Always & Forever: McKayla is 3!!!

Our sweet McKayla is 3 today! Just the other day she reminded me that she used to be in my belly when she was a baby and it made me smile and think about how quickly these past 3 years have gone and how much she has learned in those years. She is such a sweet little girl who tries to do the right thing and always wants to "be a good girl". She has gained a new independance that might conteract that want at times, but she gets over her fits quickly and comes up to say sorry and give a hug. She very genuinley cares about other people's feelings and will always try to make you feel better if you're hurt, sick or sad. When we leave for work she always wants a kiss and a hug. She is a great big sister always trying to include Bodie in what she's doing and sharing with him (even when she really doesn't want to share something she'll usually end up letting Bodie play with it...even her new birthday toys).
She absolutely LOVES to sing and dance and is always giving us performances and asking us to video tape her (she definitely knows how to throw poses for a picture too). Her favorite songs that we sing with her are "ABCs, twinkle little star, I'm a little teapot, Itsy Bitsy Spider, Wheels on the bus, You are my sunshine and a few other songs I sing to her when she goes to bed (bedtime routine is brush teeth, read a few books, sing a song, hug and kiss goodnight). She also creates her own songs which are hilarious and include all of her friends and families names after "I love"...i.e. I love mommy, I love Daddy, I love Bodie, ect. She has a lot of energy and loves to play with other kids (she loves going to "school" to see her friends and when she sees other kids while we're out and about she says "Look, there's my friends"). She's really into reading and taking care of her babies as well as pretend play (making us meals and such). She'll happily recite her ABCs for us as well as count to 20. She's great about wearing her glasses although they have caused a few scratches from falls and bumps (they go nicely with the bruises all over her legs that come from being an active 3 year old). She loves to dress up and is very creative with her outfits. She also loves to have her nails painted and will show everyone and ask if they're pretty.
She loves to clean (hmm, wonder who she gets that from) and when she's doing something she'll make sure to get it just right and then say "That's perfect". When something happens that she didn't intend she'll say "shoot or darnit". Every morning when she gets up she comes out and says "Good Morning" loud and happy.
We love our Kayla Bear more than we could ever express and she has added so much to our lives. She makes us laugh and love more than we ever knew we could. Happy Birthday to our sweet, beautiful McKayla!!!!!!!

One of her dress up outfits after her party last weekend