Practically Perfect In Every Way

These posts are backwards. I did the post on Taryn, then the post on Avery, and then decided I needed to highlight Keara too. I don't have any recent pics of Keara that haven't already been posted, so I'm pulling some that you've already seen. We'll be doing this again in a month for her birthday, but here's a preview.
I don't know where I'd be without Keara. We butt heads a lot because I expect WAY too much from her. I have to remind myself often that she is only three. I'm sure that's a first-born syndrome, but she is so responsible, so smart, so...everything. She's the best helper, the best friend, the best sister, the best listener, the most responsible kid. But she has her moments. Some days, they are hours rather than moments. Some months they are weeks, rather than hours. But under the totally normal three year old behavior, lies a truly special kid who has a heart of gold.

I love spending individual time with Keara. It doesn't happen often enough. So we try to make moments as much as possible. Like in the mornings (if she comes in without waking Taryn first) she always wants to talk. She's really into "talking" lately. We do it in the mornings, before naps, and at bedtime. I hope she always wants to talk. We talk about all sorts of things. Weird things, hard things, feelings, frustrations, hopes, dreams, mundane, exciting, things she did, things I did, things she wants to do...everything that she can think of to talk about.

Keara is a great friend. She loves being alone and playing according to her own rules, but there is nothing quite like being with people for Keara. She often asks me to play with her or says, "I need a friend to play with me!" She can create activity on her own, but prefers collaborating with a friend.

She is an amazing mommy. We saw it when she was a year and a half old with her baby dolls (younger with real babies, but she wasn't around them that much). And she's stayed true to that inner love. She loves babies, she loves taking care of things and people. And she always finds a way to include. Taryn drives her crazy, sometimes, but she is also her very best friend.

(with cousin Alana)

Every day, Keara can be found either holding, changing, dressing, carrying, or playing with Avery...or all of the above. She loves to get her dressed and to get her out of her nap. Yes, she gets her OUT of the crib and carries her down the stairs all on her own...I know!
Keara is also ALL girl! She LOVES LOVES LOVES pink and insists on wearing pink every day. She only wants to eat off the pink plate or bowl. She loves to dress in skirts and wear her "black bow shoes." She is hoping for an all pink birthday party, with pink cupcakes, pink frosting, pink ice cream, and I'm sure, pink pizza. I don't know how that'll work, but since she also wants to live in a pink house and drive a pink car, I'm sure she'll want pink pizza.

Keara is the perfect first born and I need to let her be three. But she is so amazing and such an amazing kid that I know we expect miracles from her. I'm loving watching her mind develop as she is understanding more and more and getting so ready for school. She has such a sweet disposition and a sweet heart. I love being in Primary with her, even if she doesn't sing. She still is listening and learning. I wish I could get her to sing "I Know That My Savior Loves Me" for the camera. She knows it all and sings it a few times a day. Taryn even knows the words too now. I love being in the other room and hearing Keara asking Taryn to sing that with her. So sweet!

These girls are the greatest! How did we get to be so blessed?!