3

Happy birthday, Kenley! I can't believe that you are 3 years old already. You are so sweet and dear to me. I love you so much!

We had your birthday party yesterday with your grandparents. You were so cute all day about your birthday. (We just let you think yesterday was your birthday since we won't really be celebrating it today.) Anyway, all day you'd yell to Isaac and Jack from wherever you were and say, "Come over to mine birthday party up here guys!" Then when everyone got here for your real party, you hardly said a word...except when you made a point of asking Isaac if he had eaten all his birthday cake.

I love the way you sing to yourself. It's so telling of what is going on in your little mind. You sing whatever comes into your head and you get very dramatic about it. I've caught you singing happy birthday to yourself all week. Your singing makes me laugh and it is truly one of my favorite sounds.

You're quite the climber. And you're very sneaky about it. I've always wondered how you get onto the corner cupboard - the one up really high where I keep the treats. Yesterday I found out, by watching from around the corner, that you open up the bottom cabinet, climb the shelves like a ladder, and then when you get onto the cupboard, you reach down and close the cabinet door. I guess I need a new hiding place for the candy. Because you can climb up there, you eat way more candy than I'd like. But, I'm comforted by the fact that you are thoughtful because you always grab candy for Isaac and Jack.

I've been babysitting recently and every morning you get up and say, "Are mine friends here?" You love it when Carson and Morgan come over and you love to play hostess - showing them around the house and making sure that everyone follows you. It makes me laugh because Carson is Isaac's age but you boss him around just like everyone else.

I love the way you talk. Your words are so deliberate and you have a little bit of a drawl. You speak slowly and clearly and your face is very animated when you talk. Yesterday morning I made blueberry muffins for your special breakfast. You came in the kitchen and said, "What are you cooking, Mommy?" I answered blueberry muffins and you cocked your head to one side and said, "I don't want blueberry muffins for breakfast, Mommy." It made me laugh (inside) because you weren't rude about it, but you were not going to "settle" on your birthday.

You are definitely a girl who knows what she wants, and my heart truly hopes that you get it all. I love you, baby doll!