The Oh So Lovely Three's

I had heard of the terrible twos. And, actually, before Sahara turned two, I was preparing myself for them. Wishing we could skip the two age. Worrying about what was to come. When it did come, I wondered why I had worried. What was so bad about two? Was my child an exception? Yes, I 'm sure that was it. Our daughter was just an angel. End of story...

At least until age three came upon us. Now that is the age that is the hardest. Why no one warns of this age, is beyond me. Independence, I can deal with. Sass, drama, and attitude are a whole different thing. I think we are coming out of it. So, I guess it's just about from age 3-3 1/2 that is the hardest. So far.

She is hilarious, and has an imagination like no other. All this week, she has pretended she is at the beach. She gets on her bathing suit, slaps some lotion on, pretending it's sunscreen, grabs her beach ball and heads to the living room where we have picnics on the beach and watch the waves, which has millions of sharks and crocodiles in it. This is the girl I love to play with. The other part of this girl is something else! At.ti.tude.

The stance which has her hip out with the hand resting on the hip, she has it dooowwnn. We see it often. Many times with the toe tapping and head tilted with a true attitude look on her adorable, petite face.

And, oh, the things she comes up with! Where she gets these things, I have no idea, but she is totally cracking us up, constantly.

When she finds something, that she really wasn't looking for, but more stumbles across, I hear, "I have been looking for this for ages!"

She was trying to show me, the other day, that she could flip upside down on the couch and put her feet on the wall; safe, I know. She tried several times without success. She finally said, "I have to put my breath back in." (Meaning, she has to catch her breath). She sat on the couch, opened her mouth as wide as it would go for 3 seconds, and then said, "Okay, I'm good." And, tried flipping again.

A few weeks back, we had a baby shower to go to. She was on the couch in the sitting room and I walked out, dressed up and ready to go. I hear Sahara say, "(gasp) Beautiful!" "Thank you," I reply. She then says, "Ooh, ummm, not you. I was talking about this flower." (pointing to a flower on a plant we have in the house.) Oh, thanks.

Last month, Ja and I heard Sahara singing a made-up song, which she does all day. I told Ja how much I loved to hear her little high pitched voice sing her little songs. Just a half hour later I had her in the bathtub. I was leaning over the tub to wash her hair. Just inches from her face. She starts singing in her tiny, high-pitched voice. "When I'm mad at my mom, I hate her. And I think she's dumb." I really had to stifle my laugh and explain to her why songs like that are not kind and to sing something a bit nicer.

Doing some fixing up around here, and while it was still dry out, I painted our front door a cranberry red. Sahara begged to help, so she had the paint brush and I had the roller. We finished up, let it dry and hung it back up. She told me over and over how beautiful it looked. How much she loved it. Loved my door. Just a few minutes later, I did something to make her mad, can't remember what. Probably told her she couldn't do something she wanted, or thought was a great idea.

Anyways, she was so angry and sobbing. She was trying to tell me something, and between the sobs, I couldn't understand what she was trying to say. I told her to take a breath and try again. "I (sob) don't like (sob) your door!" Ah, got it.

Sahara loves weddings. And, absolutely loves to pretend to get married. She gets dressed up and has Ja put on a tie and then we have to have some music on and she walks down the 'isle' and I initiate the wedding. And, on Sunday, she touched my stomach and asked if there was a baby in it. I told her no. She told me that she wanted another baby, but this time a boy. "Really? You want a brother?" I asked. "Yep, and we can name him Husband." Apparently, she needs someone new to marry.

 Sahara, you are such a crack up. You are so special to us and our sweet first born. You have a beautiful heart and quick wit. You are sweet, incredibly smart, and beautiful. Your entire face lights up with your smile and you absolutely love to snuggle. You are always talking, singing, and dancing is your favorite. We love you like crazy!

A daughter is a bundle of firsts that excite and delight, giggles that come from deep inside and are always contagious, everything wonderful and precious and your love for her knows no bounds.
-- Barbara Cage