Three!!! (And A Bit ... )

Buddy,

You are now three years old, my big boy! So much has happened for you this past year (give or take a month or two ... Mommy's been a little lazy with your letter)

You made a best friend (other than your sister). This was big for you because while your sister has had numerous friends that she mentions (often) in conversation for some time, you've never said much about other kids. Well, when asked about a specific child, you'll often say, "I not like that boy." You prefer little babies that are not independently mobile as you will not be required to share your toys with them. Then you met Zachary Dover. And suddenly your conversation was peppered with mentions of Zachy. Zach's mom even started refering to you both collectively as "Daxary." The two of you played so well together, mainly a mixture of action figures, Toy Story references, and calling each other "poopy diaper" while laughing hysterically. I'll admit I didn't understand it, but I was certainly thankful for it. You would do ANYTHING as long as I could answer your "Zachy will be there?" with a "Yes." Unfortunately the Dovers had to move to Nashville. We'll visit, but it won't be the same and you know it. You miss your Zachy.

You have some really funny verbal quirks that I love. You still call your sister "Dee-ya." This is more habit than anything. If I ask you to say "Julia," and you stop and think about it then you pronounce her name correctly. Since it doesn't seem to bother Julia, I don't correct you. It will be a sad day for your Mom when you start saying Julia's name correctly without thinking about it. I'm sure it will be like so many other little things about you growing up and it won't register on me until you've been doing it for a while. And I'll ask you yet again, "When did you get so BIG?!?!" and be a little sad that things change so quickly and so subtly that there's no chance to mark that exact moment you grow out of a behavior. I imagine it is better this way. You would much rather hear about the excitement of the First Times than the poignancy of the Last Times. It is much more comfortable for me to reflect on the joys as well, but somehow looking back to discover I didn't realize we reached the end of a phase on this journey reminds me that it is moving all too quickly.

You've also started pausing when asked a question, then prefacing your reply with "Actually ... " You really have to be there to understand how cute it is to see your little head cocked to the side with those blue eyes sparkling and dimples showing and hear your little boy voice draw the word out as long as you can. Makes me laugh every time.

You think the biggest insult to anyone is to call them "Baby!"  You overheard the Justin Beiber song and now sing the first part of the chorus to anyone you want to make angry.  No one really understands that you're trying to be mean, and you are satisfied just to say it without getting an angry response.  Except with your sister, this is pretty much true of your interactions.  You like to make Julia cry when you get mad at her so you yell, but with everyone else you just mutter things like "You're a BABY!" under your breath while walking away.

You have a wide vocabulary and excellent pronunciation.  Nearly everyone understands everything you say.  You have a few words you can't quite say yet: 

"Yuke" = "Luke" (the little boy next door)

"Wellow" = "Yellow"

"Alent" = "Alien" (you have a little alien toy from Toy Story)

When you don't know a word, you are particularly descriptive when trying to get Mommy to understand what you want.  I love hearing your descriptions for things.

You recently got a big boy haircut for the first time.  I was a little worried you'd freak out about the clippers, but you giggled the whole time about how the clippers tickled you.  You look so handsome.  And big!!  When anyone asks about your haircut, you immediately duck your head to show them the top.  And Sunday at church you told me, "Mommy, I get to go into my big Sunday School class now because I have a big boy haircut!"

(picture by Julia)

You are completely potty trained.  It took me by surprise.  It seemed to take forever to get you interested in even sitting on the potty.  You really couldn't see the point in worrying about whether you went in the potty or in your Pull-Ups.  Then one day when we were watching one of the Toy Story movies (again), you asked for a Buzz toy.  I told you that Buzz was a big boy toy and to get it you had to be a big boy and go in the potty.  A few days later, after taking Buzz away when you went to the bathroom in your Pull-Up and giving him back after you went in the potty, you were potty trained.  A few weeks later you decided you didn't like wearing Pull-Ups at night so you went completely to underwear.  Like your sister, you wake yourself up if you need to go to the bathroom during the night.  Unlike your sister, you refuse to pull your pants down (or up) by yourself so you yell to me to come help.  At this point, though, I'm so excited about being done with diapers, I don't mind at all!

Eventually, though, you are going to have to work at dressing yourself.  You have no interest at all in doing this for yourself.  You don't even really care what clothes Mommy picks out for you to wear each day.  Although, you have started announcing that you won't wear any shirt with a collar unless we're going to church.  Fortunately, you don't differentiate between church the Sunday morning service and church the building yet.  So, I can usually get you into a cute polo or button down most days because we head to the church building several days a week for various activities.

You have several favorite excuses when told to do something for yourself:

"I can't do it!"  (very direct)

"I'm too tired!"

"My tummy doesn't want me to!" (you blame a lot of things on your tummy)

You will sit and cry for twenty minutes rather than try to take off your shoes on your own. Mommy's had to step in to stop Julia from helping you after you beg her "Will you do it for me, Dee-ya?" Since I only ask you to do things I know you can do, I don't feel bad about leaving you rolling on the floor in tantrum mode.  If left alone you will eventually do the task yourself.  It just takes a while.  Which is frustrating.  I'm working on my scheduling to get you started getting ready at least an hour before we need to leave the house. (You also do the "I'm too tired" when you are done walking as well.  You squat down and refuse to go forward.  I try to find the humor in the situation rather than get angry. Sometimes that even works for me.)

One area you have excelled physically in is riding your scooter.  You figured that thing out fast, and then proceeded to beat the pants off older kids when "racing" at the park.  You were quite pleased with yourself.  Although we need to work on your sportsmanship ... shouting "I win!!  You lose!!" at everyone over and over isn't something I want to encourage.

Out of everything you do, you love to watch TV the most.  You constantly ask for it.  You've moved out of the Lightening McQueen stage and moved on to the Toy Story movies.  You are very specific about which one you want to watch:

"the one with the birthday party" = Toy Story

"the one with Jessie and Bullseye" = Toy Story 2

"the one with the mean bear" = Toy Story 3

I'm really tired of all three of them, but you love to watch them.  I can pretty much guarantee that will be your first pick when it's your turn to choose what we watch.  If I tell you we don't have time to watch a whole movie, you pick "Diego" (which Mommy likes better than Dora because there is no Swiper to scare you guys).   Tom and Jerry is also a favorite.  One day when we were in the car, I stopped on a classical music station and you piped up from the back seat, "Mom?  This is Tom and Jerry music?"  Pink Panther is also a favorite.  You have figured out how to access Netflix on Mommy's "toy" (iPod) and if I haven't heard from you in a while, I can usually find you curled up underneath my covers stealthily watching something.

You favorite foods are macaroni and cheese, pizza, popcorn, pancakes, hamburgers, chicken nuggets, french fries with ketchup to dip in, grapes, and strawberries. You are not really fond of anything remotely resembling a vegetable.  I sneak spinach and carrots into your smoothies, count the ketchup as a veggie and call it good. If left alone, you will eventually eat most things on your plate.  (Can you tell you don't like to be bossed around?)

You still love Echo and talk to her in the sing-song voice you usually reserve for babies.  We've been visiting my friend Amanda's house and she has two dogs.  Rudy is her golden cocker spaniel that lives inside.  You adore Rudy.  You get so excited when she runs up to greet you and tell us, "He likes me!!"  (gender specific pronouns are causing you fits). Duke is Amanda's husband's hunting dog.  He lives outside and you love to give him treats, too.  This makes Mr. Greg happy since he doesn't want Duke to feel neglected.

But your first love and best friend is still your sister.  You guys are so incredible together.  You play games together with long, elaborate scenarios that you make up.  Barbies, Buzz and various super heroes make frequent appearances.  You two can play together for hours.  Julia will happily build you circles with your train tracks and you will let her diagnose all sorts of ailments as your pretend doctor.  (Mostly, you are told you have a loose tooth.) In true brother/sister fashion, you know exactly what to do to drive her to tears or extreme frustration.  Tattle-tales have made their appearance as has "I'm not going to play with you ever again!"  But, I've also heard Julia tell you that she won't let her friends be mean to you and direct you not to let your friends be mean to her.  You tell her "Okay, Dee-ya!"  When it's time to pick out what color candy or what kind of drink, if I ask you first, you tell me "It Dee-ya's turn to pick first!" You then listen to what she decides and choose the same thing.  Once you both have it, you yell, "Dee-ya, we match!!!" as if it is a huge surprise to you that such a thing has happened.

Little man you are such a joy.  Any amount of time spent with you means I end up laughing.  I love your sweet heart. You are my snuggle bug. I'm so glad I get to be your mom.

I Love You,

Mommy