Three!

Happy 3rd Birthday, my sweet boy!  I hope you'll forgive me, as I'm exhausted as I write this, so I don't think I'll be terribly eloquent.  But I wanted to write about who you are today, a new 3 year old, before the days get away from me and I forget the details of the wonderfulness that is you at this age right now.

I'm never sure exactly what to call you - Elsa? Simba? Jake? Daniel Tiger? Super Why? Finn? You love your shows, and will often assume the identity of one of your favorite characters.  The first time you did this was with Daniel Tiger, and that's when I learned that I get to be a character, too.  My favorite is when you're Daniel Tiger, as I get to be Prince Wednesday, and I just LOVE how you say those two words together.  I also love how your face lights up when I remember to call you the name you're going by at that particular moment, and how you'll fuss at me if I call you the wrong name.

Right now your biggest passion is Frozen.  I'm usually Anna when you're Elsa, but occasionally I get to be Elsa and work my snow magic...though last week you took back over as Elsa because apparently I was getting the hand motions wrong when trying to build my snow castle.  You know most of the words to the songs from the movie, and can even act out (down to throwing away the crown) the entire song "Let it Go".

You also love our new swing set, and your favorite thing is for me to push you higher and higher - which often results in you going into outer space to visit Martian Mickey.  Or sometimes you're so high you can catch a plane in the sky and ride it to California to visit Aunt Jennie or Florida to visit Granma and PopPop.  I have to admit, I am looking forward to you figuring out how to get the swing moving on your own. All this traveling is exhausting.

You're leaving toddler-hood behind and becoming a little boy.  I love watching you with your baby brother, and seeing how much you love the newest member of our family. I love how you are so open to sharing your food with me, even if you usually offer me the tiniest possible piece, sometimes taken out of your mouth, in an effort to be generous.  I love how many foods you like, how open you are to trying new foods, and how much you enjoy cooking and watching me cook. You always want to help, and yesterday even got yourself seconds of dinner while I was nursing Zachary - and didn't make a mess while you did it.

I love your ability to laugh at yourself, and I love the look of joy you get on your face when you realize you've made other people laugh, even when it wasn't on purpose.  

Your favorite word is "why" - and you use it all the time.  Sometimes you really want to know the answer, sometimes I think you're just saying it because you don't know what else to say, and I know sometimes you say it just to drive me crazy.

Every night I come into your room to give you one last kiss before I go to bed.  Last night I got a little teary eyed as I said good night to my two year old for one last time.  I'm so lucky to be your mommy, and I'm looking forward to all the fun and craziness of the year ahead.

Love,

Mommy/Elsa/Prince Wednesday

  *******

Oh, I almost forgot!  You had the best birthday this year. This was the last year I can have a party and get away without inviting kids, and I'd planned on something small.  But then one of my partners at work scheduled her housewarming party on the day I was going to have your little party.  Somehow she and the other female doctor came up with the idea of making the housewarming party into your birthday party, and then went way over the top with decorating and planning.  It was quite possibly the best birthday party ever.  And all I had to do was pick up the cake and ice cream.

You didn't like our singing too much

All ready to eat! (and seriously, how amazing was this table?)

Then this morning I surprised you with Frozen and Mickey balloons and rainbow cereal (aka Lucky Charms) for breakfast - and got up early so I could be ready in time to eat breakfast with you.  Since I've been back at work, you've asked me to eat breakfast with you every morning...it was so fun to be able to eat with you in the morning again.  Nanny M brought you and Zachary to work for lunch today, and then you all went to an indoor play center for a few hours.

I picked up cupcakes on my way home, and the three of us had the princess party you've been asking for (while Zachary slept), complete with crowns and a magic wand for you.  I wasn't exactly sure what you had in mind when you asked for a princess party, but the wand and crown seemed to satisfy you.

I hope you had a wonderful day.  I can't wait to see what fun we have this year!

Holy cow!  This is my 400th post!  To borrow one of Finn's favorite phrases, "How'd that happen?"