We've had three whole years to love you. This year has been a big transition from toddler to little boy. You have become much more rambunctious and confident and seem to become more independent by the day. "I do it" was your phrase for the year. While I'd be content to keep you on my hip forever, this is the year you started wanting down, wanting to explore on your own.
You love to sing and be the center of attention. One of my favorite memories of Christmas this year was of you singing 'Away in a Manger' loudly for our extended family. You stood in the middle of your grandparent's living room and sang loudly about 'the yittle yord Jesus' who 'yay down' His sweet head, while the stars in the sky 'yooked down where he yay.' It was priceless.
As much as you enjoy the spotlight, you also enjoy time alone with your books. You have loved books from an early age and I so hope that love continues. Your latest favorites are the Clifford series, Eric Carle books and books featuring ocean life.
Speaking of ocean life, we can not speak of your 2nd year without thinking of Sea World. You love it. We've been many, many times, but each time you watch the Azul show as if it was the first time. The main performer in the show, who you've dubbed 'the Silly Man' is your hero. This summer we got a picture with him and you were adorably star-struck.
You love other kids, but don't always understand the age concept. You wonder why babies can't talk back to you and are equally puzzled when older children go off to play with kids closer to their own age. You call all little people 'friends.' After sharing a couple of smiles with a child at the grocery store, you'll turn to me and ask 'why is my friend leaving?' as the child (and their mom) head to a different aisle. I hope you always make friends so quickly.
You alternate between wanting to be right in the middle of the action and seeking out time to quietly look at books alone. Lately you tend to lean more towards the action side. You and your sister are quite a pair. You have moved past holding your own against her and have become a formidable foe. You can provoke her just about as well as she can provoke you. We spend a lot of time practicing our sharing, taking turns, respecting boundaries and remembering the house rules. It is never dull. Or quiet.
One of my favorite things about you is your sense of adventure. You often wake up asking 'what are we going to do today?' You love surprises and a day full of new experiences. You don't seem to need routines, as you are equally content with a day full of new experiences as you are with a regular stay at home kind of day.
You spend a lot of your days with two females, but you have such a strong bond with the males in your life too. You are happy with me all day, but the moment dad comes home you become his little buddy and stay attached to him. I feel like I barely see you some weekends, as you often prefer to shadow your dad. He doesn't mind.
You love to get into trouble and find new ways to make messes daily. I applaud your creativity, even when it means more housekeeping for me. You've taught me to keep an eye on open bathroom doors, to hide things I don't want you moving and to look in unexpected places for lost items, like when you put my eyelash curler under your seat in the car.
You also adore your grandfathers. They adore you too.
Your favorite foods are cucumbers, hamburgers, clementines, mangoes, triscuits and cashews. Your favorite TV shows are Dora the Explorer, Jake and the Neverland Pirates and Little Bear. You like to listen to all kinds of music. Lately you enjoy a kid's praise CD, requesting the Ho-Ye, Ho-Ye, Ho-Ye (holy, holy, holy) song.
You still have your 'softie,' a blue little blanket you've loved since birth. You also still suck your middle two fingers of your left hand, a habit that drives your parent's mad. You must have an impressive immune system, as those little fingers pop into your mouth regardless of where you've been (like a kid's play area, sandbox or library), exposing you to all matter of germs and dirt. You've been remarkably healthy and for that we are very thankful. You did treat us to our first ever visit to the ER this past year with a scary case of croup one Saturday night. Thankfully you recovered quickly. Your sister, however, thoroughly enjoyed sitting on a hospital bed with you, eating popsicles and watching Alvin and the Chipmunks at 10:30 at night and often asks when we'll go back to the ER.
You love to get into trouble and find new ways to make messes daily. I applaud your creativity, even when it means more housekeeping for me. You've taught me to keep an eye on open bathroom doors, to hide things I don't want you moving and to look in unexpected places for lost items, like when you put my eyelash curler under your seat in the car.
This year you couldn't decided between Buzz Lightyear or Shamu as your cake topper. Since this was actually your first year to get a birthday cake (oops), I made 2 cakes so you could have both a Buzz and Shamu cake. 
I love being your mama and look forward to each day with my sweet buddy boy.
We love you!
2 comments:
What a sweet letter for a sweet little boy!
I love these types of letters. He will LOVE this in a few years when he can read. You are a wonderful mommy and it shines through in this post! Isn't being a mommy just the BEST? :)
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