Izzy at 3 1/2!!!!!

I really cannot believe my child is officially 3 1/2. Seems so much older to me than 3 ....even though it is a mere 6 months. I have been so slacking in doing updates on my girl that I wanted to be sure to do one this week

Where to start miss Izzy! You have blossomed into such a special little girl and not just to us. I get endless comments from friends, neighobors and even strangers about what a sweet, beautiful little girl you are! (you save your most sassy, tantrum moments for the comfort of home and mommy and daddy, although for the most part you don't have many)

We have finally fully potty trained in teh last month or so. The pull ups are no longer needed for pooping and you finally go on the potty...although you still really only go at home on your little potty you refuse to go anywhere else...but hey it is serious progress!! You have also gotten really good at wiping yourself and washing your hands all by yourself.

This is a common theme we here lately ..."I do it all by myself"--You can get dressed all by yourself and even put on most of your shoes....you can get on the swing all by yourself..even the higher one...although you haven't chosen to figure out the pumping of your legs. You often help yourself to a cheese stick in the fridge all by yourself or your favorite dessert popcicles including going to get yoru own sisscors and cut it open yourself. You have also started "reading" all by yourself and it is so funny to hear you read your books to me (or the cat or a favorite stuffed animal) You have a fantastic memory and you can often recite the books almost word for word depending on teh book.

You have been doing a bit better at night time, you still go to bed great, after your stories and then mommy or daddy laying in your bed for just a few minutes...but you like to come down into our room in the middle of hte night. Lately you have been doing better and staying in your own bed until about 6am and then I put you in our bed and you snuggle up with me and fall back asleep. You are definately starting to take after me...you like to sleep in (as long as it is in our bed and I am with you)

You love to dress up, and you are very into ballerina's right now..I guess I should think about putting you in dance class. Yesterday you found a new dress up outfit i had bought for you about easter time but never gave you and you wore it almost all day long, even to a friends house for a play date. Sure enough this morning you had to put it back on to go to Nana's. Your other favorite hting is lip gloss. You LOVE lipgloss and insist on taking it with you most places.

I love listening to your perspective on things and espeically when you get really excited and animated telling a story and you flare your arms and roll your eyes. You remember everything to the point it is almost scary. The best is when we are just relaxing at home and you will come sit by me and say " Lets talk mommy" I will say what do you want to talk about, then you will say something like"Lets talk about bugs", Bugs dont' actually bite" Don't know where this is coming from but you love to use the word actually..another favorite lately is amazing...this mornign on teh way to nana's you were looking at the sun as it was coming up and behind clouds it looked like it was changing colors so you said "look at the sun, that is amazing!"

You love to play with the big girls next store much more so than the other kids your age. Last week you spend the entire day next store with the 9 year old and had the very best time playing anything from makeover to collecting grass and rocks pretending that they were items from teh grocery store. The 9 year old also exposed you to a few cartoons you don't normally get to watch like Spongebob and Pheineas and Ferb...

You are the sweetest most affectionate girl lately. You love to give hugs and kisses and tell us that you love us. Of course same goes for your grandparents who can't get enough.

We are so blessed to have you as our daughter and I love getting to be your mom and watch you grow up into such a special girl!

There is more I want to say but everytime i go to write these i forget all the cute thinks you have said or done that I want to add..so hopefully I will add more as I think of it.