Pig - Super 3!

Pink Pig at the LA Natural History Museum

My dearest little Pink Pig,

Just as I was getting used to 2, you turned 3. I looked back at your baby photos and videos and it just blows my mind. My memories of your early days are still so fresh. I marvel that one day I might look at you, perhaps when you're a mother yourself and still see that image of the yelling baby that was lifted up that evening in November. Daddy and I refer to that moment as "the screaming wig" because girl, you had quite the curly tuft of hair on you and it was the first thing we saw, that dark mop of hair and your yelling mouth. You are our firstborn and I'll always remember that anticipation...nothing can prepare you for that moment.

Year 2 in a nutshell:

• You mastered the potty! Just as we were thinking it was going to be an uphill battle, you decided one day that you were going to use the toilet damn it. Now Daddy and I are awakened every morning by your little voice - "Daddeeee, I neeed to go peeee-peeee....(repeat)" or these days, "Daddeee, open the [safety] gate for meeeee [because I have to go peeee-peeeee]."

• You are on your way to a big girl bed. Daddy removed one side of your crib when you started climbing out of your crib regularly. You gave us a turn when one morning we heard a soft thump followed by the padding of little feet and then our door swung open to reveal your twinkly little face. You rolled off your bed only once and since then have been a happy little sleeper....but.....

• You generally get up out of bed twice each night before finally dropping off. And then again we hear, "Daddeeee, I neeeed to go peee-peeee...." and find you standing in front of the baby gate we attached in your doorway every night to avoid your nocturnal perambulation.

• You love school and you are a very social little thing. Your teachers say that your the first one to speak up and other parents in the classroom tell us that you like to announce their arrival to pick up your classmates. When I'm having one of my low days, I am always cheered by the little twinkle-eyed expression on your face when you greet me at pick up time.

• Every parent secretly thinks their child is brilliant, Daddy and I are no exception. You love working puzzles and you never cease to amaze us with your ability to visualize the completed picture. I am a small detail person myself and I have always envied those who can look beyond the small details to see the overall picture so your propensity delights me to no end.

• You are super strong-willed. You're a woman who knows what she wants. You generally prefer to do things on your own and will be quite, ahem, vocal if Daddy and I make the dire mistake of trying to help. While a tad inconvenient in the mornings when we're trying to rush everyone out the door, I do love the spunk.

• You have a complicated relationship with your brother these days. You love him, that's clear, you greet him everyone like a long lost friend and you get quite possessive should any other little person try to show him any love.

• Your eating habits have become....discerning to say the least. You're still the savory princess, you love yourself pizza (you ate slice after slice of pizza covered in prosciutto), myul-chee (dried anchovies) with rice and ghim (dried seaweed), chicken (really any meat), edamame beans (mommy's best legume friend), yogurt drinks, oh and did I mention you ate chicken feet with your boo-boo at a dimsum restaurant? It was a proud moment for me. You took one look at those feet standing in the dish and said, "chicken" and then proceeded to eat like crazy. It was awesome. BUT....veggies and fruit must be pureed and hidden in a lot of pureed pear.

• This has been the year of "DORA THE EXPLOR-A" as you like to refer to her. You and I went to see Dora at the Nickelodeon Storytime Live and you sat there stunned by the sights of a real live Dora and Boots dancing and singing on stage. And I sat there stunned as I watched a bunch of little kids screaming and carrying on like the Beatles had just taken the stage. You like to say that you are Dora and that your brother is Boots and actually the resemblance is quite uncanny.

Happy 3 little thing, our hearts just burst with love for you.

XoXo,

Mommy