Lydia at 3

I can't believe Lydia Carol Gensic is turning three. I really can't. But she is, and I want to celebrate how awesome she is. So here is a list of the 10 coolest things about Lydia:

1. While this list is in no particular order, this is probably the coolest thing about Lydia: she was the easiest child to potty train in the history of children and potties. Here's how it went. While strolling around in Walmart one morning, we came across My Little Pony panties. We bought them. When we got home, she put them on and immediately started using the potty. And she was potty trained.

2. She loves books. I love books. I love Lydia. I love that Lydia loves books. It's all good. Here is a picture of her during nap time the other day:

 She always looks at books while she is falling asleep, and on this particular day, she ended up taking her entire nap with the book she'd been looking at laying on her face. She must have fallen asleep mid-story.

3. She is Shepherd's "first friend." After spending all afternoon with the neighbor's visiting grandson, Shepherd kept telling BJ that he had been "playing with my third friend." When we finally asked him who his first two friends are, he said, "Lydia's my first friend, and Bliss is my second friend." (Bliss is our neighbors' daughter.) Just in case you're curious, he claims to have made a fourth friend the other day at the YMCA.

4. She's a daddy's girl. She  always chooses to be in whatever room he is in. She want hims to take her to the potty for number 2 (a true sign of toddler love). She wants to swim on his back in the swimming pool. And she wants to run up to him every Sunday at church. This can sometimes be a issue.

5. She can take care of herself. When our neighbor's grandson can to town to visit, he spent his afternoons in our kiddy pool playing with Shepherd. The boys were ornery those afternoons anytime any girl came near the pool. Lydia, however, had no problem putting them in her place. She would point her finger at them, screech, "No! We don't do that!" And then get in the pool and play.

6. She is fun to dress. It's like I'm eight years old and I've got the doll of my dreams. And to make it even better, she really knows how to strike a pose. Case in point, this picture from the 4th of July:

7. She is fancy, hence the Fancy Nancy party. She changes her outfit (including accessories) at least 3 times a day. Have I ever mentioned how I'm daily drowning in a sea of laundry.

8. She encourages fanciness in those around her. I occasionally let her pick out Violet's clothes. When I do, this is what Violet ends up looking like on a Monday:

Yes, what you are seeing is glitter, ribbons, bling, satin flowers, and lots of ruffles. On a Monday.

9. You never know what she is going to say. The other day after Violet started crying incredibly loud because she didn't want to take the nap for which BJ had just laid her down, Lydia laughed and said, "Violet's crying." She then sighed contentedly and said, "I hate babies." Another crazy thing she recently said was while using the potty at a friends house. BJ was holding her up while she did her business, and she looked in his eyes and said seriously, "Don't worry, Dad. My butt is okay."

10. And to end, I'm going to simply let my brother and sister-in-law speak. This is the limerick they wrote for Lydia's birthday:

There once was a girl named Lydie,
Who was so itty-bitty.
Though in this small girl,
Great furies unfurl,
We still think she's sweet and pretty.