Happy 3rd Birthday, Isabella

Dear Isabella,

I think I am in denial. I can't believe that tomorrow you will be three years old. As I rocked you tonight you barely fit in my lap. It seems like only moments ago, you were an infant in my arms.

In the past six months you have really changed from my baby girl to my big girl. Six months ago when I asked if you wanted me to have another baby you would say, “Momma , you don’t need another baby. You have me. I’m your baby.” Now you call yourself a "big girl" and you are so excited to be a big sister in a few months. You tell me that you love the baby in my belly and you are so cute taking care of your baby dolls. I know you are going to be a great help when the baby comes.

Six months ago you wouldn't even consider using the potty or giving up your "nippy." Now you are potty trained and haven't asked for your pacifier in months.

Some things haven't changed though. You still think Alex hung the moon. You talk from morning til night. You are still in love with Gigi. You only want your daddy when you are hurt. You are as stubborn as can be and will not take no for an answer. You need to have your toenails painted...always! You love to cuddle. You always say, "Momma, will you cuddle with me?" And often times I walk into the playroom to find you and Alex cuddled on the sofa watching a movie. And although you two love to torment each other, your bond is and always has been undeniable. You are as much his protector now as he is yours.

One day when you look back and read this letter, there are some things I want you to know about yourself as you were turning three. You know your whole name - Isabella Grace Beynon and say your nickname is Izzy Grace. You sleep with about 20 stuffed animals and call them your "cuddly things." Your favorite movies are Snow White and Beauty and the Beast. Your favorite color is pink and you love books, especially Pinkalicious. You have a best friend named Kaitlyn. Your cousins vie for your attention and the older neighborhood kids think you are a local celebrity. I call Sophie and you "American Girl Doll and Bitty Baby." You love to help daddy in the yard. You went to ballet camp this summer with Mason and Preslee. You love to dress up and pick out your own outfits. You sit at your banity (vanity) and put on jewelry and brush your hair. You are a girlie girl. But you are also tough. You don't take any stuff from anyone and tell it like it is. And if you are in a mood watch out! You are quite the tattletale. Poor Alex can't get away with anything these days. You are learning the art of shopping. We go to the mall and our first stop is Starbucks (a chocolate milk for you and a coffee for me). And I know I am in trouble when you pick something out and say, "But Momma. I need this." (But usually I agree).

I am a little sad and a lot nostalgic tonight as I write this letter to you. You are growing up way too fast. But I am also excited to see what this year will bring. You are getting ready to start preschool and in a few months you will be a big sister. Big changes are coming your way my sweet, sweet girl, but one thing will always remain constant - you are and always will be the light of our lives. I have always said that you have a light in you that brightens the world around you. Your spunky personality and beauty both inside and out make my world a wonderful, funny, beautiful place. I love you with all of my heart.

Momma

Isabella's Strawberry Shortcake Party

When I asked Isabella a few months ago what kind of party she wanted for her birthday, she said, "A Strawberry Shortcake party." And you know how I can run with a theme. With last year's beautiful day in mind, I started planning and buying. I bought everything strawberry I could find...candy, cookies, clothing, decorations, even hand soap!! I started searching for strawberry dessert recipes. I hired a DJ and a Balloon Artist.

Everything was going according to plan. And then came Irene the hurricane. All week long I watched the weather and Irene get closer scheduled to make landfall in Maryland Saturday night. And that meant rain all day on Saturday! At first I was worried...my baby deserved a beautiful summer day just like last year. But that was not in the cards. When I told Isabella that it was going to rain on her party day, she said, "It's okay Mommy. It won't rain inside." So we cleaned out the garage and set up tables and decorated the inside of the house. We put the DJ in the mudroom - not ideal but it worked. We thought maybe people wouldn't come because of the weather - we should have known better - people filled and I mean filled our house. We ate and danced and Isabella had so much fun. She played with her friends and opened a ton of gifts and smiled when everyone crowded in the dining room to sing happy birthday to the sweetest girl in all the world.

Last night when I was putting her to bed, I asked if she had fun at her party. She said, "I loved my Strawberry Shortcake Party. Thank you for my party, Mommy."

You are welcome, Isabella. Anything for you.