Three...

is AMAZING!  I have to be honest.. I loved one, two and now three. Not a huge fan of the half birthdays.  18 months, 2 1/2, and I've heard 3 1/2 is terrible..so I'll focus now on three.  Madison has overcome her hitting stage.  I was in tears less than six months ago because I found out she and her BFF Ansley were beating each other up at school.  Ansley's mom and I were called into a conference because it had gotten so out of control that apparently in their "scuffles" they were taking out other kids.  I can seriously laugh out loud about this now... now that we are past it, but I was in tears for days!  Ansley's mom and I chalked it up to the fact that they are together so much (because we are such good friends) and that they are a lot alike.  Anyway... three is great because she is over hitting other kids.  (She would beat them into submission.  HA HA HA.. I'm kidding... sort of).  Now she is just so sweet.  Like the morning of her birthday.. I made her muffins and put a candle in it...

Madison said.. "thank you so much mama for my wonderful breakfast."  She really appreciates things and is amazing at verbalizing it.  (She has gotten really good at verbalizing not wanting Tyler to touch her things.  BUT she is quick to get him a toy of his own.)

She is much more accommodating for my photo sessions too!  She was so proud of this card her Great Aunt Penny sent her..

And y'all.. I love this photo because this is a look she gives me all the time.. just pure happiness in those eyes.  She talks with them I swear!

"Work it Madison, work it!"  I sing it to her all the time to get her to dance for me.  She started singing it to me yesterday as the theme song to "Go Diego Go" was blaring from the TV.  "Work it Mama, work it!"  (Maybe I should come up with a different phrase!  She begs me to turn that show on just so she can run around singing and dancing "GO DIEGO GO!!" 

Her birthday landed on a school day.  I was thrilled she could celebrate the actual day at school.  I made cake pops again this year.  You just can't beat the taste and adorableness!! 

I left my point and shoot with her teacher so she could take photos for me.

She shared her birthday with a little boy in her class.  Too stinking cute!

Madison says the funniest things.  I'm always curious to hear what she is going to say next.  When I got her up from her nap on her birthday she said.. "Mama.. I grew just a little bit while I was sleeping."  I swear I started crying because a part of me believed her.

Madison's dad... is the L-O-V-E of her life.  That man walks on water.  I am so thankful they have such a special relationship.  Jason stopped at the store on his way home to pick up flowers for her.

Y'all.. they had glitter on them...

His pedestal got just a little higher.

I LOVE this picture.. she is awaiting the arrival of her cupcake and we are singing "Happy Birthday" to her...

We then brought out her gift...

We got her a "RODY PONY!"  She adores this thing.  He goes everywhere with her.  She and Tyler (see him behind the curtain??) love to stand and look out the window.  I swear she did this herself.

and... he went potty with her today.  We are still struggling with the poop thing so I pulled out the potty for her to sit on while she watched "GO DIEGO GO!"  Before she sat down she grabbed RODY PONY which she has named "Bunny" to sit next to her.  I couldn't resist snapping this photo.

To Madison:  I want to bottle you up at three and save you forever.  You are so sweet and funny and full of personality.  You are beautiful on the inside and outside.  You adore your dad, your brother and your mama.  You love to run, your friends.. you love to laugh and I love that about you.  You love to help me do everything.. clean, cook, change Tyler's diaper...  You love art, books and Tinkerbell!!  You still take a good two hour nap and sleep 12 hours at night.  You love to kiss to your brother and make him laugh.  I'm so excited to watch you grow, but so sad to watch you grow.  I am so thankful God gave me you.

Happy... happy third birthday baby girl.