The Wild One Turns 3!

This week, it's a no brainer...the wild one is turning 3!!  I truly cannot imagine where the time has gone.  Rick said today that felt like Jess was already three because it's felt like she has always been with us.  I agree with that statement, but I definitely feel as though she has completed us.  We were, what I thought to be, a pretty darn good little family.  However, this miracle dawning a tutu, a sassy attitude, and the cutest darn smile you ever saw came on the scene and totally changed my mind.  Jessamine Mae Riebhoff is exactly what this family needed.

It's funny to glance around at pre-J pictures still hanging in the house. They look so empty to me.  For such a tiny little thing she has filled up a big space.  I used to always say about Gabby that she could run into a room and suck all the air out of it.  In a good way.  Well Jess does the same.  She is a strong little presence.  Maybe it's her sisters support and love.  Maybe it's the fact that as the third she has been taken everyone, thrown into every situation, and just been told to go with the flow.  This child is flexible, confident, and dare I say, independent.  I know that sounds a little crazy saying that about a three year old.  I'm just callin it like I see it.  


We went to an art showcase at the school the other night and Jess ran after her sisters, walked around the camps like she owned the joint.  She wasn't looking around for me.  In fact, she didn't even want to hold my hand.  A month earlier we had been at a birthday party and she asked if she could go inside and play dolls.  No other kids were inside and she didn't ask me to go with her.  She just knew what she wanted to do and went for it.  


Ok, so she's confident and cute as all get out but probably what is most special about her is how she makes everyone feel.  Just to watch my Mom's face light up when she gets one of Jess' hugs or to see her sister put down her book when she peeks over the top of it to say 'I love you sissy'.  I won't even bring up how crazy my Dad is about this kid.  She just warms your heart.  This child is pure love.  God knows we have smothered her with it, but she just has a good core.


People always want to know who she looks like and who she most acts like.  On the outside she is my sweet husband all the way.  She has his twinkly blue eyes that get excited when she tells stories or sees something she likes, just like him.  It's fun to see the two of them together.  Peel apart the onion though and you have a mish mash of goodness from all of us.  Jess has the best part of both of my oldest girls.  Even some of the stuff she does that gets her in trouble I still consider to be the best stuff since it will help her in life.  No one ever said strong-willed children were easy to raise. 


So tomorrow I will go in as always to look in and see my beautiful baby girl.  She will have one bebe in her mouth and a slew of others thrown around.  I will pick up that big 3 year old and thank my lucky stars that someone liked me enough to bless me with someone so wonderful.  I will hope that she will continue to keep her spirit, maintain that confidence, know the love of her family is there with her, and enjoy the next year as much as she has this one.  Happy Birthday my wonderful wild child.