Right in the Middle

I never did a birthday post for Amanda or Katie, so I'm going to play catch up.
Amanda at Three Years Old!
Amanda is probably my most affectionate child. She loves to hold my hand, give hugs and kisses, and will often just spontaneously tell me that she loves me, or that she missed me. She loves to help Ellie and wants to be big enough to hold or carry Ellie (which usually just annoys Ellie as Mandy is holding her back when she tries to get away!)
Amanda is quite emotional, which often translates into much tears as we enter the "trying three's". She still stumbles a lot (which we attribute mostly to her left foot still having some curvature) and every little spill usually takes much love to get past. After a few minutes, she's a real champ to show me her happy face and move on.
Amanda still loves her lamby and it's still the original lamby! We found a replacement and hopefully when the time comes for this lamby to retire, she'll handle it well. Lamby has seen some serious miles and pulled Amanda through many illnesses, tears, long nights, etc. She's been a faithful friend.
Amanda is learning to be independent. She can dress herself, is great at going to the restroom by herself (but in true girl form, often asks me to go with her just for company!), can get on her own shoes, jacket, etc, puts away the clean silverware from the dishwasher, and CAN make her own bed, but hates to. Amanda
loves to pull out homework whenever Katie does. She recognizes all the letters now and is improving on number recognition. 2 and 5 are tricky! She can spell her name at computer class (given multiple choice what the next letter is) but can't quite recite it out yet. She knows our phone number perfectly, and her birthday. She can also tell you her parents names. Amanda loves to sing. She can sing many primary songs that she's learning in nursery, and also has been practicing lately making up her own songs.
Amanda is often found playing make believe with her dolls. If Katie is around, she'll gravitate toward the activity that Katie is doing, but while Katie is at school, I see more clearly some of Amanda's own interests (which are definitely still influenced by her big sister). Amanda carries around a baby, sometimes putting it in the stroller to go shopping, or to the library. She'll simulate story time or church and will pick up her baby and rock/bounce her while she shushes her "It's okay baby." She loves to load up baskets full of blocks or puzzle pieces while she "shops". Sometimes the puzzle pieces or blocks become food, and she'll set an elaborate table, the dishes full of blocks/puzzles. Interesting in that we have a huge play food set, but that's never the food!
Amanda loves to play outside too. She's gotten much more confident riding her new bike (with training wheels). She loves to ride her three-wheeled scooter but tires on it quickly. She loves to swing and can get on the swings independently but can't pump yet. She loves to go on our daily walks to drop off and pick up Katie at kindergarten, and still sometimes gets upset that she can't stay (kindergarten DOES look pretty fun!).
Amanda has beautiful blonde hair that is silky and still has a tiny bit of undercurl. She has a gorgeous, broad smile and light blue eyes. She is so beautiful. She has dropped considerably in appetite and so is losing any of her remaining "baby fat" or roundness she might has still had lingering. Although she can still sniff out the most remote treat, and then hides under the kitchen table or family room table to eat it!
Amanda is usually the first one up in the morning, and often has a hard time staying in bed at night. Katie and Amanda often stay up giggling after bedtime, and Mandy will finally come out and want to go to the bathroom, or wants her music restarted. She gets the sillies and has the sweetest giggle.
For her birthday, we took Amanda up to Heber and rode the Heber Valley Railroad. It was loads of fun, but really hot. We only took the 90 minute ride and I think 60 would have been enough. During the ride, the train made a stop and two "train robbers" demanding the "money box" got on the train. They had handkerchiefs over their faces and play guns. They had all the passengers put their hands up and almost took our seat neighbor as hostage. We laughed and tried to keep it light, but still play along. Amanda was pretty worried about it. Long after the robbers got off and the train departed again, Amanda kept her hands up and asked repeated where the robbers were, if they're gone, etc. She kept a close eye out the window for them.Amanda loves her sisters. If we're getting ready to go and her sister (usually Katie) isn't ready and coming quickly, Amanda is often telling us to wait for Katie, don't leave her! It's funny! She always wants to give her kisses to Ellie at night too and if Ellie goes to bed early without a kiss, Mandy's sad about it.
In Family Home Evening and scripture study, whenever we ask Mandy a question, she says Jesus. If that's not it, her next try is Joseph. She loves to pray and is pretty good at doing it without help. Sometimes that means, however, that she'll start looking around and telling stories in the prayer (like what we did at the park). But I guess that goods too. I'm sure Heavenly Father loves these child-like prayers and appreciates the relationship she has with him.
It's funny to watch how the girls' play has shifted now that Ellie can crawl and follow Katie and Amanda where they play. If they're building trains or lining up cars, Ellie, of course, comes a long to crash and destroy. Mandy will repeatedly tell Ellie (very reasonably) to go play over there, to leave her cars alone, to not crash her train, to here, play with this instead. It's funny because each time, Mandy fully expects Ellie to understand and obey! And she gets so frustrated when Ellie just continues to sit right there and pull things apart! So far she has not taken the frustration to a physical level, which I think is a tribute to her gentle, loving nature (which is sometimes overcome by other three year old tendencies!).
Amanda is often my store helper and I think she's my preferred shopping companion. She's pretty good about staying close and playing some little games with me to stay happy. She's also a good helper to find things, carry things, and make selections. She's getting more outgoing and rarely has profound shyness. She's interacting more with others her age. She talks about playing at church with friends and we've had few play dates. Only occasionally has she had a bad case of the "mines" during these play dates. She's trying so hard to be big and I want her to slow down! I'm sure that's only going to get worse and worse!
I love Amanda dearly! Being in the middle of three girls, I hope she never feels lost in the shuffle because she is so special and unique to me. I think I see a lot of me in her, personality-wise. I love you Amanda!!