The Ireland's: AVERY IS THREE!!

11.27.2013

AVERY IS THREE!!

Our big 3 year old!

It's hard to believe that our baby girl is three years old! I remember being pregnant with Avery and being so anxious to meet her. She is my baby and always will be. I can't believe she is three years old and we are having a blast watching her grow.

Avery is the most verbal three year old I have ever met! She doesn't always use the correct grammar, but often times she does. She has recently started having true conversations when she talks to her daddy or grandparents on the phone and is always wanting people to tell her about their day. It's the sweetest. Moving to Illinois and having to meet new people has been much easier with Avery. She isn't afraid to talk to someone she doesn't know- for example, on the playground she will walk right up to a child or their parent and ask them their names and then introduce herself. I have learned a lot from my three year old regarding stepping out of my comfort zone. :) Her memory is unbelievable! She shocks us daily with the things that she remembers. She brought something up from 8 months ago and I was floored! She has the ability to remember EVERYTHING! Incredible! I love her more than words can express.

Don't get me wrong, there are days that she really tests my patience.... Three year olds are learning to really be independent and boy is that true for Avery. Sometimes I find myself just wanting to do things for her so that it will get done faster. Again, she is teaching me another lesson: this time in patience.
Her independence is also a great thing. She is a HUGE helper. She is also really stubborn. Things have to be done a certain way or she gets really upset; maybe she has a little bit of OCD?!?!

Avery is learning to write an "A" and it's the cutest! She sleeps in a big girl bed without any rails and she can dress and undress herself. Speaking of undressing herself..... the girl loves to be naked. Every night we put her to bed fully clothed and when we go in to check on her a couple of hours later she is naked. EVERY. NIGHT. It's rather comical. We have since started only putting her in a pull up at night in hopes that she will get cold and realize that pajamas are really a good thing. No such luck. She still takes off her pull up and most of the time refuses to let us put her pj's on when we go to bed. Our rule is she has to sleep in her pull up!

Oh the pull-up topic. Avery has been potty trained since Mother's Day weekend 2013. She started wearing big girl panties and hasn't looked back! It's been delighftful! Since she turned three a month ago, we have noticed that 5/7 nights her pull ups stay dry. I am so proud of her!

She is the BEST big sister and loves Kinsley so much. She takes care of her and though they have their sister fights, they are still BFF's!

We celebrated her 3rd birthday back in August while we were still living in FL so that her family and friends could be a part of the celebration also. It was supposed to be a fun, laid back beach day but instead we were having a storm. It was still a blast and she talks about it still today!

My parents came up to Illinois the day before her third birthday so we were able to celebrate with them. Her birthday fell on a Friday this year so we waited until Friday night to celebrate when Daddy was home. We went to a pizza place called Lou Malnatis in Downtown Naperville and it was delicious. Then we came home for gifts and dessert: cupcakes and ice cream! I also started a new tradition and did a video interview with Avery. I hope to continue this with each child, starting at three and asking the same questions each year to see how they change. I will post this video soon.