3 years old and 6 months old...officially.

Miss Lena Kate is officially 3 years old.

Time does fly when you are having fun. This little girl of ours is a firecracker, there is no other way to put it. She keeps us on her toes with her bright ideas and wit. She is sweet and endearing, when she wants to be. She loves her family and friends so much. She loves to paint, her new babydoll from Granny, playing princess dress-up, and Pet Pals on her LeapPad (she still LOVES dogs of all kinds). She also loves to learn and read books, for this I am thankful. I want to record a few memorable things she has said and done lately.

First, she has really come out of her shell at children's time at church lately. You never know what she is going to say. Two Sundays ago, Pastor Patti was telling her story and right in the middle of it Lena Kate looks up at the large Christmas tree and declares, "LOOK, there is a fairy on top of the tree." Angel, Lena Kate, it is an angel!

Next story, I was changing Ainslee's diaper the other day and she asked me if I was going to put sugar on her hiney. Sugar??? Then I saw that she was staring at the powder. I think she has a future in the kitchen working with powdered sugar. Speaking of hineys...I asked Lena Kate if she hurt her hiney when she fell and she said, "No, I hurt my bottom."

Back to Christmas: She said that Santa was coming to see her and she was going to ride on his sleigh with him. I wish she could!

Every night she says her prayers and what started as praying for rain and for Ainslee, Tyler, and Cinco to be healthy has turned into praying for Cinco to have some rain, and for Tyler to have some rain and for Ainslee to be healthy. Hehe, it is kind of like the telephone game with herself.

We also laugh because EVERY time a football game is on she will say, "on your mark, get steady, go!" when each play starts. Do you like the combination of on your mark, get set, go and ready , set, go? Don't try to correct her, the girl knows what she is saying. She also thinks that every football game is the Gig'em Aggies. I like that :) She will randomly tell Lane, "GIG'EM AGGIES DAD!"

Christmas Eve Santa came to see her at Granny's house and after he left, she declared it THE BEST CHRISTMAS EVER.

I hope she never loses that zest for life and all things good. I love her personality, it just shines and shines. She is also a great big sister and loves Ainslee so much-and the love is mutual.

Speaking of little sister.

She is growing up on us. Where has the 6 months gone? We love our little sister so much. Ainslee is a precious, blue eyed, one dimpled darling that likes to scream at Mama when I put her down periodically throughout the day. She is fine sometimes, and others she will let me know she is NOT ok with the situation.

Her personality is starting to show as well. She is a sensitive girl and I love that she loves her Mama. She is petite at 13lbs 10 oz and 25.5 inches at 6 months. The girl is also on the move. If she is on carpet she can scoot/crawl wherever she is determined to get to. When she gets tired, she "swims" and starts to scream...again. She also likes to coo and talk when she is in a good mood. I love the sweet sound of her happy voice. I can't believe she is already on the move. She gets up on all fours, but doesn't crawl in that fashion yet, rather pushes herself along with her feet. She is a champion sitter, but often chooses to learn forward so she can move into "crawling" position. She is every starting to try to pull up on the coffee table-watch out world, how can it be?! She is finally eating cereal but doesn't just love it. She spit out the vegetables and fruit I tried, so I'm going to stick with cereal for a bit longer. Miss Ainslee likes to wake up several times a night still to eat which is wearing Mama out, which is why if it is after 4 am, she ends up in our bed. She doesn't like to go back to sleep sometimes and I'm so tired at that point, I lose my willpower. Oh well. I do like to snuggle with my bug and I guess I'll break that habit, eventually.

She is starting to share her smiles more and more these days and be a little more content playing on the floor with Lena Kate. If Lena Kate is playing her LeapPad, Ainslee will "crawl" over and start grabbing it. Of course, LK is none too thrilled about that! The baby has very grabby hands and wants everything that is not hers. She has also really taken notice of Missy lately. I think we may have another dog lover on our hands. Our sweet baby is growing up so fast, and I just pray that God protects her and her big sister always. I wish I could give them the world, but know having the world is not important, having love and Christian guidance is. I love them with all my heart and hope, pray and have faith that God helps me with the rest.