Brigitta is THREE!!!

Now that we are back in the land of Lincoln, I contacted the sweet photographer Kristy who gave Brigitta her first photo shoot (see here). Just in case you've forgotten, remember this stunner?

We set up a date for round two and aside from actually having Brigitta ready, I let Kristy run with it. Photographs of the girls always look better when I just take a step back. Case in point:

Kristy asked if I wanted to be in any of the pictures and I told her no. I wasn't dressed for it, had no makeup on and my hair was in a messy bun. She asked me to sit with Gita while she "tested" the light. Since Gita doesn't remember Kristy, I was trying to reassure her. I'm really glad I have this picture.

Can you sense the frenetic energy she has by that grin?

Gita has a sweetly sentimental side that comes out every now and again.

I love those pigtails flying!

With her favorite book.

Some Queen Anne's Lace

She almost has a halo with the sun shining though her golden hair in this one.

Gita is pointing out the freckle on her belly. Whenever I change her clothes or bathe her, she feels the need to point it out to me. "Dis is my fweckle!" It's like her own little You Are HERE spot.

She's as observant as she is chaotic.

Oh man, I LOVE the flying curly pigtails!

Such a sweet profile.

For these color photos, no editing whatsoever was done to Gita's blue, blue eyes. What you see is what you get.

People often ask me which of my girls looks most like me and I have to say it's Brigitta. She has more of a widow's peak than the Wuehler cowlick, and in this picture you can really see those hooded eyes (courtesy of our Danish ancestors). She's got a touch more Nielsen than Wuehler for sure.

I know someday I'll look at this picture and wish she's a little girl again.

That's my Gita girl!

The money shot and hands down my and Brent's favorite. No editing to those eyes... are you kidding me?

Last year when I sat down to write about Brigitta turning two, I really struggled. She was so exhausting to me as a mom and I just didn't understand her. This past year has been a lot of the two of us coming to an understanding of one another. She's calmed down a bit (although she still licks the bottom of her shoe and sneaks out of her bed during naps). I've come to accept that she is just a different beast (yes, I mean to use that word!) than any of her sisters. I can't clearly see Brigitta's future-- she's either going to be a CEO or run a meth lab but I'm certain she'll be successful at whatever she puts her heart into.

Brigitta frustrates me just as much as she entertains me. It's like the world operates on a very simple cog and wheel system and hers is more of a Willy Wonka Factory type system. We love her to pieces and love watching her grow.

Happy Birthday Gita girl!