Three

In three days, Miss Pie will be turning three. Quite frankly, I don't know where the time has gone... and yet, I find it hard to remember a time when this complex, larger-than-life character wasn't with us.

She was only eleven weeks old when we moved to Los Angeles - meaning that she has already lived 90% of her life in the US. That little statistic sounds crazy to me. For now, her accent sounds neutral to me. People comment on her Australian/British accent but I can only put that down to her spending more time with me than anyone else. Preschool is just around the corner and before I know it, I'll have two little girls who twang their Rrrrrs.

She is big on doling out tight squeezes around my neck, usually accompanied by juicy lip-smacking kisses.

She could not be more different from her sister, in terms of personality. She is incredibly assertive and holds her own - even against bigger boys in the park. She is sure-footed and climbs all manner of things in a way which makes my stomach lurch, going faster and higher than any other three-year-old girl I've known. She is bossy and loves nothing more than to direct how we play, down to what words I should be saying and which facial expression I should be pulling. I sense a future in theatre, or some form of entertainment. She can be an absolute clown and is excellent at hamming things up, exaggerating her frowns, sighs, and folding arms across her chest in a dramatic sweep.

When instructed to be careful, her response is usually an emphatic "A course I will be, Mum!" When warned not to do something, "A course I won't!" Complete strangers overhear this, and just about fall over laughing.

She speaks like Elmer Fudd.

She dances like no one is watching.


For all the exasperating moments she gives me, I am glad she's mine.