3 years old.
My baby girl is 3 years old. How do I have a 3 year old? I guess time flies when you’re having fun. I remember when we brought our cupcake home from the hospital just like it was yesterday. We were so enthralled by our firstborn, and three years later, we still are. She’s quirky, so fun to be around, has the funniest cartoon voice when she talks to her brothers, she’s smart, wise, and is a little chatterbox right until she closes those pretty eyes at night. Dhara loves fun and anything that has to do with it. She’s got tons of energy and can play all day and all night if you let her. Bedtime is not her favorite time of the day because that means she has to waste the time she could be using for play — kinda like Olivia. She’s got quite the imagination, and loves playing with anyone who will dare to imagine with her.
Dhara loves her brothers. She talks to them like they’re much younger than her. She calls them “buddy.” She still tries to pick them up and roughhouse with them — something we’re repeatedly having to tell her not to do. She loves going under the covers with them, and they love it too. Rohan won’t put up with much of Dhara’s antics, but Kieran will give her a fight.
Now that Dhara is three, Greg and I are interested in starting school with her. Of course we’ve been teach her things along the way, but I’d like to introduce something a little more than the live and learn approach we’ve been doing. More on the topic of homeschooling later.
As of November of last year, Dhara has learned to use the potty. Up until then, it was a disaster trying to teach her — she’s smart in so many things, but using the potty like a big girl was something she just didn’t want to do. Thank God she knows now, and she goes all by herself — what a relief! I always tell people that I wish kids had an automatic download of information at age 2 that enables them to know exactly how to use the potty. As you can see, I didn’t like the whole process of potty training. I guess the only advice I can give is: put them in underwear (pull-ups are pretty much diapers), and take them to the bathroom every 30 – 45 minutes. It takes time for them to “get it”, but consistent repetition is the best way for them to learn. Otherwise you’ll do what I did for the longest time and be cleaning up a ton of messes because I didn’t stick to the 30 – 45 minute window.
[Thanks Ohio Becky for the adorable salvar Dhara is wearing in her 3 year shoot!]
funny face
For Dhara’s 3rd birthday party, it was part of a combined Christmas party/Dhara party/and Josh’s graduation party. We had a lovely gathering of family folk. We cooked and baked up a storm — as it’s been in years past, Dhara’s strawberry birthday cake was homemade by Zumie. It was so delish! Dhara was super shy when everyone sang happy birthday to her, she couldn’t quite get her speech out in the end (like last year).
This last photo wonderfully portrays my daughter. She can be so naughty at times, but she’s hilarious and so full of spunk. The above photo was taken as soon as she got caught sneaking a cupcake and eating it quietly in the corner before her party began.
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my brother.
My little brother isn’t so little anymore. I remember the times when we were younger. I was 8 when he was born. Times like, having to wipe his little 3 year old tush after hearing him repeatedly yelling from the bathroom, “somebody wipe me!”, or him riding my brand new REI bike without my permission and having it stolen and not telling me for 3 weeks, even him coming to my horseback riding lessons and laughing uncontrollably when I almost fell off my horse during a gallop, or when I would hear a knock on my attic bedroom door in the middle of the night because Josh, around 7 or 8 years old at the time, was afraid of the dark — hey, what are big sister’s for??
josh + greg!
Babies always love Josh — as long as I can remember, that is a known fact in my circle. My own babies are no exception. They love him so much it’s quite interesting actually. You see it on their faces as soon as they lay eyes on him. It’s like their thinking, “oh that’s my dear Uncle Josh. I love that guy.” Josh is a baby lover. He would come home from college after midnight — you’d hear him walk in, throw his backpack down, and race to Greg/my bedroom — a quiet tap on our door would come next. “Are the babies awake?” he’d always ask in a whisper. And the answer would almost always be the same, “No, Josh, they’re sleeping.” He never gave up though, so on occasion if a baby stirred at that moment, I would let Josh hold them.
josh + my mom admiring the boys
uncle josh singing to his niece + nephews
loves his nephews to death
So my little brother isn’t so little anymore. In the last few years I’ve seen him grow into a man. He’s persevered through trials, put his faith into action, and has seen mighty miracles. He’ll surely have many beautiful tales to tell his nieces/ nephews, kids, etc when they get older. As of recently Josh casually walked into a career fair and landed a corporate job with his dashing good looks and pleasant ways and the unmerited grace of God. Before he starts his job this coming June, he’s doing a 6 month Internship at the International House of Prayer (IHOP). Even though he’s lived out of the house for 4 years now, and has been gone for summer internships, it’s the first time my family felt the heavy feeling that he’s really leaving Maryland, and we’re not sure when and if he’ll ever be back as a permanent resident. Of course he’ll visit, but that’s never the same.
Life is interesting that way — you grow up with people, dear people, and because life’s paths are so different for everyone, you are left with the memories of days gone by. We miss him alot, but we are so very proud of who he’s become. A good brother, a humble son, an amazing uncle (their one and only uncle!), the loyalist of friends, annointed worship leader, a broken sinner, and best of all, a child of the Living God. [My apologies for the sentimental post. I had to get this all out.]
graduation day
greg, josh, and my paw paw
rohan + josh
kieran + josh
greg praying over josh at Chi Alpha UMBC, josh’s last meeting
brothers for life
church eldership praying over josh on his last sunday at ICF
Josh, may “the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.” Number 6:24-26. You’ll always be my little brother even if you’re not so little anymore. Love you!
susie mey 