E-L-E-A-N-O-R-E

My Eleanore turned three years old last week. She is such a silly and fun part of our family, and she definitely keeps us all on our toes. It is hard for me to remember life without her.

My kids' birthdays always do this to me: make me reminisce about the time leading up to their births and about the feelings I had when I met them for the first time. I have to say Eleanore's birth was picture perfect. Those first moments, hours and days of her life were euphoric for Bryan and I -- I'll never forget the feelings I had. There was never a baby who was more wanted or loved than Eleanore, and those feelings remain. We love her so much.



Here is a little more about my El at this age: 

1. She is smart. I know every parent thinks their kids are smart, but since this is my record I can say that I think Eleanore is incredibly smart. Her memory amazes me. She is very observant and puts cause and effect together like no preschooler I've known. At three years old she communicates like a school child, can spell her name (E-L-E-A-N-O-R-E...R-O-BYN...B-U-C-K-L-E-Y...Buckley to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star), she can also spell her sister's names, she knows most of her letters, all colors and shapes, can recite nearly any nursery rhyme you can think of, loves to cut with scissors and enjoys drawing pictures and making up her own stories.
 
2. Eleanore is is a home body. Although once in a while she'll say she wants to go to the store, when we are out she is always asking to come home. This makes me very happy. One of my life goals is to make our home a fun place t to be. 

3. She is such a goof ball. She always makes us laugh, or comes up with something off-the-wall that keeps us on our toes. Sometimes it is a funny dance, other times it is wild, random comments. For example the other day she announced she was "Starving." When we said we would eat soon, she followed up by saying, "Can't you see the tears on my face?" (And she was completely calm.) A little over dramatic. Bryan and I couldn't stop laughing. 

4. She likes to complain about everything I make to eat. It doesn't matter what it is. I think she just likes to hear herself complain...and to make sure she is heard. I'll often hear, "I don't want this because it is XXX, and that is not my favorite."

5. She is cuddly. She loves to be held and cuddled. In fact, a lot of times, when are approaching our house in the car she will make up plan about how she needs to be carried in the house. She LOVES to sleep with mom and dad and looks forward to Friday nights when we'll let her start the night there (she still ends up in our bed many other nights partway through). 

6. Every morning, she yells "Mom, come and get me...it is morning time"...and when I go in her room, she hurries and shuts her eyes and pretends to be asleep. She wants cuddles and loves and then wants me to carry her to the kitchen for breakfast.

7. She says, "Mom, I love you so much" at least 20 times a day. Never gets old. Always makes me smile.

8. She never forgets to say her prayers. She says very thoughtful sincere prayers. Thinking about what and who she is grateful for and what made her happy that day. She truly talks to our Father in Heaven like he is her friend. 

9. She loves snacks. Although I can rarely get her to happily eat a full meal, she would eat snacks all day. Often I'll barely be getting the dishes done before she is asking for a "snack." She usually wants something sweet, or chips, but she'll happily settle for an apple or grapes.

10. She is my little sidekick. She loves to cook, clean and help mom with "projects." If I'm cooking or canning or crafting...she is there. If I'm cleaning, she is helping me. She loves to clean windows (which I'll admit can be frustrating at time because she leaves smudges). She is also pretty good an "organizing" her toys when I help her.

11. She loves to fix hair. She is always brushing her own hair or her dolls' hair, but she has decided she doesn't like me to do her hair...she ALWAYS wants to wear a crown (headband). She loves to play with my friend Melissa's long, beautiful hair and will always comment about how long it is getting.

12. She loves to dress up and changes her clothes at least three or four times a day. First thing in the morning she will want to get her "daytime clothes" on. To keep her happy this needs to be a dress every day -- she doesn't like shorts or pants, and most definitely does not like pants that "touch her feet." Within minutes of getting dressed she will usually go to the playroom and strip down to put on a princess or fairy dress up, and will usually change outfits a few more times before the day is done. On the same note, she'll usually announce early in the day what pajamas she will be wearing that night.
13. She adores her dad. She misses him EVERY day he goes to work and looks forward to the weekend when he will be home with us. She'll often ask to do things "Together, as a family." She loves to joke and play with her Dad. I love when I can hear them giggling together. 

14. She loves to watch movies. She would be happy if she could watch shows all day long...but mom usually forces her to do other things. Her favorites right now are the Disney princess movies.

15. She has a temper. She gets mad easily and will tell me that I'm being "naughty" to her. She can turn the tears on quickly, but she can turn them off just as easily. She despises time out, but spends time there regularly. When she gets upset, the world falls apart. She can lie on the floor or her bed and cry for a long time. When something upsets her, she doesn't forget about it easily.Sometimes I get frustrated by her fits, but I also often think it is because she is looking for attention that often gets lost in the mix with her sisters. 

16. She is an AWESOME big sister. She loves her babies. She plays with them, wants to sit right next to them all day and helps me keep them out of danger. Everyone warned us that we would have to watch out for jealousy or for a time when she would want to "send her sisters back." That has never once happened. She is kind to her sisters, is quick to report to friends and strangers about how cute they are and that they are "hers" and is a good helper. She is definitely enjoying that Ivy and Maya are finally getting big enough to play with.

17. I cannot tell you how much we love our Eleanore. She brings so much fun, joy and love to our lives. She can go from angry to soft-hearted so quickly, and she can always make us laugh with the things she comes up with. She has such a sweet little heart, and she is so eager to learn about life and growing up...I just hope it isn't too quickly.


 

To celebrate Eleanore's birthday we decorated the house for when she woke up that morning (which she was expecting and loved after seeing it decorated for her sisters' birthday -- she asked me not to take it down for several days after her birthday passed). 
She was excited to open her gifts (she got Legos (El builds fantastic Lego towers) and a Rapunzel doll) and to eat Cocoa Crispies for breakfast (with no argument about needing something more nutritious from mom).


Then we had her two best playmates, Brook and Max, come over for a tea party and play date. She had a princess birthday cake and we watched The Little Mermaid. That night we went out to eat at Chilis. She picked her own outfit out (which happened to be her fanciest dress) and felt very special when the wait staff came and sang happy birthday to her. 

I think she had a great day. We'll be celebrating all three girls' birthdays this weekend at a big birthday bash, but I think her special day would have been enough, it is me who goes wild with these ideas.