what 3 looks like...

caitlin is 3 going on 13. seriously. i just can't believe how much she has grown into an adolescent (with an attitude) in just these past couple months. a few milestones:

1) she is almost potty trained. just a couple days ago she asked to wear the big girl panties instead of a diaper. and she kept them dry all day for 1 day. hasn't kept them dry for a full day since, but we are getting close. still wants to wear them. the fact that she is even interested in the big girl panties is a big step. she could transistion easily if she wanted to but she's a little stubborn. regardless, me and my checkbook are happy that the end of diaperhood is drawing near!!!

2) last month we switched from baby toothpaste to real toothpaste. you know, the kind with fluoride that you can't swallow. once she got the hang of spitting it was a fast replacement! and when its time to brush our teeth we have a deal-she brushes the "down ones" and then she gives me the brush to to do the top ones.

3) she is a MAJOR big helper. wants to do everything herself. i am finding this phase to be wonderful...finally, i can give her chores! actually she enjoys helping unloading the dishwasher and the clothes washer/dryer. she finds putting things into the trash can/recycling can fun. and last night she even picked up her own toys before going to bed. aaahh, mark it on the calendar :) and i can't forget, she now insists on pushing the grocery cart herself when we go to the store, as evidenced here:

4) some days she acts/speaks like a teenager. her quips of "be quiet mom" and "thats enough, thats enough" are not going to get her very far. but its incredible seeing the person she is becoming at such a young age.

5) her smartness is amazing. she can name/identify alot of dinosaurs, and she learned them all on her own. she knows allegro and crescendo and is on a Little Einsteins kick right now. counting is a piece of cake and so is the alphabet as well as colors, shapes, animals, most pre-K stuff. she "reads" to herself alot and loves when we read to her. her imagination runs wild and its still hard to tell sometimes the truth from the fiction.

6) and thankfully she is still a very loving little girl. always wants to make sure mommy and daddy are there to hug and kiss. her perceptiveness of people surpasses some adults i know. she is in tune with people in a way i don't see often in kids. she can just tell when people are happy or sad even if they are acting the opposite.

well, thats just a little shed of light from the beginning of the world of 3. (well, almost 3 1/2 in december). i am just excited to see the developments that are still waiting to occur!