Happy 3rd Birthday Leyla!

Better late than never :)

My sweet Leyla turned three on September 14th!
Here she is on her birthday with my Dad, her birthday buddy! I think its so neat that they share a birthday.

 Out for lunch at Bobby Q's on her birthday (my Dad took the picture).

And a cupcake celebration with a few friends a couple days later.

A little about 3 year old Leyla...
Our girl is a spitfire for sure! She is the perfect dichotomy of total tomboy and really girly girl. She and Connor are constantly "battling bad guys" - Leyla usually dressed as a princess or in heels. Yesterday the kids were having (Leyla's words, not mine) "an epic ninja battle." She had a ninja turtle sais sword in one hand and was cradling her babydoll in the other. She's going to be one tough mama some day, I can already tell ;) For Christmas this year all she wanted was a "princess cape" so she could properly play superheros with Connor. It had to be pink. And Santa delivered!

Snow White playing with Transformers, pretty standard scene around here.

She gives us a real run for our money. Whereas Connor is Mr. Health and Safety, Rules and Responsibility (he recently told us he wants to be a police officer when he grows up which makes perfect sense), we joke that Leyla views rules as mere suggestions (its a constant work in progress.) She's also fearless, which can be a dangerous combo.

We think she's jedi smart. She's been speaking at a conversational level since forever (people were always amazed at the things she would say when she was so little, and even now!) Her teachers tell me they get such a kick out of her and the things that she has to say. From the moment she wakes up until she goes to bed, she pretty much never stops talking and/or asking questions. We basically get a 24/7 narrative of life as Leyla. She's extremely observant and forgets nothing. We love all these things about her! She also really loves to read her books (she's not actually reading yet). She's memorized any book she's read more than once and likes to either read them to us herself or tell her own version of the story.

Her favorite princesses are Brave and Rapunzel (from Tangled), which is quite fitting. Of all the Disney princesses those two are the feisty, warrior like ones- tough cookies themselves. She's going to be the Brave princess for Halloween which she told me she chose because she "likes her weapon" (a bow and arrow.) Oh jeez. She got a Brave book for her birthday which we read over and over. She likes to turn right to the pictures of the scary bear and the battle scenes. Girlfriend is fierce.

Her world begins and ends with Connor. She can't wait for him to wake up in the morning and every time he gets off the school bus she runs to him as if they've been separated for years. They have always have been BFF's!

These pictures make me smile.

She's also very girly. She loves to play dress up (she almost always comes downstairs in the morning in a pair of dress up heels.) She'll spend the longest time playing with her babydolls, wrapping them in blankets, tucking them in, singing to them, feeding them, etc. It's so cute to watch. She's always been really good at dressing and undressing herself. Unfortunately that means she changes her clothes way too many times in a day.

With her favorite babydoll.

Leyla's loves: playing with Connor, holding and loving on Logan (she's such a sweet and gentle big sister), playing with her babydolls (Scarlett, Sophia, Jack and Punzel), playing dress up, playing superheros, "battles" with Connor, her Fancy Nancy books, all animals but especially dogs (particularly Oliver!), going for walks, riding her scooter, ballet (especially the dress up part), playing Freezedance, and shoes (girl after my own heart!)

I think she's the most beautiful girl in the world. When I think about her at this age I will remember her laughing (she has such a great smile), spinning, dancing, curls bouncing, blue eyes shining- that's my girl! This mama loves her sons but I am so thankful for getting the chance to have a daughter too. It's been even greater than I ever could have imagined.

Interview with 3 yr old Leyla:

Nickname: Beanie (only we call her that)
Best friends: Connor, Scarlett, Sadie
Class: 3 Day 3's
Teachers: Miss Daisy, Miss Patty, Miss Melissa
Favorite Color: Pink and blue
Favorite thing to do: feed goats
Favorite place to go: the camp, New York City
Wants to be when she grows up: A superhero or a Mommy (to which I told her in my book they are one and the same ;)

Happy 3rd Birthday to our amazing SuperGirl!