Our little Layla Blythe turned three in June. What a sweet, precocious girl she is turning out to be! Having become fully potty-trained shortly before her birthday, and more and more verbal every day, it feels like she is no longer a baby or a toddler, but a little girl with thoughts and opinions of her own (and she makes certain that we know it)! She is sensitive, inquisitive, nurturing and fiery. Having three older brothers gives her a grit and determination I admire already. Layla loves animals big and small, coloring, playing dress-up and with her dollhouse, and practicing riding her bike.

I think in past birthday posts I’ve considered the future careers of my little ones. If I had to guess Layla’s now, I’d handily say veterinarian. Or maybe cowgirl. This little lady has never met an animal (cat, dog, horse, cow, goat, etc. that she didn’t want to nurture and get to know. At her well child visit she was 29 bls, 38″, which translates to 33rd% for weight, 74th for height. For now, she’s quite the sting bean.

Shortly after we moved into our house a neighbor gifted me an Alice dress she made for her daughters, who’d long since outgrown it. It was SO cute, and so it became the inspiration for Layla’s third birthday party. Soon she’ll be picking her own themes, which I anticipate (and hope) will include ballerinas, unicorns & mermaids, but for now (and not much longer) that choice is up to me! When I brought it up to the boys they quickly started sorting out who would be whom from the story. A quick Pinterest search gave me more ideas than I could imagine, and the party came together pretty quickly. Layla and her friends were so sweet and careful during the tea party, and her brothers were incredibly helpful. I think we pulled it off!

Happy 3rd birthday, Layla Blythe. We love you so!