The 3rd Firecracker

is 29 months today.

These faces are not a rarity. If you believe in the whole birth order thang, she is definitely a last born. (But not for long - yikes!)

And yes, just to drown any doubt, that is a halo above her head, thank you very much!

Next month, Clementine will officially be 2 and a half. Right now, when asked her age, I simply say "2." Come October 7th, she will have aged by 6 months. Just like that. It feels...

...all too soon.

This little girl, who quite literally outshines any bulb in the house (or the sun for that matter), is growing. She asks for lollipops in a very different way than she did a few months ago. Instead of, "Pop, please?" I now get (if I'm lucky, of course) "Can. I. Have. A. Pop. Pleeeeease?" That last word dragged out with a tilt of the head and the prettiest little smile on Earth. I should be happy that she's growing and learning so much everyday. The truth is, I am. I love watching her explore and gain more independence as the days go by. But it's happening so fast. I just have to remind myself that this is life and I am so lucky to have her with me.

I mean, I get to spend every single day with her.

How lucky I am.

Even when she does this.

You know, goes through all my makeup. Even my brand new $25 mascara.

Although she's so dang funny it's hard to be mad at her.

Could you be mad at that face?

See?

Then she can be like this.

Sweet.

And Quiet, Sharing, Caring.

Calling out for Sebbie when she's sad.

Walking into the office in the morning to give her daddy kisses.

Standing ever so still as I curl her hair then walking to the mirror afterward to check out her cuteness.

There are so many sides to her.

And she loves her cousins. Especially her girl cousins. Baby Bella is like a doll to her.

Randomly she'll talk about "Bella" and gets this really excited look on her face as if I told her we were going to meet iCarly or something.

She loves her.

This is pretty much the "Pleeeease" face. See the tilted head and cute little teeth? How can I say no?

As difficult as it is, sometimes I have to. I mean, her teeth would rot and her room would be overflowed with babydolls if I didn't.

Usually she just says, "Okay, Mama." And then I think, "She is seriously the best girl in the world."

Unless she hasn't napped.

Now, that's a whole 'nother story.....

Learning to swim

I feel so lucky to have this girl. I think we all feel that way. The dynamics are definitely different with a girl in the mix. Sebastian will give me a certain look when she's being silly or dramatic that tells me how much he loves her.

Him and Ethan ooh and aah when she accomplishes something new or difficult.

Heck, they ooh and aah when she enters the room in a new dress with a matching hairbow.

They get it.

They adore her.

We all do.

It's very cool, actually. It's good for the boys to have a sister to look after.

And it's good for me to have a little ray of light that walks around in her birthday suit and size 8 shoes.

Just in case it gets too dark where I'm standing.