Oh my baby girl. Today is your birthday. You are 3 years old now! Three!

You’ve come a long way from last year. No more tantrums and much more laughter.

I spent most of yesterday contemplating you and realizing that you are indeed becoming a big girl and a baby no more.

I miss you as a baby. I miss holding your chubby little self. I miss being able to hold you for hours without you wriggling away.

I just miss my baby.

And yet, I realize this is part of the process. You have to grow up, of course.

But, do you have to do it so quickly?

You spent all day yesterday in your Cinderella outfit. Complete with your crown, purse (not a bag as you so kindly corrected me), and slippers.

Oh the slippers. Heels really. Why oh why couldn’t they have made them flats?

You walked around with your Cinderella self and it gave me horrible visions of what’s to come.

That you also slept all by yourself in your big girl bed the whole night before, just solidified the fact that you’re getting big.

It was just too much in one weekend, my baby girl. Mami is having trouble coping with it all.

Yet, as daddy reminded me, you’re not 13, you’re 3. And so I must keep this in mind.

Besides, you quickly reminded me of just how great 3 can be. Just how great you are, really.

You’re the only Cinderella who can rock out to Eye of the Tiger in her crown and princess dress. Cinderella herself was never that cool.

So keep rocking mamacita. You are indeed truly awesome.

I love you – mucho mucho mucho.