Hey kiddo! I’m back……

Now where was I? Oh yes! Sleep. Needless to say your bed time routine has changed into somewhat of a big boy fiasco and while I’m sad to see the baby phase ending, I’m happy to report that you still rub the tag raw on your night night blanket and suck a paci like it’s no one’s business. Yes, it DEFINITELY needs to go, but to be totally honest, I just don’t want to be the mean guy. I plan to let Daddy really go there out of desperation. Every now and then I prefer to be the hero in your story 😉

You are talking up a storm. Today you stood at the top of our patio stairs pretending to be a Daddy to your Daddy. You shouted “I so mad!” and continued to explain to him that he “wasn’t following your rules” and “was going to go to time out” and “a new house” which let me be the first to say WHERE DID YOU GET THIS STUFF? Yes! I tell you and Shep often that yall will have to play in separate houses if you can’t get along, and timeout is frequented, but my goodness I never yell “IM SO MAD” and certainly don’t stomp my foot like you did with such spunk. If that’s your version of a Daddy I pity your little ones day 😉 You’re incredibly shy, vocal, a show-off, and an introvert all at once. It blows my mind how many layers lie in such a tiny body. You’re independent beyond your years and take the reins in most aspects of your life. You brush your own teeth, put your own clothes on, socks and shoes, clean up toys, make your own sandwiches, and pour your own drinks. You just don’t want our help in the same way shep does. You DO however want us to do things like we’re your servants at times. Not in an “I want my mommy” or “I need help” way…more like an “I don’t feel like moving or working for it” type way. I get that. I do. But I’m not GETTING that. See what I did there?<<

Your hair only gets curlier when all this time I expected it to be straight as a board by now. It’s like a ball of cotton candy that rests on your head and when you sleep or get sweaty it only curls tighter. I love to lay with you and twirl my fingers into it until you’ve realized I am loving it too much and ask me to stop with your little hand held out in a cheerleader motion. You’re obsessed with your brother and are in constant worry if he isn’t in the room with you. He’s your ultimate comfort. It’s not that you need him to play with you or even that he doesnt drive you nuts (bc he totally does), but you truly do treat him like one of your limbs. He’s an extension of you and if you wake and he isn’t there, or notice he’s left and didn’t see him leave…….you panic. “I need him” you tell me. We find him and all is well in the world. No hugging, no recognition. Just home base. Everything is back in order for you to function at full 3 year old capacity.

You are still a horrendous eater. It literally makes me want to cry my eyes out every single day. Night that you actually eat your meal without a struggle I sit and stare at you with love-struck eyes. It actually makes me happier than watching someone eat should ever make a person feel. It’s as is I’ve won the year. One night peas are your friend and I die of excitement and the next, you’re nearly throwing up bc of a pea. I don’t understand it. I don’t pretend to. I will continue to pray and throw holy water your way until it’s less of a battle. Until then. BRING IT ON (I kid, I kid. Please stop? PLEASE?). I’d love for you to be made up of anything outside of macaroni and dinosaur chicken. Something tells me you need more than that and choc choc milk or pink drink. Or lellow m&ms 🙂 Shep is over there eating raw veggies and fruit and you won’t even taste a strawberry. Blows my mommy mind. Okay, I’ll let this train die until dinner tomorrow.

BAD GUYS! You love bad guys still. Witches, wolves, giants (fee fies), and all the comic ones. You like to make them go “bleh” aka die (you should hear the way you make that effect) and save the day. You love to capture Daddy the bad guy dressed as Gecco and the way that costume fits you like a glove makes it all the more amazing. It’s the cutest thing you’ve ever seen. Trust me. When the bad guy is coming you always motion to me and shep to “follow me” and summon us to a dark room or closet to hide. You really are such a fun friend and even at 32 I have a blast playing with you. You want me to “talk” when I hold the toys your bring me in efforts to have me play along with you. I’ve been Luna Girl from PJ Masks all week and every now and then a rescue bot. I’ve yet to have a hot cup of coffee in the morning between my duties as mom and Luna Girl voice over, but I’m okay with it for the most part. Maybe Mondays off? Think on it?

One last thing. I’m super proud of you. You’re just very very smart. I hope you know that and run with it. You pick up on things that I didn’t know possible at your age, and I’m blown away by your wit and perceptiveness daily. You repeat things we teach to solidify it in your mind and practice right away. I hope you know how special that is. How blessed you are to have that as a natural response. Learning can be such a struggle for so many and you really have a special spot for it. Never take it for granted. Use it to your advantage. You love to “teach” and “Test” me with flash cards and you’re always so encouraging when I get it right. “yes mama! thats right mama! Good job mama!” I catch myself feeling happy I made you proud and smile knowing that you make other people feel that way. You learned encouragement from Shep and I’m so happy to know that you’ll pass that down to Auggie and the friends around you as you grow.

River. I love you. I love everything between your cotton candy hair and dirty toes with a giraffe blanket dragging behind them. You’re full of kindness, surprise, wit, and loyalty between them and I am honored to be your mother. I always say you were the surprise I never knew I needed. But goodness did we need you. We needed you more than you could ever know. I always have. I always will. Happiest of Birthdays.

Xx

Mommy

ps: attaching photos of the “Green gecco” bike you got and the special birthday morning. We took you to the Galleria to ride the carousel and you built a beauty and the beast beast (or wolf as you insisted) and I even concocted a wolf cake per your request for the day.