Chim is 3 1/2 years old!

Three and a half years ago Chim came into this world. I remember the weekend before very clearly but by the time she was delivered, I'd had it and I don't remember as clearly as I want to about the rest of the day. Was I happier then than I think I was? Was it nice outside? What did I do all that day after she was born at 7:12am? I remember holding her on the way from the OR to the LDR, and I think from the LDR to the postpartum room.... and it's definitely fuzzy after that.

Now, every day is VIVID. I can't imagine forgetting any detail of this big, grown-up, lovely, lively girl. Not her sweetness, not her imagination, not her sassyness, not her smile. Not the way she chews her tongue when she's thinking hard. Not the way she is determined to do everything "all by myself" except the things she clearly can do all by herself... those things she needs help with.

I know I will probably have to depend on photos and videos to remember in a few years. It's tough for me to remember how she was when she was Badger's age. In videos, she's so perfectly, exactly, herself... but much smaller.

She doesn't get half-birthdays so she thinks I'm just a nice mom today, letting her pick out her own outfit (just terrible: yellow Cabela's t-shirt with a raccoon, peach shorts with flowers, hello kitty socks.) and have ice cream WITH A CHERRY after lunch.