The girl turned three

It's hard to believe, isn't it? My daughter is a 3-year-old.

I know it's crazy but I'm kinda expecting her to start smacking gum while talking and wanting to go to the movies with friends now that she's so grown up.

The truth is she's now insisting on putting her socks on by herself. I should be grateful.

We had a wonderful birthday celebration with her that stretched from last Friday through today. Here's the rundown of her actual birthday:

On Friday, Madeline woke up to her room filled with balloons again. This is definitely my favorite birthday tradition so far and she loves it. Joe took the day off of work and made her favorite breakfast: pancakes from scratch, potatoes from scratch and eggs from chickens.

I married a man who cooks a killer breakfast. I definitely married up.

Her breakfast was served on the Red Plate, another birthday tradition in our home.

We spent the morning at Eagle Creek Park by playing on the playground, touring the nature center and ornithology center, spotting four deer (who Madeline greeted with a loud "Happy birthday Deer!") and singing "Happy Birthday" to our girl when the clock turned 12:25 p.m.

At this time, I would like to address my daughter directly:

Dearest Madeline,
When you are 12 and think I don't care about your happiness because I won't let you wear five inch heels and heavy eyeliner, please know that on your third birthday, I loved you enough to go to a nature center where I endured "fun" displays like this.

Love,
Mom

Actually, now that I think of it, I would like to write a second letter.

Dear Eagle Creek Nature Center Staff,
Please review the enclosed photo I took at your facility last week.

I have one question: What is the point?!

Signed,
Hyperventilating and confused in Indy

One of Madeline's birthday gifts was a Cinderella kite so after the park, we headed to an open field to let her fly it.

This is one of my favorite memories ever with her and Joe. I didn't take any still photos and instead captured most of it on video. However, the image is burned in my memory.

She wore her fancy orange dress with tiny pink flowers and her long hair was completely down without clips or bows (she calls this the princess look). After her daddy would lift the kite into a gust of wind, he would yell, "Go, Madeline, go!" and she would take off running while singing, "Let's go fly a princess kite! Up to the highest height!"

Meanwhile, I was sitting cross-legged in the grass swooning at the two of them with tears in my eyes.

The rest of the day included a princess birthday cake, my brother's high school graduation, pink ice cream with sprinkles and one exhausted 3-year-old.

And just when I thought I couldn't love her anymore, I fall head over heels again with this little creature who made me a mom.