Alabama is 3!

Alabama is 3 years old today! So I feel like that is totally not a baby anymore, but such a big girl. She was so excited to turn 3. She asked me Thursday..."Am I big, now?" ha! She's been telling people all day that she's 3. I'm a little sad that she's growing up but of course excited at the same time. I tell her all the time that I want her to stay little forever but she never agrees. :-)
Alabama,
You are the most precious little girl ever and I am so so happy and honored and thankful to be your Mama. I tell you all the time how much I love you and I could never tell you enough for you to know how much I do! You are soo sweet that I can't stand it sometimes. Like when you pray and say "Thank you Lord for Mama. Help her take care of me and Pate," and when you pray for everyone who is sick, and when you tell Daddy out of the blue, "I like your hair cut.", and when you want me to hold you and you tell me you love me, and when you hug your brother and say "I love you, Pate.", and when you are such a good helper all the time, and when you say in the sweetest, cutest voice, "you're welcome".
Sometimes, your're not so sweet of course, but the sweetness outshines the ugly even when you cry almost every night during your bath, or have all but stopped taking naps, or when you lay on the floor and cry when you don't get your way, or when you won't walk outside without me holding you because you're scared of the "yellow-eyed cat".
You are beautiful beyond words and I want so badly for you to be beautiful on the inside, too. I tell you all the time, it doesn't matter how pretty you are on the outside if you're not pretty on the inside, too.
You  love to play games and pretend all sorts of differnt things. You love to play school and "kids" with Mimi. You like to cook in your kitchen. You like to be a cheerleader. You like to play play-doh, color, and paint. You used to pretend all the time that you were someone else, but most days, you're Alabama now. You like to watch Barney, Tinkerbell, Strawberry shortcake, Minnie Mouse, Veggie Tales, Robin Hood, Sesame Street, and the Letter Factory.
You are so so shy when you first meet someone or are not around them very much. We work a lot on talking to everyone at church. They all think you are such a quiet girl, but I assure them that is not the case at home! ha! You don't really like big crowds either.
You are so smart! You know your ABC's but sometimes leave out J and N. You can count to 12. You know lots of songs that you have learned at Preschool. You can recognize about half of the letters now and know a lot of the sounds they make. It is so much fun to see you learn. You still have the best memory and do not forget anything!
You are the funniest kid! You have us laughing every single day. Sometimes you mean to but lots of times you don't. If I say something that's not right, you'll ask me," You was just kiddin' Mama?" ha!
There is no sarcasm with you. You take everything so seriously and are so precise. You will argure about anything that doesn't match up! ha! I wonder where you get that from???
You love to play with your cousins Morgan and Jenna! They are so nice to you and you love them so much!
You wear size 3T-4T clothes and a size 8 shoe. You weigh about 37 pounds.
I could write all night, but I'll stop here for now.
I couldn't imagine life without you and I pray for you to grow up to be an amazing woman who serves the Lord all the days of your life! I pray that you would be such a strong Christian that you would lead others in their walk and encourage them, that you would have a heart for service, and that you would be a prayer warrior. I love you my beautiful 3 year old!