Today you turned 3.
This week, I went from being "Momma" to "Mom." My heart may have broken a little as I realized that you are growing up, and that there is nothing that I can do to change that.
I love most about you now that you constantly ask, "You want to play with me?" You make me feel like the most important person in the world the way you constantly crave my attention. I love watching you grow into your own person. You are such a girly girl. I love watching you swoon over pretty dresses and sparkly things. You love to have tea parties... ok, we have coffee parties.
You are sweet. You are empathetic.
I love watching you with other people. When we went to your Mother's Day Out Meet the Teacher day this year, you sweetly asked others their names, and played with new friends.
Anytime you see what you believe is an injustice, you get quite upset. Anytime we play doctor, you make sure that I am alright and tell me that everything will be ok.
You have shown me how to love and live fully - to forgive completely. Whenever I lose my temper, you always give me grace to be human. I'm still learning, and I don't have it all together. I'm still trying to figure out this mom thing, and how to make the best decisions for you, for me, for your brother, your dad and me, and us as a family. Thank you, Lucy, for loving me through my faults. You make me a better person by teaching me to constantly and repeatedly forgive.
I never want your ability to make others feel so important to change. Ever since you were a baby, you had this ability to focus on people, to study them, and to make them feel oh-so-important. I hope that never changes.
One of my happiest memories with you was right after your second birthday. Mother's Day Out helped you grow leaps and bounds in your language. It would seem like one day you were a baby, barely speaking, and the next, we were holding entire conversations that were complex and intricate. I specifically remember thinking one day, "Oh my goodness. Who is this grown up in my little girl's body?" Anyway, one day, we were at the library. I snapped you into your carseat next to your brother. I smiled at you and handed you your book. I slid into the driver's seat and looked at you in the mirror. As you thumbed through your book you casually commented, "I'm so happy, Momma." My heart melted with joy. You made me feel like I was doing something right.
In 10 years, you will be 13. Oh, Lucy. If I could give you one piece of advice for then, it would be to seek God with all your heart, all your mind, all your soul, and all your strength. Be so in love with God, that boys have to truly truly know and love God to even catch your attention. You can't change any boy, and trust me, he isn't worth it. God can take you on your most wildest adventures that no boy ever could. Chase God with everything you have and he will give you dreams and passions that you never knew could even exist.
My greatest wish for you is that you know that you can change the world. Dream big, little one. Chase your dreams and please don't settle for anything less than a crazy wild adventure of a life.
Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars and to change the world.
-Harriet Tubman
I love you, Lucy. Happy birthday.