.:Reece–3.5 Years:.

Where to start with our Reecie?

Reece is a sassy spitfire and a total sweetheart all rolled into one! She definitely keeps us on our toes! Reece is a talker. She is constantly saying, “Look, Mom!” or “What?” or “Why?” or a myriad of other questions. She loves to talk and share stories, and sometimes she just cracks me up with what’s going on in that little head of hers. Reece also has quite the imagination. I absolutely LOVE to catch her and listen in when she is in the middle of a make believe scenario. She frequently uses names of characters from movies and tv shows she watches, and I notice her doing/saying a lot of things that I do/say, especially when she is playing with her baby dolls. Guess I better be careful! It is amazing how much she absorbs without us really realizing it.

Reece loves to sing and dance. I am always amazed at how quickly she can learn the words to songs. We listen to Primary songs (jazzed up) in the car most of the time, and we get to hear re-mixes every nite as she is laying in bed. It is fun to listen to her sing in the car. She is definitely a Stewart at heart – total performer! Love showing off, loves singing and dancing, and loves being the center of attention! She is in dance again with some of her little friends, and it’s cute to watch her.

Like I said in Remi’s post, Reece and Rem are just best buds. Nothing makes me happier than seeing and hearing them playing well together. It always cracks me up how Reece calls Remi, “Rem” like we do. She tries to use logic when talking to Remi, like we do with her, and she just looks out for her. Of course, there are the usual problems with sharing (which are gracing our house right now with all the new birthday toys!) but overall they really just have a lot of fun together.

Reece also loves Harper to pieces. She loves to make Harper smile, and loves to give Harper her binky. It is really nice to be able to have Reece go help Harper if she is fussing and I am trying to get Remi dressed or something! She’s a great little helper, and just so sweet. Reece is always so proud of both of her sisters, frequently telling people how cute they are. Can it please always stay this way??

Reece is a girly girl, through and through! It is rare to find her without a princess dress on if we are at home. She always wears one to play in, and usually wears one over her jammies to bed as well. Lately, she will put on a dress, along with some jewelry, ‘glass slippers’, and a crown and then either just come stand by you with a little smile on her face until you notice her and comment how beautiful she looks, or will just tap you and smile shyly at you. It’s pretty cute.

Reece is a hoarder. She loves to collect things, and keep them from Remi – and everyone else. Some of the usual hoarded items: ‘lips’, magnets, bracelets, happy meal toys, and basically just any small thing.

If you couldn’t tell by the pictures so far, Reece loves to have her picture taken! She is always asking us to take pictures of her, and also loves to take pictures using the camera or the tablet. I’m sure a little camera for her is in her future!

Reece is in a little joy school this year, and she loves to learn! She loves practicing counting (makes it up to around 15) and loves to sing her abc’s. She’s been really interested in recognizing her letters lately, and almost always knows the names of letters. She likes to ‘count’ (as she calls it) by spelling out signs that she sees. We’re working on knowing examples of what each letter stands for. She’s just eating it up!

Reece definitely has her sassy moments, along with some fantastic tantrums. I find that I don’t have tons of patience for them, and I need to be better about that and helping her work through her feelings. I was talking with my friend about a reward system she is going to start with her son, and I’m thinking something like that might work well for Reece. She responds really well to positive things, and shuts down when I react negatively.

Reece is extremely polite! It is rare that she doesn’t say thank you when someone helps her or gets something for her. Even at Halloween, people were so impressed that she said thank you on her own (which is sad that lots of kids don’t!) When I get frustrated or upset at something she does, a lot of the time she will say sorry right away, and even does so if I’m frustrated with something that she had nothing to do with!

We just love our Reecie girl. I feel bad because sometimes I think I expect too much from her since she is the oldest. I need to remind myself often that she is only three and a half, and still very young herself. She really is a smart, helpful little girl, and we’re just so grateful she’s part of our family!!!

At 3.5 years old, Reece likes:

- baths

- books

- movies

- treats

- dressing up

- princesses

- Rapunzel anything!

- playing with Remi

- making Harper smile

- hoarding things

- lips

- purses

- dolls

- ‘nite nite’ (blanket)

- playing with friends

- going to school

- practicing numbers and letters

- talking!

- climbing

- jumping

- chasing

- singing

- dancing

- Primary

- playing games on the tablet

- taking pictures

- helping in the kitchen

- wearing skirts/dresses
- saying prayers

At 3.5 years old, Reece does not like:

- sharing

- being told ‘no’

- not getting her way

- taking naps

- going to bed (it often takes her 1+ hours to fall asleep, no matter when I get her up from her nap!)

We love our Reecie girl!