life as a larson: Tea for Two and Turning Three

IT IS AMAZING HOW CERTAIN EVENTS IN YOUR LIFE REDEFINE YOU, THE DETAILS OF WHICH YOU CAN REMEMBER AS IF THEY OCCURRED YESTERDAY. THREE YEARS AGO I WAS IN A HOSPITAL BED, PATIENTLY ENDURING THE LONG AND LABORIOUS TASK OF LABOR. I WAS FOCUSED AND DETERMINED AS I KNEW I WAS ONLY HOURS AWAY (OR SO THEY TOLD ME) FROM RECEIVING ONE OF LIFE'S GREATEST BLESSINGS, A BABY, OUR FIRSTBORN.

AS YOU PREPARE FOR MOTHERHOOD, YOU ARE BOMBARDED WITH ADVICE AND PEARLS OF WISDOM FROM OTHER PARENTS. I REMEMBER HEARING REPEATEDLY THAT 1) YOU CANNOT FULLY PREPARE YOURSELF FOR THE AMOUNT AND DEPTH OF LOVE YOU WILL HAVE FOR YOUR CHILD AND 2) SAVOR EACH MOMENT, FOR CHILDREN GROW SO QUICKLY. WHILE I APPRECIATED SUCH SENTIMENTS, I DID NOT YET HAVE MY BABY GIRL AND WAS UNABLE TO FULLY GRASP THE REALITY OF THOSE TWO STATEMENTS.

THREE YEARS LATER, I AM IN AWE OF OUR LITTLE LADY AND CANNOT BELIEVE THAT 1) SHE IS OURS 2) THE LOVE WE HAVE FOR HER AND SHE FOR US AND 3) THAT SHE IS THREE. HOW IS IT THAT THE TINIEST OF HANDS CAN GROW LEARNING TO FEED, PAINT, COLOR, AND TURN THE PAGES OF A BOOK SO QUICKLY? AND, THE SWEETEST OF FEET CAN LEARN TO WALK AND RUN, GAINING MOMENTUM AND GROWING IN INDEPENDENCE RIGHT BEFORE YOUR EYES? HOW CAN TWO DARK EYES THAT INITIALLY FOCUS ONLY ON YOU SOON LEARN TO TAKE IN THE WORLD AROUND THEM, IDENTIFYING TREES, SUNSETS, AND LOCATING THE MOON. HOW CAN LITTLE LEGS THAT ONCE ONLY SQUIRMED LEARN TO JUMP, CLIMB AND DANCE? HOW CAN HAIR THAT WAS ONCE BLACK AND STANDING STRAIGHT UP GROW IN LENGTH AND CHANGE TO THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SHADE OF BROWN WITH GOLDEN HIGHLIGHTS? IT HAS HAPPENED RIGHT BEFORE OUR EYES, OUR PRECIOUS GIRL BORN AT 2:55 PM WEIGHING 7 POUNDS 8 OUNCES IS NOW 32 POUNDS OF CHARISMA, CURIOSITY, CHARM, AND DRAMA - NO LONGER OUR BABY, BUT OUR LITTLE LADY.

SHE IS BOLD - ASSERTING HERSELF IN INDEPENDENCE AND WITH DETERMINATION. SHE IS CURIOUS - ALWAYS QUESTIONING LIFE, LOOKING FOR NEW OPPORTUNITIES. SHE IS HUMOROUS - FILLING OUR HOME WITH INFECTIOUS LAUGHTER AND SILLY COMMENTARIES ON LIFE. SHE IS DAINTY - APPETITE SMALL, LIMBS LONG AND WAIST SLENDER. SHE IS COMPASSIONATE - ALWAYS ASKING WHY ANOTHER IS SAD OR CRYING, TAKING TIME TO PAUSE WHEN ANOTHER IS HURT. SHE IS INDEPENDENT - ATTEMPTING TO SOLVE ALL OF HER OWN PROBLEMS ON HER OWN TERMS. SHE IS FRAGILE - HER SPIRIT IS TENDER AND SHE BRUISES EASILY. SHE IS ENTERTAINING - OFTEN THE LIFE OF THE PARTY. SHE IS JOYFUL - WAKING WITH A SONG EACH MORNING AND LAUGHING OFTEN. SHE IS SPIRITED - CHALLENGING BOUNDARIES, VERBALIZING HER OPINIONS, AND STANDING UP FOR WHAT SHE BELIEVES IN. SHE IS A LEADER - OFTEN BEING THE FIRST TO VOLUNTEER, HAVE AN IDEA, OR ENGAGING OTHERS IN AN ACTIVITY. SHE IS HELPFUL - ASSISTING ME IN THE KITCHEN, FOLLOWING ME WITH A SPONGE, FETCHING THINGS FOR HER BROTHER. SHE IS ANIMATED - EXPRESSING HERSELF WITH LOUD VOICE, TALKING WITH HER HANDS, A SPARK IN HER EYES. SHE IS LOVING - ALWAYS BESTOWING KISSES ON HER BROTHER, TELLING US WE ARE HER BEST FRIENDS.

SHE IS SO MUCH MORE, AND AMAZINGLY SHE IS OURS.

SHE IS A PRECIOUS GIFT FROM ABOVE. FROM THE MOMENT I LAID EYES ON HER I KNEW I WAS CHANGED. SHE HAS CHALLENGED ME IN WAYS I NEVER EXPECTED CAUSING ME TO GROW IN WAYS I NEVER ANTICIPATED. SHE HAS ENRICHED OUR LIVES, INCREASED OUR JOY, FILLING US WITH HOPE, GRATITUDE, AND LOVE. JEFF AND I ARE FOREVER CHANGED BECAUSE OF HER ARRIVAL THREE YEARS AGO. WHAT A GREAT PRIVILEGE IT IS TO BE A PARENT. WHAT A GIFT FROM THE LORD. I AM BEYOND GRATEFUL FOR HER LITTLE LIFE AND THAT THE LORD ALLOWED US THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HER PARENTS.

CHARLOTTE'S BIRTHDAY TEA PARTY

ALWAYS EAGER TO BE BY MY SIDE IN THE KITCHEN