Ray-Ray's Day

Rachel had a birthday; shout hooray! Today my sweet Ray-Ray turned three. I really can't believe it; I remember so clearly when Emma was three and it didn't seem like that long ago! I look at Rachel's long beautiful hair and how tall and strong she is getting. I watch her scribbles become real drawings of people and things she loves. I watch her use the bathroom and climb a ladder and get a drink and put her clothes away. She is growing up and becoming more and more independent. Thankfully, she is very attached to me still and loves to be with me (which I love!!!). So she is not running away from me too much yet. But still--three years old is a big birthday. She will be a Primary Sunbeam in a few short months!
Here are some pictures of Rachel through the years:

Brand-new baby

6 months old

1 year old

2 years old--amazing what just a year will do--she is a baby in these pictures!


Recent pics of an almost-three-year-old



A few cute facts about Rachel:

She LOVES yogurt and will sometimes eat it twice in one day.

She loves her baby doll April and takes great care of her. April is almost always tucked under Rachel's arm doing whatever Rachel is doing.

Rachel loves babies and points them out to me everywhere. She always asks me if she can "pet" them. Very cute.

She can be mischievous and even gets that mischievous look in her eyes when she is doing something she knows she shouldn't.

She really looks up to her big sister and loves to do whatever Emma is doing.

When Rachel is excited about something she is telling us she will jump as she talks. It's very funny.

She hates having her hair done.

She loves to play with other kids and really enjoys her little playgroup/preschool she attends once a week.

She is so easygoing and transitions very easily throughout the day. This is a blessing to me as her mother!

She loves to swing and go down the slide.

She always has to carry around at least two toys (and sometimes an armful) everywhere she goes. I have to tell her to put them down so she can eat, go to the bathroom, put on her pajamas, etc.

She can recognize about half of the alphabet letters.

She likes to annoy Luke by smothering him and when we tell her to stop she replies, "but I LOVE him!"

She has the most darling little voice with a hint of British accent. It's very charming. I wish I could just bottle it up and sell it. I think I would make a fortune!

Our family would not be the same without our sweet Rachel. She is such a ray of sunshine in our family and we all just love her to pieces! Her great big smile is the best!