Three.

I feel like it was just yesterday that Kevin and I were walking into a hospital in Raleigh, NC to meet our daughter.

Today this sweet girl turns three.

Three, y'all - THREE!

That whole saying "the days are long but the years are short" is so very true.  Some days seem to last for-ev-er. (Get the Sandlot reference??)  Then I blink my eyes and it has been 6 months.  Blink again and it has been a year.  Is this what happens the older you get?  Does time somehow speed up.  How have three years gone by without me even realizing it. 

She's definitely not a baby.  Not really even a toddler anymore.  By her own definition - she is a "big girl".

Though it does make me a little sad to realize we'll never have those baby stages with this certain little girl again, I look at her and am so proud of the smart, independent, creative, hilarious "big girl" that she has already become. 

There is NO TELLING what the next few years have in store for us.  It's probably best that we can't foresee the future, or we might be nervous about what is to come!  With her outgoing and fearless personality, not to mention her current lack of self-control, I can already imagine the future notes from her teachers, the bumps and bruises, and OH, the drama!  But, along with all of that will come lots of laughter, memories that we would never consider changing, and stories that will be shared for years to come.

This girl makes us laugh every single day and yes, occasionally cry!  From the moment we found out about her right up until today - the past 3 years have been an adventure.

And it has been the best adventure ever.  

Happy birthday, Kate!  We love you.  And to quote from one of my favorite movies (which came out on the DAY you were born- August 10, 2011):

You is kind...

You is smart..

You is important...