Ode to Liv

Today, my baby girl turned three years old.

Where the time has gone, I have no idea. Yet....here she stands before me, full of life, full of love, full of spirit...no longer a little babe.

And how she makes my life more full.

Livvy touches my heart in so many ways. Too many ways to count: Her fierce independence and spunk that is so precisely balanced with her keen ability to show compassion and feeling at such a young age. Her bright little mind that has always been working three steps ahead of what I've expected. Her energy. Her incessant chatter about things real and imaginary. Her smile. Her inability to not smile when she's trying to hold a grudge. And the hair. You've gotta love the hair.

Some snippets to illustrate:

Setting the stage: Mom walks in to bathroom. Discovers Liv has consumed much foam soap. Bubbles runneth over.

M: Liv, whatcha doing?

L (matter of factly): Well, (her favorite intro phrase) I think I needed to wash my hands today.

Well okay then. Thorough is good.

I love that I NEVER know what I'm going to find when I walk around the corner...on the coffee table....who knew that Dixie cups could be so purposeful AND so ornamental at the same time?

The imagination. Pictured here is the Little People Dance 'n Twirl Palace that Camille got for Liv tonight. Needless to say, birthday wishes were fulfilled before the candles were even ignited. I could have listened to your chatter all night about Princess Cinderella, her magic spelling wand, the King, sitting down to breakfast, the princess not feeling good and having to lay down in bed and being helped upstairs by the King.....

I love that we went to Red Robin tonight and you were in your glory with an ice cream sundae, a shake, being sung to by the Red Robin himself, and getting to give him a high five to boot.

Never let your passion wane, little girl. It makes the world go-- as you would say--round and round and round and round (complete with hand motions).

Never let that smile fade. Never stop telling us what's on your mind. Never stop being so sensitive to others.

Love, love, love you with all my heart, Livvy Lu Lu.