Weight: 29 pounds, 2 ounces (33%)
Height: just shy of 3 ft (24%)
3 year old birthday interview (parent comments in parentheses):
What's your full name? Caroline Jill Smooch
What's your favorite color? Pink
What's your favorite food to eat? Broccoli
(??? This was news to us! She does like broccoli fine, but her actual favorite food to eat is more like yogurt or snacks of any kind--especially fruit snacks. This girl wants to eat ALL the time.)
What's your favorite TV show? Daniel Tiger
(and Little Einsteins and Sofia the First. She loves to watch shows and movies)
What do you like to do outside? Ride my bike
(She's getting quite fast and confident on her balance bike!)
Who is your best friend? Addison
What do you love to do with daddy? Play a game
(She can hold her own with Memory, Uno & Candyland)
What do you love to do with mommy? Have a birthday party
What's your favorite thing to drink? Milk
(and soda if it's an option--especially if it's a "daddy soda")
What's your favorite kind of candy? Chocolate
(She's not picky. She'll eat any candy!)
What's your favorite thing to do with Emmett? He doesn't want to do anything with me.
(That's not
always true--they do play outside a lot together...)
What's your favorite thing to do with Norah? Play with her.
The birthday celebration:
This year for Caroline's birthday we were lucky to have Aunt Annie and Khalil in town. We decorated her cake in the morning, made final party preparations and then headed out to Burlington in the afternoon. Burlington city park has an area with a handful of inexpensive kiddie amusement rides in addition to a playground. Caroline, Emmett and Khalil had lots of fun on the boats, cars, airplanes and carousel.
Grandma Schmutz joined us for dinner at Chick-fil-A, then Connie & Chris Hurt met us at the house for cake, ice cream, singing and presents. The best part of the night was definitely singing
Sweet Caroline before we sang the happy birthday
song. Caroline sang out the chorus loud and strong. It was super darling.
She hit the jackpot on birthday presents. Grandma and Annie got her a giant stuffed pony and a doctor kit. She also really loves her back pack and umbrella. My favorite gift was her new ballet leotard--she looks so cute in it and I can't wait to get her signed up for a little dance class.
After weeks of anticipation, I think this little girl's birthday wishes were fulfilled. Can't wait to see what adventures await our new 3-year-old!
A few more things about Caroline, newly turned 3:
• She is quite the strong-willed child. She is stubborn and defiant, yet so eager to be a helper. In fact, asking her to be in charge of something or help with a grown up task is a great way to distract her from anything she is upset about. She wants to do all the things on her own--pour her cereal, brush her teeth, get down the snacks, etc.
• She has some fun language things going on right now. She frequently adds an extra syllable to many one syllable words. Maybe it's the southerner coming out in her? It mostly comes out in words with a short "a" sound--iPad (i-pay-ud), dad, grass, snack, at, etc but shows up in others too like there (they-uh) and down (day-own). My favorite word she says is "eligator" instead of "elevator." Also "twu-wuhl" for "twirl."
• She loves to sleep in mom and dad's bed and always wants someone to lay by her while she falls asleep. While quiet time happens every afternoon, she rarely naps any more--maybe once a week is all.
• She is physically wild and adventurous. She is constantly jumping, climbing, rolling and spinning. Although she has pretty good body control, she has a clumsy streak in her that causes her to fall while doing the simplest of activities. Consequently, this little girl's body is COVERED in bruises. Seriously. It's shocking even when you're used to seeing her like this.
• She is great at imaginative play when she's in the tub. Her dinosaurs and little people can play for a solid hour. Out of the tub, it is quite a bit harder to get her to play on her own.
Bruises!
