Clarke Family Adventures: 3 Years Old!

Little miss Calista Diane is 3 years old!

It's been AGES since I've updated, and there's so much to tell, but for now I'm just going to focus on this little monkey.

It is incredible to see how much Cali has grown this year. She has completely transformed from baby/toddler to little girl. Almost immediately after moving into our new house in August she started sleeping in a big girl bed. In October, we potty trained her and she took to it so easily. So much so that she's now completely out of diapers - even at night! And in the last few weeks, she has started dropping her nap, opting instead for quiet time in her room with her tablet like her big sister.

Big girl haircut over Thanksgiving

She loves to be a big girl, and help with anything she can - especially cooking and setting the table.

Helping chop vegetables

Her favorite things to play are board games - especially the pizza game and doodle bugs - and anything imaginative - especially play kitchen and mother/baby, both being a mom to her baby dolls and being Ceci's baby.

Taking her baby for a walk, a bit cross with me for
being too loud while her baby was sleeping!

Cali is incredible strong, and very confident in her physical ability. She's an excellent climber and can swing on a big girl swing on her own with a little help pushing. She loves swimming and does so independently with armbands (aka water wings aka floaties).

In her element, jumping with a ball on a trampoline at a Christmas fair.

Cali loves her new school, and has made friends there. She loves all the messy play and imaginative play they do there. We are so thankful we've found someplace so nurturing.

Full contact painting at school

Dress up at school

Cali loves animals and has no fear of touching/feeding/holding any of them (even snakes and lizards and spiders!). She has said more than once she wants to be a farmer.

We're so blessed to have a found a childminder for Cali to supplement her nursery school while I'm at work that loves and supports Cali and all of her interests and strengths. In particular, taking her to music class every week and on walks to visit the local farm animals!

Visiting the local ponies on a walk

Having fun at music class

Cali loves books, both being read to and 'reading' to herself. She'll sit still for multiple books at a time, enthralled by the story and pictures. When she had a fever just before Thanksgiving, all she wanted to do was cuddle up and read stories - we must have read every book from her shelf for nearly two hours! Here she is looking at books at our childminder's house.

Cali is still obsessed with her big sister, and their relationship makes my heart melt almost daily. Though they definitely have their disagreements and fights (usually Ceci not listening to Cali and ending up getting hit or pushed) but more often than not they are each other's best friends and constant playmate.