They Say It's Your Birthday #3...

HAPPY 3RD B-DAY TO MY CUTE ADORABLE HALLIE!

I can't believe she's already 3!! I feel so incredibly blessed to have this sweet little girl. She brings so much joy to our little family. Here's some fun things about Hallie:

• She thinks she's a Mommy. Literally. It started out with 1 "Baby Peyton" (doll) and she now has 5 "Baby Peyton's!" She is quick to correct me or Aaron if we ever say anything like, "you are my sweet little girl,", "come here cutie pie", etc. She will say, "No! I a Mommy! Not a cutie pie!"
  On the same note, I as well feel that I am now a mother of 7. If she sees me get after Peyton for something, seconds later I will here, "Mommy, come get Baby Peyton. Look what's she's doing." And she doesn't give it up unless I get after her babies, give them time outs, feed them, put their clothes on, do their hair, give them snacks, etc, etc.

This is what I found while she was taking a nap. She had told me that she was going to have a baby. And she wasn't kidding. She decided she'd be pregnant while she slept and then the baby would arrive when she woke up.

• in LOVE with Dora, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (thanks to Grandpa Danny), Clifford, Olivia , Max and Ruby (or maxarudy as she calls it. thanks to Grandma Gayla) and a few others.
• loves to pretend. Always has had such an imagination so young. Her favorite things to play lately are doctor, grocery shopping, and house.
• my favorite part of the day is laying in bed with her at night before she goes to sleep and getting the giggles.
• loves to paint, make pictures, glue... anything art.
• loves the outdoors. She is ALWAYS happy when she outside doing things.

• LOVES her little sister Peyton. They are so adorable together and she has always been so excited to have her. Every morning she can't wait to go get her and hug her and show her all the toys she can play with. They are little buds. Peyton just adores her. Just about everytime we are driving in the car we have the following conversation:
  
  Hallie: Mommy, what is Peyton doing?
  Me: (I look back. Peyton is staring bright eyed with a big grin right at Hallie just waiting for her to acknowledge her.) Oh...she's just looking at you. She really likes you. Hallie: Ohhhhhh....cute. I really really really love Peyton. Hi Peyton. Hi Peyton.Hi! yea? yea? ohhh...Peyton: giggles, giggles and more giggles.
• pretty darn shy. She loves to sit and observe and take in all her surroundings before she jumps in to do anything. (although it has gotten alot better since we've moved.)
• LOVES LOVES LOVES to check the mail in hopes that she got a letter. "Mommy, think I got a letter today?" is what I hear everytime we go to there. Also loves sending them.
• has THE BEST pouty lip face. She has this mastered.
  

• loves going to parks. LOVES SLIDES, HATES SWINGS (always has).
• really into writing her name lately.
• has the sweetest heart. She is not shy about expressing her feelings. I love that just randomly throughout the day, she will say, "Hey Mommy...I really really really love you." "Hey Daddy, guess what? I love you."
• Has an AMAZING memory. She remembers things that I don't even. And is always telling me about how nice it was of so and so to give her something.
• loves to play hide and seek. Sometimes we won't even be playing and I'll just be doing the dishes or something. Then I'll hear, "Hiding!!!". And she will not come out until I find her. This is quite convenient for her when I'm asking her to go pick up her toys or do something else.
• loves to get and give surprises. This picture pretty much explains what I can find often if I tell Hallie I have a surprise for her. Before I've even come back in the room, she runs to the couch and does this. And if she wants to give me a surprise. She says, "close your eyes, hand out!"
  
  
• has such a love for learning and is very teachable. She is unlike alot of kids her age in that she will sit there for quite awhile being very content and really listen to what you are telling her. She soaks it all in.
• my little shopping bud. Loves to tell me if things are cute or ugly. Most the time she says, "ugly". But I think she just really gets a kick out of seeing my face after she says that word.
• always wants a "new" song every night before she goes to bed. If she's heard the song before she doesn't want it. I have become quite creative in the lyrics department if anyone is looking to hire :).
• favorite colors are purple and blue.
• loves counting everything.
• likes to sing "Twinkle Twinkle", "I am a Child of God" and the "Elephant Fair" to her baby Peyton's all the time. And DOES NOT like anyone to sing with her.
• always saying Please and Thank You for everything. So appreciative of everything she gets.

We had a fun day. It started with me attempting to sing "Happy Birthday" but was quickly stopped because Hallie said it was not aloud to be sung until her party. And SHE wanted to sing it. Then Daddy made Mickey Mouse pancakes and we had a fun breakfast. (Aaron didn't have to work today and Hallie said, "You got the day off cause it's my birthday!!) We went downtown to the Children's Museum and she had a blast. Then we had a little Mermaid party for her. The West's were nice to come and help us celebrate. Hallie had been pretty sad that she couldn't go back to Iowa to have a birthday party with all her friends, but was so excited when she found out her new friends Keslie and Anika would come. She LOVES these girls. They are so darling. It was a nice day. Thanks so much for everyone's phone calls, gifts, and love. She had a wonderful day and said at the end of the day, "I can't wait for my next birthday!"

Here's some pics from the day:

I'm 3!!!

Such a lady! This is what I turned around to see in the car about 2 min. after the museum.

Making the "Mermaid Birthday Cake"

Playing with her new Dora House with friends

I am so glad we have our little Hallie in the family!!