September 07, 2006: Three years old

Veronika turned three last month. It was the first birthday where she really understood what was happening and watching her enjoy her cake, candles and gifts was one of the best times we've had recently. At her annual doctor's appointment she weighed 31 lbs (14 kg) and was 37 inches (94 cm) tall. Again, tall for her age. I wish there were numbers to express all the other things that are awesome about Veronika, because I don't know where to start.

The tantrums have subsided, although the battle of wills has not gone away, but that is normal I suppose. She is very verbal in both languages and she never questions why everything has two names... I'm getting a kick out of her language mixing and her attempts to conjugate ("I goed over there, mama!" or "Mama, hast du mir das gebrungen?"). There are a few words she always says wrong, but I love it so much, I'm not sure I ever really want to correct her: aminals, barrelina (how funny is that?!), nakpin and lellow. She loves to play dress up, steal Ivan's toys (mothers, keep your infant toys for your three-year-old!) and arrange and rearrange things. I find her clips and accessories sorted by colors or all the calico critters in rows and very interesting combinations of items in different purses and bags. She does all this and then forgets, so when I suddenly can't find Ivan's pacifiers, I know to search through all the pink receptacles in Veronika's collection.

She is so vivacious and curious and talkative that frankly, she exhausts me. It would be easier if I didn't have housework or a baby to take care of, but I think she'd exhaust me either way. I understand kids her age need this eagerness so that they can learn, but dear lord, all these questions and requests are destroying the three brain cells that are still alive after all the sleepless nights Ivan puts me through.

Her hair is also getting thicker and longer and we've been able to expand her hairstyles from as-is plus clip to "pinktails" and ponytails. I was surprised how much I enjoy doing her hair. I had long hair throughout all my childhood, so maybe this is a way to remind myself of the times my mom used to comb it. She loves picking out the clip or the ponytail holder and sometimes is even careful to match it to her dress.

Her favorite foods right now are hummus (!) with pita chips, egg salad (she literally hugs me when I make it), ground beef (I love this, mama) and grapes. She is displaying early signs of the typical toddler distaste for green things, but so far it is not really a major issue. It seems to me she doesn't eat very much on a regular basis, but every once in a while she seems to have no limits, so maybe she just stocks up once a month...