3 Looks Good on You!

 Happy Birthday to our Sweet Avery. 

You have been waiting for this day and telling us your birthday was coming up for weeks now. I try to ask you to slow down time and not grow up but you insist that you need to keep growing. 

Your siblings adore you and just couldn't wait to celebrate this day with you. Some still had to go to school though which was a total bummer. We still got out to a local sportsplex. They were celebrating their first anniversary so we got extra fun! We did bounce houses, played pickleball, ran around, threw footballs, and kicked giant soccer balls. As we left we got popcorn and cookies! At home we opened presents, sang happy birthday, and had homemade cake that Riley and I made. It was a great day to have a birthday. 

You got a tent from your grandparents and some books and you spent a good chunk of time in there!

Somehow, in the blink of an eye, our Avery girl is three. Three years of sunshine, silliness, and the kind of sweetness that settles right into your heart. This past week she proudly learned how to hold up three fingers—her little face glowing with accomplishment as she showed anyone who would look. And just the week before, she surprised us by saying her full name clear as day, like she’d been practicing in secret.

But the moment that gets me every time is when she looks up with those bright eyes and says, “I love you too, Mama.” That tiny voice is something I’ll treasure for the rest of my life. It’s soft and sincere and full of that pure toddler love that feels like a gift straight from God.

Avery runs everywhere she goes, ready for adventure before anyone else has their shoes on. She plays with her whole heart, imagines big, and is always trying to learn something new. She’s creative, curious, and wonderfully her own little person. We have been so blessed—truly blessed—to spend these three years watching her grow.

A Birthday Letter to Avery

My sweet Avery,

Happy 3rd birthday, my darling girl. You have filled our home with laughter, wonder, and the kind of joy that makes ordinary days feel special. I love watching you discover the world—how you run, how you play, how you try new things with so much excitement. Hearing you say your full name made me smile, and seeing you hold up three fingers made me proud. But nothing compares to hearing you say, “I love you too, Mama.” I will carry that sound with me always.

God knew exactly what He was doing when He gave us you. You are a blessing, a light, and a little adventure all wrapped into one. I can’t wait to see who you become, but for now I’m soaking in every moment of who you are.

I love you forever,

Mama

The night before a birthday is so incredibly bittersweet to me. Each year, I decorate and then I soak up all the memories I have with my child while I simultaneously look forward to what the future will hold. God really knew what he was doing as he placed each child into our loving arms. So thankful for celebrations and taking the time to really treasure the time we get with each other.

Happy Birthday, Avery!