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Stephanie Howell

reading, organizing, shopping, momming too close to the sun. Home is wherever the Army sends us.

wordless (ish?!?!?!) wednesday

Oh, sweet Lucy.

I know. It’s so so so hard being three.

No one understands what you are trying to say, and that makes you mad. It causes you to talk louder (and really close to Mommy’s face) and gesture wildly.

And then Mama STILL doesn’t get what you are saying. And that? Makes you fusstawated, as you say.

It’s hard having to choose a different princess dress to wear every day. And then choosing the accessories too? Exhausting.

It’s horrible when you try to kiss your sisters but decide to lick their faces instead. And then they scream!

The humanity.

Mommy won’t let you brush your teeth 7 times a day for an hour each time, even though you ask repeatedly. And she says “No Ma’am!!!” when you suck the toothpaste right out of the tube.

She doesn’t let you have cake for breakfast or yayyipops in bed.

Sigh.

It’s horrible.

Your sisters are always up in your business, your mommy won’t let you use the grown up scissors. You’re not allowed to pull Cate’s hair. Your daddy says “No No! Softer!” when you chunk things at him as hard as you can.

Your favorite song is “I yike fooooood” “I yike chicken ” “I yike pizza” “I yike freeeee fries” and your mean mommy won’t give you those things for every meal.

Double sigh.

Is it any wonder you are perturbed?

I think not.

Comments

  1. Ahahahahaha… oh sweet Lucy your little face just cracks me up! I have seen that look on my three yr old granddaughters face for very much the same reasons 🙂

  11. I absolutely adore this photo! It pretty much sums up how I’ve been feeling the last three months! Maybe I’ll print it to hang on my wall to remind myself that I’m not alone in the “life isn’t fair” department. We princesses have to stick together. Bahahaha! Love the little bits and pieces of Miss Lucy. Oh, and also? My favorite song is “I yike fooooood” too! 😉

  12. Bahahaah! She sings it in this wobbly little voice that is hilaaaarious.
    If you print it and tack it up share a picture! I think this picture could be a greeting card. HA!

  13. Substitute choosing a “Thomas shirt” for a princess dress each day and you have painted a pretty accurate picture of my 2 year old (to be 3 in March), Ben. 3 is the new 2, as they say. 🙂

  15. LOL!!!! I’m dying here and trying not to laugh as I’m feeding the little guy. LOL. Now I’m thinking about what he must be thinking – “what do you mean there are only TWO boobs!?!? SERIOUSLY!?!?”

  20. Oh sooooo cute! I swear – you always make my ovaries hurt and ALMOST want to have another baby LOL. I’ll just live vicariously through you 😉

  21. Three is a magic age. Your girls and your stories of them remind me of those times, fondly.

  28. This is AWESOME!!! So wonderful that you documented this for her to see when she gets older. And the photo is just precious. She is absolutely adorable and yes, mommy – it is tough being three! 😉

  30. What a sweet picture of a sweet little girl. I’m starting to live some of these dramatic moments with my grand-daughter. She is turning 2 next week. Love the post made me smile and laugh out loud, thanks 🙂

  32. What a beautiful post, Stephanie! That photo is such a story and your sweet words add so much. Hugs to little Lucy! And hugs to the Mom who keeps her smiling, too!

  34. Oh My Goodness. How I soooooo love your journaling to go with this picture!!! Now turn it into a scrapbook page for her to read in 20 years- and use the journaling from your blog. She’ll LOVE it someday!

  48. I absolutely LOVE this post! A little peek into the mind of a three year old! I needed this today! Thank you!!!

  50. So fun! (because I don’t have the daily “No” frustration) We are having an awful time with understanding our 3 yr old granddaughter. Think life will be less frustrating when the speech hassles go away.

  52. LMAO! this photo is completely priceless! these end up being some of my favorite photos of my own kids cause they are so raw and honest. I sure hope lucy is able to continue on…such a rough like 😀

  58. The ‘Pouting Princess’ was the caption that popped into my mind as this picture came up. So sweet..so love this…and so understand where you are! Went over this hurdle just a few short years ago myself with my pouting princess! Wine will get you through or fog the edginess of it at the very least!

  59. I love this. So reminds me of my 2 year old granddaughter. She is a princess too and it is exhausting. Sometimes she changes outfits 4 times a day! Your family is great! I have four children also and would not change anything for the world. Thank you for blogging Stephanie and for being courageous.

  60. oh, this one made me giggle. so cute. so stinkery. so familiar to me. 🙂 three was a tougher age for me than two with all of mine…but such an adorable age at the same time, you can’t help but turn your face and smile!

  61. Oh sweet Princess Lucy, I’m sorry you’re fusstatawated. Life will get better in the kingdom of pink, I’m sure. Stephanie I knew there must be a sweet story to go with this stunning photo.

  62. Add some pretty patterned paper, maybe a doily and some sequins – BAM! scrapbook page done. And three is tough. Awesome for sure, but tough. I kind of miss it.

  64. Oh Man! This is awesome. Can Lucy come to my house and teach my two older boys to spend more time brushing their teeth. I can’t seem to keep them in there for more than a minute. Dental hygiene and showering are not on their lists of important things to do. UGhhhh!
    I posted a Wordless-ish Wednesday of our little one today. I love posting on Wednesday’s. I don’t pressure myself to be creative or witty. I just post a fun picture with a few thoughts. http://www.wemartins.blogspot.com/2014/01/wordless-ish-wednesday.html

  65. So cute! Little stinker! 🙂 My almost 3 year old has similar problems. LOL Except his also often include not being able to carry as many cars at one time as he wants!

  66. My three year old niece could so relate. Thanks for sharing. Your writing is one of the reasons I love your blog.

  71. I saw this photo on IG and it made me crack up then! You’re words are just perfect with it. You capture three year old stubbornness very well! She looks such a sweetie!

  75. Hi Stephanie
    I read your every post but I seldom comment. This post really makes me laugh, Lucy is so adorable!
    thank you for sharing! 🙂
    Have a great year in Italy

  77. Didn’t Sadie lick people too? I loved reading this….
    The toothpaste battle made me think of Ramona Q squeezing a whole tube of toothpaste into the sink….you have to read Ramona to your girls!

  78. Oh my goodness….this is one of the sweetest things I have EVER read and I am no spring chicken LOL….I have forwarded it to everyone and added a link to my facebook page in case anyone needed a smile! I always tell my grandkids that it is tuff being a kid but you said it better than I EVER will…thanks sooo much for the smile since this was a pretty cra… day LOL. Spent 3 hours getting my passport so I can go to London, Paris, and Rome in March….I have this fantasy that we will get to meet LOL!

  115. Without a doubt, this is the most precious blog post I’ve ever read! You’ve written this beautifully, captured an adorable picture, and summarized the trials and tribulations of a 3-yr old growing up in such a heartwarming way with just a few words. I had to share this post with my friends and they loved it as much as I have! My heart has melted 🙂

  116. oh, you are good.
    when my son was 3, I found a book “Your 3 year old: friend or enemy” which helped explain how hard it is to be 3.
    ps. I am trying to comment more on blogs on instagram having been inspired by you. 😉

  117. Stephanie, the best photo ever! And your description was great too. Seriously, could she look any more like Harper or you? I think not! Stay strong, although it is next to impossible in the face of such cuteness!

  118. I had the same thought–great photo, loved the journaling–all it needs is Stephanie’s flare in paper and done! So sweet!

  123. my youngest daughter is now 20 and your Lucy sounds so much like my lil Caiby. She also loved a princess dress and used her y’s. love love love your post. TFS!

  127. Just wanted to say I loved what you wrote. I feel we get to know your sweet girls so well. Thank you!