Claire got a bike for her birthday last month and she loves it. (As children tend to do.) We took her to a park this morning, where there is a big, wide loop around a bunch of soccer fields. We told her to ride as far and as fast as she wanted. She looked at us hesitantly and I could see the words in her mind start to form.
"For....real? As fast as I want? Are they serious??!"
She whooped and hollered the whole way, making noise at the top of her lungs to see how loud she could go, how far her voice would carry and the different octaves she could hit.
Claire at age three/almost-three was so hard for me to manage this summer, but the past few weeks have been a welcome respite. She's more understanding and empathetic. She has developed a delicately wry sense of humor. She's still resistant to the idea of naps, bedtime and the word "no" but her other sweet moments and days like today really make up for the ones that make me want to pull my hair out.
As Charlotte turns the corner to six months, when things start to get reallllllly fun with babies, Claire seems to turned her own as well. We've got 11 more months of three, but things are good now. Really good.
We had the same hellish period right around three, and now that D's 3 1/2, he's someone that I enjoy spending time with! It's like a switch in is brain moved from little monster to mostly-delightful-being overnight.
Posted by: Arina | November 06, 2011 at 02:28 PM
Those pictures are incredible. Also, I love her shirt.
Posted by: Jessica | November 06, 2011 at 02:49 PM
Absolutely beautiful pics. Glad things are going well for you all right now.
Posted by: Lindaay | November 06, 2011 at 04:05 PM
great pictures! She's so cute!
Posted by: natalie | November 06, 2011 at 05:10 PM
Love the photos. She is so cute. I love that she has a seat for her baby on her bike.
Posted by: BigP's Heather | November 06, 2011 at 05:36 PM
What a cutie (and where did you get that awesome helmet?)! 3 is going to kick my ass, though, I just know it.
I have missed your blog. So glad I found it again.
Posted by: peesticksandstones | November 06, 2011 at 06:37 PM
That's awesome! I am so glad to hear that there is hope in three! :)
Posted by: HereWeGoAJen | November 06, 2011 at 07:00 PM
She is so darned cute. And on that bike! What a big girl!
Posted by: Lauren | November 06, 2011 at 08:04 PM
How cute is she?!
Posted by: Elsha | November 06, 2011 at 09:35 PM
So glad to hear it. Those are adorable pictures!
Posted by: Erica | November 07, 2011 at 12:37 PM
Beautiful girl! Also, the second picture is a total Charlotte "HEEEEY" face. Love it!
Posted by: Home Sweet Sarah | November 07, 2011 at 06:08 PM
She is so ADORABLE! I see a lot of you in her face. Yay for a much nicer version of three!!
Posted by: Anne | November 08, 2011 at 01:30 PM
What a happy, wonderful little girl.
Posted by: Michelle | November 08, 2011 at 08:15 PM