Dearest Butterfly

Everyone,

Butterfly is now 3 and a half years old this month and I thought it would be fun to do a little update on her like I do with the boys each month. When they get older, it seems they don't change so fast but they do change. With alarming rapidity. So here is my update, in letter form.

Dearest Butterfly,

You are now 3 and a half years old. Wow, has it really been that long since you came into our lives small with a head full of dark hair? You have changed so much since that moment we first saw you. Lately, at bed time, you have been asking to hear this story. Of how the doctor put you on my belly and you were crying really loudly. How when I said "Hi Baby Girl." you looked right up at me and calmed right down. How the nurses said you were so quiet after that. How much you looked like me and how I noticed right away you had my hands and feet. At this point, you pipe up and say, "But I have Daddy's eyes!" The color may be Daddy's, honey, but the shape is all me. Or my family's. You are an interesting mix of me and Daddy. We each see things different in you.

One thing is for sure, you have your own mind. You demand to do things your own way. When we took you to vote for our new president this year, you played with two boys at the park before we went inside. Daddy said that you were trying to tell them what to do, and they were not amused to be swept up in your game. But they were. (Side story, you came back to me in line and said, "I played with kids! But they didn't say hello." "Really?" "Yes, they said something else. Um, la la or something like that." "Oh, hola." "Yeah, hola.") Your imagination is amazing. You think of the most interesting things at the most interesting times. You are never far away from a story or a game. You do get mad if someone doesn't play by your rules. And you can't be dissuaded from playing it your way.

You have a best friend, Vinny. He is 5 and I think you are taller than him. But you both have bright blond hair and play so well together. I think a lot of people think I have two sets of twins when he is with us because you guys are just so good together. You always greet each other with a huge hug, almost always falling over in your exuberance to see each other. You are also pretty popular at church. Your teacher says you are the ring leader, sweeping everyone into your world of play. It's going to be a good skill with two baby brothers.

You are a little perturbed that the brothers are starting to play with toys now. You always want to play with what they have. Having two of them just means you bounce back and forth between them and take their toys. We had to institute a rule that you offer them a new toy before you take the one they are playing with. It seems to work well when you remember to do it. You osculate between wanting to be a baby and insisting you are a big girl. We have put up the high chairs for the boys and you insist on eating breakfast in it every morning. Sometimes you want to switch between the chairs mid meal.

You are a good helper, even though you tell people you are not. It's nice to have you get more wipes for the container or give Professor his pacifier if I've got my hands full. You also want to help with inconvenient tasks, like sweeping the floor. Or cleaning the bathroom. Most days I let you help and sweep again when you take a nap. You love to clean the toilet with the little brush and are fairly good at it. You take your dishes to the sink after a meal (after asking "May I be excused?" So cute!) and you unload the clean silverware into the drawer. You love to help me make quiche and baby food.

I am just amazed at all the things you know. You know your numbers to 30, all the letters on sight and how they sound. You can recognize a few words. I don't think it will be long before you are reading. You have several books memorized. You know a lot of songs and enjoy singing in church. You know who each of your brother's are and rarely get it wrong. You know your city, your state, your country, your world. You know your area code. You also know how to push my buttons and drive me up the wall.

You are one amazing little girl. I look forward to seeing what you do with your life. Because whatever it is, it's going to be amazing.

Love,
Mommy

Safire