Sadie Turns 3!

It's been a long year and it's been quite awhile since I last posted. More on that later...

Tomorrow Sadie celebrates her 3rd birthday and we're all excited (but that could also be attributed to the sugar high leftover from Halloween). Sadie has had a very busy year and has certainly kept us on our toes.

She continues to be our little ball of energy, constantly on the go, never just walking but more like bouncing from place to place. Thinking about it now, it's endearing. Trying to cross a busy city street, it's frustrating to no end. She continues to love dancing and is still our stunt woman in training. Where some little girls have a natural grace, not Sadie. I often think that instead of calling her our little Peanut, we should have nicknamed her Tigger. Sadie is frequently sprawled out on the floor either tripping or diving for effect. We're definitely thinking this child may have a future as a stunt woman or physical comedian. Often when we're out shopping she'll dive across the floor and you'll hear woman gasp and then bend over her asking if she's okay. She always pops right up and declares for all "I'm okay."

While these stunts can be entertaining, they've also caused our family some concern. Sadie has no fear and will attempt things that you would never begin to think of doing, like free falling backwards at G'ma Suzie's and Papa Joe's and landing flat on her back on the cement floor. She knocked the wind out of herself a little but was otherwise okay. I can't count how many times she's knocked the wind out of herself this year and yet we've managed to not have to visit the ER yet for this one (knock on wood). Because of Sadie's fearlessness and her desire to be a monkey, we put her on the top bunk when we got the kids bunk beds for Christmas. She loved it right away and hasn't fallen out once (knock on wood again). She also got roller skates for Christmas and has gotten fairly good at them but is actually a bit cautious and only recently started trying it without holding my hand.

Sadie leaves us exhausted most days but does manage to have her quiet moments. She (like big brother) loves books and reading and listening to stories. There has been some frustration over the past few months for her, though. Sadie often forgets that she isn't the same age as Caleb and thinks that she should be able to do everything that he can do. When he started reading this past spring, Sadie became so frustrated she would just pout and say "I can't read the words. I just can't do it." We've spent a lot of time reminding her that it's okay and that Caleb couldn't read at this age either and that she'll learn soon. So even though she can't read the words, she has quite the imagination and will look at her books and make up the stories herself.

Speaking of imagination... this child is something else. Starting at about this time last year, she became obsessed with babies. As she grew older, she began turning anything and everything into a mommy and a baby. At dinner time, eating french fries, we would listen to her talking to her food. First the mommy would go into her tummy and then baby would follow. There have been many shows at lunch time and dinner time. And again, it's so cute as I write it out here and yet so frustrating as we try to get her to finish her supper.

Her imagination has been such a blessing to our family. She loves to pretend and she loves to get her brother to pretend with her. Much of these games of pretend he's learned from her. They pretend to go to the doctor's or to the store or even fishing.

While she loves her babies, surprisingly, her favorite toys to play with are not babies. She loves her Little People. They all have names and go on adventures all through the house. There is frequently someone in need of rescuing these days- not quite sure where that came from.

Sadie is also our artist. She loves to draw and paint (as much on herself as on paper) and these days she's very proud of her circles. There were many days this summer where Caleb would drive his car outside and she would paint at the easel.

In other developmental areas, we're still working on the potty with her. She's shown interest in it many times but we haven't been able to completely put it all together but we're working on it. Her reward for going potty is a jelly bean and a bugs bunny cartoon.

That would be Sadie's other obsession- the TV. This has been very difficult for us to find a balance with. Caleb will watch but will also often ignore it if it's on. Not Sadie. If the magic box is on, she is in a trance and one show is never enough. So the challenge is that I don't want to be the "no TV" mom but I don't want her addicted to it so this is one of our struggles these days.

Other big news...Sadie started pre-school this year. She goes Monday and Wednesday mornings and happens to be in a class with 2 of Caleb's teachers from last year. She loves going to school and her teachers and classmates. It's been so funny to watch her strut through the school and inform everyone that she's going to her class. I can't wait 'til she starts going to music and movement classes in the spring.

With pre-school, there have been developing friendships. This has also been fun to watch. Last year a couple of girls in Caleb's class latched on the Sadie and she became part of their group. They would run around the yard after school and have lots of fun. Sadie continues to idolize these girls but has also been developing friends in her class. She's going to be my social butterfly. Also, friends of ours from Canada are spending half the year here in Pittsburgh. They have 4 yr old twins who are in the same class as Caleb. Sadie and Caleb love these boys and often can't go too many days without asking to see them. Sadie in particular always seems to team up with Andrew. It's so sweet to watch. Yesterday when we went trick or treating, Andrew and brother, Brandon came with us. Andrew was a knight and had to protect Sadie, the ballerina. At one point, he was holding up his sword, with his arm around her saying "I save you." Too cute.

Sadie has been talking for awhile now...in fact I have trouble remembering a time when she didn't talk. She is constantly talking. Of course this means we get no end of funny little things that she comes up with. Recently, while fighting a cold, Daddy was getting her ready for bed. She and Caleb had been in the bathtub and now it was time for pjs. Daddy went to put some Vicks on her chest and she asked what is was. He told her "This is some medicine that will help you breathe." Her eyes got very wide and with excitement she asked "Under water?" Apparently she had been trying to be The Little Mermaid in the bathtub and was disappointed at not being able to be underwater. Sadly, Daddy had to explain that no, Vicks would not help her breathe underwater.

Sadie is the source of much laughter and frustration and we love her dearly! We're looking forward to seeing how she grows in the coming year and feel so blessed to have her in our family!