{happy birthday, aliza grace}

{photo by Jen Fox}

{Aliza Grace-Three years old.}

Happy Birthday to my beautiful first born daughter.  Aliza turned three yesterday. I remember when she was born that three seemed SO old, and SO very far off. Like everyone says, the time really has flown by, but it has not been a blur. I have so many memories with Aliza from the past few years that I will cherish forever. She is an amazing girl. It seems like if there is any time that is appropriate to gush about how wonderful she is to the general public, that her birthday would be the time! So here are a few highlights and things I love about Aliza right now…

She is compassionate and thoughtful. She genuinely cares about people and how they feel. She thinks about and prays for her friends and family all of the time. She has an amazing memory about special things she has done for and with other people. She loves to tell me who her best friends are, who she wants to marry, and who she loves to play with.  One of my favorite things she said to me the other day, after giving me the list of her friends was “Mom, do your friends hit you?” It just made me laugh inside because Aliza has so many little boy friends that play more rough than she usually likes to. She was so serious about it, like she was trying to prepare herself that she might have to endure that the rest of her life!

She loves her sister and is usually really happy to help with her and cheer her up.  If Aliza wants her own blanket and baby, she always makes sure Audrey has her special ones too. She loves to pick out matching clothes for them to wear, and to try and help Audrey get dressed. They are really sweet to each other and can’t go to bed without giving each other a big kiss!

She is funny. Aliza tries to make us laugh all of the time, and is usually quite successful! She loves making silly faces and saying random things. She will intentionally call us or others by the wrong name just to be silly.

She thinks her daddy can do anything. Aliza is such a daddy’s girl. The way she talks about Scott is so precious. If anything is ever broken, no matter what it is, she says don’t worry, daddy can fix it. She is convinced that he can do anything and that he is the strongest person around. Sometimes she asks me why I am not strong like daddy. They have the best time together just playing. Every night at bed time he sings her the same songs and they have a sweet little routine. She loves to call him during the day when he is at work, and send him pictures of what she is doing through out the day. She knows she is important and adored by him.

She has a lot of attitude, and is quite independent. She loves to learn to do things on her own-like getting dressed, going potty, bathing, putting on her shoes, getting her own water,  brushing her teeth etc…Once she has mastered the skill, it is rare that I ever get the chance to help again. Even though she is such a spunky girl, I see the soft side of her coming out more and more. Sometimes she has more attitude than I know what to do with, but I guess that is to be expected!

She has a heart inclined to love the Lord. She loves to read her Jesus Story Book Bible. Anytime I ask her what she wants to talk about she says “Jesus”, or “Jesus dying on the cross”, or “Jesus and God”. The other day we were laying on the deck watching the clouds and she told me Jesus was her best friend and God was her favorite person to play with. I asked her what they played together  and she told me “hide and seek and that God hides in the clouds and in Heaven.” Dueteronomy 33:26 says “There is no one like the God of Israel, who rides on the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty.”  She had never heard that verse, and I had never talked with her about the many times in Scripture God shows himself in clouds. I just think that is amazing and sweet. A couple of weeks ago, she was asking me why Jesus died on the cross, and as I was telling her why, I told her that because of that, all we have to do is ask and Jesus will be in our hearts. She said, “Mom, He is already in my heart.” In the last week when she prays at dinner time and bedtime she prays for God to be in her heart and for God to have a good night. I just love it. Today, instead of nap time, I told her she could just take a quiet time in her room and read books. She said, “oh good, so I can go read my Bible!”

She loves to dance. Her favorite songs are You Give Love a Bad Name, Bye Bye Bye, I’m Yours, I Gotta Feelin’ and Hosanna. She always tells me the first three songs are her and Caleb’s favorite.  We have a little dance party most everyday, it is usually the highlight of the day. Aliza has some pretty crazy dance moves, I think I will blame Scott for that. Thankfully his dad gave Aliza dance classes for her birthday gift!

She loves to help. I love when I ask her to help with something and she responds with and enthusiastic “of course!” She likes to help cook, feed Audrey, put away dishes and pick up her toys…most of the time.

She loves her family. She is so blessed with amazing Aunties, Uncles, cousins, Grandmas and Grandpas and extended in-law family! She had a individual relationship with each of them and she remembers what they like and dislike. It is pretty sweet.

She tells us she loves us, all the time. She is also really good at saying ‘thank you’ unprovoked. Even though she loves to do things on her own, if she is really sleepy or sad, she asks me to help or do things for her. Sometimes I think to myself that I should have her do it, because she is capable…but then I decide that she is three and just because she can do it, doesn’t mean she has to do it alone. Every time that I have had that little thought process, I pick her up to help her out and she wraps her arms around me and says “I love you mommy!” She isn’t being manipulative, and I think she is truly feeling loved and cared for.

And of course, she is brilliant. She can count to 100, sing her ABC’s and tons of other songs, she knows her shapes and colors. She loves to read books, and has most of hers memorized. She knows her address and all the streets we take to get home. She remembers who of our friends live in each city/town nearby.  She is good at problem solving and trying to make things work. She is creative and artistic. I am so looking forward to homeschooling her for preschool starting this Fall. We are going to have a blast!

The last few weeks she has been asking me about the day that she was born. I have told her the story probably 5 or 6 times now. Yesterday on her birthday, she asked me again, but I suggested she tell it to me. With a little prompting, she remembered all of the important details from the day. It was really sweet to hear it coming from her. That day changed my life

Aliza Grace, you have lived up to the meaning of your name. Joyful not only describes you, but what you have brought into our lives and our families. You are such a treasured gift. I am so thankful to be your Mommy. I am so glad that it only took you two and a half years to decide that snuggling is okay. I love spending time with you and hearing your thoughts. Thank you for being such a reminder of God’s love and His grace to me everyday. I love you Babe.

Here are a few photos of how we celebrated this past week...

Eating her gluten free, dairy free delicious chocolate cake!

Trying on her new coat and slippers from Nana at their joint birthday party.
Trying out her new baseball glove and ball from Auntie Renee.
Jump Around with her friends!
Beach time @ Grammy Liz's house.

Trying on her favorite birthday outfit and boots from special friends!
Birthday breakfast complete with all of her favorites,
"flat egg", bacon, sausage and pancakes.
Enjoying the Street festival and getting ready to pick blackberries.

Birthday dessert, fresh blackberry crisp.

Advertisement