My big three year old

How in the world is she already three??? I have no idea but it is bittersweet. I am finding it incredible to discover who she is as her personality is becoming more and more defined. At the same time, I am losing my little baby!

Here are some of my favorite things about Maya:

- Her imagination is thriving. And she still does not stop talking. The nice thing about these two qualities are that she can tell herself stories for hours. She will sit in the car and have entire make believe conversations with whatever she happens to have in her hands. Her stickers have a personality and talk to each other. Toy people/animals/fish play together. She makes up entire scenarios with them and acts them out. I love to just sit back and listen to the things she comes up with.

- She loves singing and can remember the words to songs after just hearing them a couple times.

- Her obsession with dinosaurs continues. She can name them and she can tell you what each one eats. She also loves bubbles, stickers, hair clips (which she calls hair cuts) and any sort of art project.

- All of her stuffed animals and baby dolls are named either Maya or Laurel.

- Her class at school had a scavenger hunt a few weeks ago.  Since then, every time we go on a walk or drive in the car she carries around a pretend map.  Sometimes this map is invisible, sometimes she picks random pieces of paper to use.  She makes sure to check the map to see which way we should go so we don't get lost.

- She is very strong willed, which has led to quite a few stand offs between her and myself. I need to work a bit on my patience and remind myself that I am dealing with an irrational three year old. Pick your battles has become my new mantra. When she is really mad at me, she forcefully tells me I am no longer her friend.

- I have said it before, but she is an amazing big sister. She is also an incredible big cousin. She treats all the little ones in the family with such care and is a pro at getting them to smile and giggle. She has made up a song that she sings to Laurel every time Laurel is crying. It always includes the following: calm down, breathe, relax, stop crying, it will be ok.  Sometimes her song even works!

 I love you, my Maya (which is always followed by I love you, my Mommy).