Images of Imma-Jane and Lucy!: To My Little Princess on Her Third Birthday

Dear Lucy Kate Annabella,
Happy Birthday! It is hard to fathom that you could be three years old already. Every 4th of July I am reminded of that one a few years ago, the day we almost met you. Instead, it was the morning of the 5th of July when you finally decided to make your appearance. You were worth the wait. From that day on, it became apparent we were going to do things Lucy's way. And that's fine by me.

My little diva letting me know who's boss

There's no question that you are a little diva. Your entourage consists of three blankets, two dolls, and usually another item or two that must go wherever you are. You're often the only little girl in a princess dress wherever we happen to be and I don't even realize now that other people may find this odd. If you want something, if someone hurts your feelings, if something doesn't go quiet the way you were hoping, everyone knows. But we do our best to avoid that--not because you are spoiled but because you are so sweet. It is very difficult to see you cry.

Who could argue with that face?

You are patient and loving. You have an understanding with your sister beyond your years. It's so sweet to listen to you explain things or say things over and over until you think she understands. You copy her, you repeat her, you imitate her. You love your sister in a way only sisters and best friends can understand. This was my greatest wish in having two little girls and I love to hear you play together nicely. It doesn't always last a long time, you are both very strong-willed (don't know where you get that from!) and sometimes you get very upset at each other, but almost all siblings do that. I hope that the two of you will have the kind of relationship nothing can ever come between.

Lucy wants to be just like Imma

I love to watch you dance. I've been so proud of your accomplishments in dance class this year, but even more than that, the joy you show when you are dancing is beyond description. You love music and you naturally start moving to it as soon as you hear it. I hope that you continue to dance and bring happiness to lots of others who get to experience watching you do so. You also have the sweetest little singing voice and I love to listen to you singing to your animals and dolls over the monitor at bedtime. It amazes me how well you know the words to so many songs. It's even sweeter when you don't know the words so you just make them up.

My little dancing diva in her costume for her recital. She owned that stage.

I love how you call the alphabet the "ABCD's." You love to look at books and find letters that you know. You also like to count. I think you will love school and learning the way that I do and I can't wait to see all of the new things that you teach me. You can handle an iPhone or an iPad like a boss. Who knows what technology you will have by the time you're my age. You'll certainly be able to figure anything out and maybe invent some of it, too.

Teacher Lucy?

I constantly worry about you because you are such a little klutz. You are always running into things, falling down, hitting your head. I often imagine wrapping you in bubble wrap with only your head sticking out--which would need a helmet, of course. You're my Itty Bitty Girl and I have to protect you from everything dangerous, even if the danger is your own inability to judge whether or not your head is going to make it around the corner of a table. But you always dust yourself off and keep on going.

My beautiful baby

One of your greatest gifts is your ability to make other people smile. It doesn't take others long to fall in love with you because you are just a sweet, beautiful child. You reach out to others and make friends quickly. Imma's friends love you so much, it's so nice to see all of you playing together.

Lucy playing with Imma and her friends at Imma's baseball party.

This year, you've gone to Great Wolf Lodge at least twice, maybe three times, and you love it, though you don't particularly like swimming. You've done dance with Ms. Lexi and swimming lessons with Ms. Williams. You went to Education Station for a few months but we knew we'd found your second mommy when you started going to Ms. Amy's house. You loved Disney World, especially meeting all of your fellow princesses and I loved taking you to meet them. You loved the beach but not the ocean. You love the zoo and the aquarium because you love animals. You tell me all the time how you see monkeys and owls in the trees. You talk about your PawPaw everyday which makes me so happy because it encourages me that maybe you won't forget him. You are my sunshine and you make me happy no matter what color the sky is. It is a privilege and an honor to be your mother and I'm so blessed to have your sweet smile in my life. I love you so much, Princess Lucy Kate, and I hope your fourth year is as full of happiness, smiles, and little giggles as your third.
Love,
Monny