Dear Bria-

We've been enduring COVID 19 quarantine. It's been great and it's been hard. You had a long stretch there where you were our "easy child." Dad remarked on that several times. A high praise indeed if you know your dad's patience with children!

Then the last two weeks happened. You decided to get emotional. About everything.

We went on a walk/run today. Dallin likes to race you and you insist that you have to win every time. Even though Dallin is years older than you, he doesn't like to lose every time. I found myself refereeing the amount of times Dallin got to win. The funny part is that you knew he was letting you win. Apparently that didn't matter. Winning, irregardless of how, was important to you.

Forever ago, we watched a video about Jesus for FHE. When you heard that we would be watching a video about Jesus, you exclaimed, "Jesus?! I'm so excited!"

You've discovered hairties and want your hair tied back all of the time. I don't blame you there as it's hot. Your hair is such a mess. It's way too short in front and long in the back. I'm not sure how to fix it besides chopping it off. When Akarie's hair grew that length, I just pulled back the sides of her hair. She was much younger though. You don't stand for that. If I'm going to pull it back, it better be the whole thing. You insist. I do worry about ruining your curls if it's pulled back too much. Thus, you look like a curly monster most of the time.

You also have caught on to the naked phase late. You love to run around naked. Late again. I feel like all of your siblings did this much younger.

Some days, we have to beg you to put on underwear. Most days, we at least get underwear. You'll get dressed only to take off your clothes less than an hour later. It takes so much work to convince you put clothes on (usually threatening a late meal) that we let you run around mostly naked much of the time.

You mispronounce lots of words. Here's the two that I can think of at the moment.

You went through a phase where you did not like people copying you. Unfortunately, you were very observant and thought your siblings were copying you when they often weren't. You would shout, "Stop cocking me!" Your siblings loved to tease and would mispronounce "copying" back. Only Dad and I cringed at that one.

This summer in an effort to be healthier, I made popsicles instead of resorting to Otter Pops. I don't know if they're that much healthier and they're definitely not cheaper. REGARDLESS. You call our popsicles, "bicycles." I love the mispronouncement so much that I've made everyone call them bicycles so you're none the wiser. Ha, ha.

Dad did something really sneaky. He taught you that he was the best parent and that I was the best mom. You are naturally a really grateful child. If we do anything sort of nice to nice, you'll gush, "Thanks, mom! You're the best!" It is adorable. Now Dad's trained you to put us on a hierarchy. You have no idea though and it's pretty hilarious.

I love you Bree,
~Mom

Dear Bria,

You are absolutely the cutest right now. I let you and Crew ride your bikes inside today. You cracked me up with you held up a helmet and asked for help with the "seatbelt." You wanted me to undo the helmet strap. After spending a minute trying to figure out how to word that, I don't blame you for your wording!

You are finally FINALLY potty trained! I already told you about how we started. By the end of November, you went pee on the potty fine but would not poop on the potty. I bribed you like crazy but you were scared. I knew you had to poop because you would request a diaper. I made you wait one day and you waited all day until night came! I was scared of poo poo accidents. (Dallin went through a string of them when we traveled to Utah.) Therefore, I caved with the diaper requests.

When we were in Virginia, your Aunt Christina challenged me to not give in to the diaper. I was scared of regression but I knew I should at least give it a shot! It took you over a day and lots and lots and LOTS of unsuccessful potty tries. However, after all that, you did it! Each subsequent time has gotten slightly less dramatic. Today was the best time so far. You still want me to come with you but there was very little theatrics! Fingers crossed it sticks.

Now all we would have left to do is night time potty train you. That can wait for January! I'm just thrilled to only have one kid in diapers! You seem so grown up in you "undies." I can't believe you're going to preschool soon.

Have I told you about Crew's bunny? I've been putting Crew to be awake more often now. For forever he would breastfeed to sleep. I felt bad leaving him on his lonesome and found a stuffed animal bunny in a toy bin. Even thought the bunny was discarded and unwanted, the minute Crew had it, you wanted it! There were several day of meltdowns on your part.

You are a very good kid but you are three. The worst public meltdowns are over shoes. Your poor mom NEEDS a new pair of shoes. That is the one thing I really hate buying online. Every time, I try to find some in store, you end up throwing a colossal fit. You'll see a pair of shoes you want and royally meltdown when I won't buy them for you! You scream so loud that we get lots of stares. One Walmart employee looked at me pityingly as she let me exit without checking my receipt. I give up for now on shoe shopping when you come along shopping with me (which is almost always-sigh).

Okay, I feel like I have already written this to you but I'm going to record just in case. Ages ago (I'm thinking in the summer), you discovered that your hair had grown long enough that it bounced. This amused both you and me. Now I'll tell you to "bounce your curls" and you'll comply.

I LOVE your curly hair. I hope you always have it and that you'll love it too. Everyone always asks me where you get it from. It's a little frustrating to me because I have very wavy hair. BUT I've straightened a lot of the curl out of my hair. My hair will still curl but I've only owned a straightener for years. I'm getting a curling wand for Christmas and I'm excited for myself but also for you. It must be mentioned that your dad has wavy hair too. I'm actually more shocked by your siblings stick straight hair than by your curls!

Love you girl,
~Mom

Tuesday, December 10, 2019 10:31pm