Dear Autumn

Dear Autumn,

Where to begin... It's been a rough past few months. I find comfort in knowing that your behavior is normal for most three year olds, but it's still difficult and sometimes I wonder if I'm totally failing. From the whining, the drop-to-the-floor random tantrums, your defiance... nothing anyone with years on me in the motherhood game hasn't already dealt with. We're both doing our best and we'll get there. But please don't let this be a preview of your teenage years, k?

While the crying is more rampant than in any of my letters past, your maturity and intellect is just exploding. The conversations we have are hilarious. Your vocabulary is all over the place. It shocks me with the words you use and the ideas you come up with. You're such a smart person in such a small package.

You love to talk on the phone. Whether it's pretend or real, you're always insisting we call Nana and Grandpa.You look forward to the minute Daddy comes home and immediately you try to whisk him off to the basement full of toys, before he can eat or have a second thought.

• Your favorite foods: chicken nuggets, soda, chocolate milk, and oatmeal.
• Your favorite shows: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Max and Ruby, Team Umizoomi
• Favorite things to play: My Little Pony, "picnic", Princess Dress-Up
• Bedtime: 7:30PM
• Wakeup: 8AM
• Potty Training: You're potty trained! We're still having accidents here and there, but you are diaper free! At last!
• Weight: 31 pounds

You're such a great big sister. Whenever Brody isn't around you want to make sure he's okay. He laughs so, so hard when you dance for him or throw Ernie up and down. There was one time where I had to go to the store and buy a few things, including your favorite - oatmeal. Daddy put Brody down for a minute and he started to cry. You came up to him, patted him and said, "Don't cry. It's okay. Mama went to get me oatmeal but she'll be back. It's okay. Don't cry." You're just too cute!

It's different everyday. I feel like I see you change and get older each day with something new or something funny that you're doing. It's fun to watch. Sure, it can be exhausting, but I wouldn't have it any other way. You're mine, all mine.

-Mom