Three years old!

We now have a three year old! I think this is my favorite age so far. Lauren is smart, funny, loving, caring, kind, friendly, and just a joy to be around. We are so in love with our little girl!
She has been talking excitedly about turning three for months now and had the design of her birthday cake down to a tee. When asked she would say " I am going to have a pink birthday cake with green frosting in the middle, pink frosting on the outside, star sprinkles and a pink butterfly... a floating pink butterfly". Now that's specific! Lauren had been so excited for her party and when everyone finally showed up she was laughing and smiling saying "you all came!!!" like she was pleasantly surprised. It was so cute watching her excitement!

Here are the answers to her recent birthday interview (I video taped her but it's over 5 minutes long!):

Love how we'll be able to see how her answers change year to year!

Stopping to smell the flowers.

She has really started coming out of her shell over the past few months and is becoming less shy. She loves going to Sunday school and I'm excited for her to start pre-school this fall. I think she's really going to love it. She thrives off being praised which was a little hard for her when Noah was getting a lot of it when he started walking. She still does great as a big sister and has really started to toughen up and stand her ground (or climb to higher ground) when needed.
Lately everything is about books, princesses (favorite being Cinderella), the color pink, dancing and singing, and playing outside. Lauren has really started to like swimming this summer and is becoming more confident in the water with her floaties. One of her favorite things to do at the water park this summer is going down the toddler slide. She's starting to get better at riding her tricycle and scooter and we've gotten her excited about wearing her helmet which I'm happy about. Naps are hit or miss and she still takes one a few days a week. We use a clock that turns green when she can get out of bed in the morning and it works pretty well, she's really so good about her big bed. This girl still loves her fruit and veggies and it's become a little hard to get her to eat meat lately. Milk and water are still the primary things she drinks but she does love juice. Lauren is really awesome about using the potty and I honestly can't remember her last accident. She's dry through most naps but still does wake up wet in the morning. Her recent stats at the doctor were - Wt: 33# 8oz (77%), Ht: 3ft 2in (69%). Lauren is starting to wear some 4T stuff now and loves to share her opinion of what to wear. I'm having fun being able to do her hair now that it's longer and she's so good about letting me do it for her! Lauren is such a well behaved little girl who just loves to please. She is already showing a love for Christ and really enjoys when we read her Bible to her and pray with her every night. We are still working on praying and saying our thanks to God which I think will come more with confidence and practice.

Here are some pics from her family party (her smiles are so great!):

Happy birthday special girl!

Her cousins were excited to help!

The birthday card is singing my name!!! 

Modeling her Cinderella dress

Daddy... will you dance with me?

Lauren and her grammy

Lauren and her nana

Lauren and her great grandparents

Her new favorite skill to learn

Despite the cold temps (only in the mid 60's),  opa heated the pool and we were still able to enjoy! She's getting so brave jumping into the water :)

She loves her daddy!

Today on her birthday we greeted her first thing with singing Happy Birthday followed by presents and a pancake breakfast. We had a laid back morning after daddy went to work and then drove out to Wheaton to visit him & see where he works. The 4 of us went out for Brick pizza (delicious!) followed by Graham's ice cream. It was a wonderful way to spend our morning and the kids loved visiting daddy and watching the trains go by!

Birthday pancake breakfast!

Birthday present from mommy, daddy, and Noah. Love her face!