Rookie Dad: The Youngling is getting old -- and excited

As of Wednesday, The Youngling turns three years old. With that milestone comes a big girl bed. And with that big girl bed comes a big girl bedroom. No longer will she call the smallest bedroom in the house her own, she gets a bedroom that isn't just five steps from mommy and daddy's room.

But with that big girl bedroom comes plenty of painting and other basic carpentry work for mommy and daddy -- all while trying to keep a curious and excited three year old out of fresh paint and away from discarded nails and saws.

Excitement, though, comes with the territory and it must come with the age too. Ever since she spent the night with her Grandma and Grandpa on the farm outside of Austin a few weeks ago, she's been planning on going back. The first weekend after her sleepover at their house, she went as far as packing her bag and grabbing her pillow. She begged me to help her put her shoes on and get in my car. She wanted to see the corn, the cats, the Mickey Mouse ball, the beach ball, the crackers, the books and the toys in the basement -- and she wanted to see Grandma and Grandpa too.

In preparation for her next visit to the Austin farm, she has now picked out clothes to wear for the big day and I'm sure if I were to mention that we're just over a week away from Thanksgiving at their house, she'd probably have a bag packed and be trying to open the door to my car.

At this point I'm not sure if she even cares about her new bedroom. Grandma and Grandpa are her focus for the time being.