Mckinlay Marie

This girl is growing up too fast.  Every time I look at her I'm amazed at how much older she looks, how long her legs are getting and by the concepts and ideas that come out of her mouth.

This is one of my all time favorite photos of Mckinlay.  It was taken by Em.  I love it because it's totally her. The huge grin, the little sparkle in her eye, the whispy hair.  That's my girl. 

 Here are a few things about Mckinlay at 3 and a 1/2:

{Photo by Sarah B.}

-She stopped sucking her thumb!  I took her to the store to pick out any prize she'd like.  I told her she would get the prize if she didn't suck her thumb for a week.  She picked out a tube of kids toothpaste.  Not a My Little Pony, not a Littlest Pet Shop, but a tube of tooth paste.  {Needless to say her Dad was proud.} Between the toothpaste motivation and a little Mavala Stop, she did it!  And fast too!

Hooray!

-Mckinlay loves to sing.  Her favorite's include: Sweet Caroline, The Primary colors, ABC {especially the "pig version"}, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Mary Had a Little Lamb, Hey Soul Sister, songs from Scripture Scouts, and Backyardigans, and any/all the songs from Barbie and the Diamond Castle. 

-Mckinlay cannot stop dancing.  She doesn't walk, but flits everywhere she goes.  She's got some pretty sweet dance moves too.

-She'd eat a popsicle for every meal if she were allowed and then ask for another one for dessert.

-She loves to snuggle and watch movies or read stories.

-Mckinlay's tall.  Like, almost a head taller than a lot of kids her age.

-Whenever she's frustrated she goes "Arrrrhhhhh."  We were wondering where in the world she got that from, until Ty got frustrated, that is.

-She listens to everything we say.  Even things we had no idea she was listening to.  It's pretty funny.  One day I found her on her pretend cell phone repeating our full address, my cell number and Ty's.
"Call this number ---- OR this one ----."
We totally didn't teach her that.

-She loves to play with Eliza.  Especially to tickle her and make her laugh.

-She calls Eliza:

"Cutes", "Liza", and "Little Sparkle Eyes"

You often find Mckinlay in Liza's face saying:

"Hey little sparkle eyes!  Do you have a smile just for me?"

And Liza always does.
No one can make her giggle like Mckinlay can.

-Mckinlay still has a lot of imaginary friends and a very vivid imagination. She comes up with some great stories and plays well on her own.  "Tiko" is still her favorite friend of them all.  The other day we were driving in the car and she yelled, "Mom stop!"  To which I quickly turned around and she said "Tiko doesn't have his seat belt on yet."
Oh my.

-Mckinlay is starting preschool in the fall, 2 days a week.  I have never seen anyone more excited about starting school in the fall.  She talks about it all the time.

  "It's not fall yet because it's still really hot and is summer, but when summer is over it's the fall and I get to go to {pauses to look Ty straight in the eye} PRESCHOOL."

{Photo by Sarah B.}

Love, love love this girl!