross and say "Not funny!! Don't laugh" and then we see a little smile which you try to hide.

Sometimes you'll come up to me and say "I love you" for no reason at all, followed by a hug. We give each other a hug everyday. And we practise words each day too. You love saying 'igloo', followed by 'bum burp' which always cracks us up. (Thanks to your Grandad for THAT word) You love toilet humour, you seriously do, which make your daddy and I laugh every time. Skiddies and Mr. Pong for example...

May your 3rd year be full of laughter, hugs and kisses and good times Monet. I love you very, very, very much. Thanks for being you, you beautiful little girl who amazes me.

Always,
Love Melody Mummy xxx

And because it is 'Falshback Friday', here is a photo of you, on the day you were born, 3 years ago today. *smile*