Alexa turned three years old today.

She received her first birthday present a week and a half ago. It is a Barney that sings the "I love you, you love me. We're a happy family" song. She loves it. It is her favorite song after all.

Sunday night Alexa got to blow out the candles on her first cake of the year. She needs a little practice to get them all. Today we went to have Alexa's picture taken then we met Erika and Sky for lunch at a park. It was a beautiful day and Alexa had a great time on the swings and slides.

Then we headed to the zoo. We arrived just in time to feed the giraffes. What a treat!

Alexa wasn't too sure about touching the snake. She finally decided to touch it though. She is more adventurous than her mom - but someone had to be the photographer!

We also saw monkeys and lions and tigers and penquins and zebras and sea lions and a baby flamingo! - and we had a chance to feed some other animals

and fish.

Then it was time to head home. Mom was exhausted. Alexa got to sleep for a few minutes on the way home but poor Mom had to stay awake to drive. We had a little pizza and oranges for supper then we headed out to a different park. Alexa told someone that she was "born in China". That was the first time I have heard her say that. She also said that she was three years old and tried to hold up three fingers.

After the park we went to Dairy Queen to finish the day. Alexa had a chocolate dipped cone which she loved. She ate the chocolate off then wanted me to eat the ice cream so she could eat the "cookie" (cone).

She is now sound asleep in my bed - where she has insisted on sleeping the last couple weeks. I am headed there myself. I think Alexa had a good day and I know I did.

Alexa had a lot of "firsts" this last weekend. We headed to Grandma and Grandpa's house for one of our family traditions. Saturday night Alexa wanted Grandma to hold her after her bath.

Sunday morning we headed to the Boone County fair and met her cousins for pancakes.

After breakfast we looked at the animals and Alexa fed a llama! After the first one she let mom feed the rest!

Next was her first pony ride. She loved it! The pony's name was Shadow.

And of course no trip to the fair would be complete without ice cream from the Merry Milk Maids. We shared a cone - Brownies and Cream - yum!!!

Then after the fair we headed to Grandpa's garden where Alexa got to pull up her first carrot.



And she got a ride on cousin Andrew's shoulders.

Then back to Grandma and Grandpa's for her first Colorado peach. It was eaten on Grandma and Grandpa's front step with her cousins.

It was a wonderful weekend.

I realized the other day that I had not posted pictures from July 4th. I had to work so our holiday began in the late afternoon. We went to the splash park for the first time this year and Alexa haad a great time. We had the place to ourselves.

I took this outfit to China with me for Alexa to wear to the US Consolate. She wore it then but it fits her much better this year! She has grown in the past year. Next year I will have to get a new dress.
See how much she has changed?
A week ago we headed to the farmer's market downtown. Alexa's favorite part was the musicians. She stopped and listened and then started to dance. She was wearing squeaky shoes and I think she may have drawn more of a crowd than the guy. At one point he paused in the middle of the song and said "she's rockin'". She had a blast. She loved the music and I think she really enjoyed the attention too. Her squeaky shoes drew a lot of looks - from people and from the dogs. I heard one person say that the dogs probably thought she was one of their toys.

When the dance ended we picked up a bag of kettle corn and Alexa got a ride on the "wagon train".

Later that night we headed to Dairy Queen and Alexa had her first ice cream cone of her own. She enjoyed the first few bites then wanted to eat mine because I had a spoon.

If you look closely you can see her "earring".

Thursday we went to the doctor for a checkup and some vaccinations. I am ecstatic that Alexa is now on the growth chart - for weight. She is in the 3rd percentile! She still has not made it onto the growth chart for height but I think next time she will. She has been eating quite good lately so I think she may be getting ready for a growth spurt. She had a finger prick for some blood work and then two shots. She screamed during those but once they were done and she was assured we could leave she said goodbye to the nurse and then said 'Thank you" on the way out the door.

This morning when she woke up I heard her yell for me - "Mom, mom.......coming Alexa. Mom, mom...........coming Alexa." And I was worried about her talking! She can now carry on both sides of a conversation!