Three

Hey Baby! -- That's what I say to you all the time.  Last night when you on your way to bed you gave me a hug and said, "night baby"... Your words are such gifts to me.  This fall will mark two years of speech therapy.  You have come so far. I love the way you are beginning to play with words as you find new combinations to try out on us. My favorite thing about you is that when you smile your whole face lights up.  You truly are my Happy One.

This past year you have grown up so much.  Physically you are a giant. My guess is that you will be the biggest brother when you reach adulthood. It has been a long time since we've had any feeding issues.  The only thing you have left to learn is that if your in the middle of chewing something and you see something better you can swallow what you are chewing, you do not have to spit it out to get the next thing.

Your words are coming, mostly in nouns, but they are beginning to fall out of your mouth.  It's beautiful.

When you fell hitting your head and giving yourself a concussion and me a scare you began processing pain. I was nervous for you as you slept for the first week and thankful that you have an amazing medical team. I've come to be thankful for the fall to as you've begun to understand that some things hurt. You no longer try to touch the flame on the stove or dart into the road and parking lots. Often if you're unsure you ask me if it will hurt. It's good to see you learn caution.

You imagination runs wild. Just last night you rescued a bear from a book we were reading and sampled some of the blueberries they were picking, to find that they were tasty.  You also joined in on Papa Bear's tea time and made sure the rest of us had a cup as well...A year ago when your routine was messed up it could take weeks or even months to reset, but now it's just days before you come out of the tail spin. I'm amazed at how you've grown in just one year.

My prayer for you this year is that you would continue to find your words, and learn to express yourself in healthy ways. I hope that you always fight to grow and never become content with where you are at... And that this is the year you learn to use the potty.

An interview with your three year old self (with help from the fam.):
What's your favorite color? Geen

What's your favorite saying? Go car

What's something that's special to you? Car (specifically Cruz from the Cars 3)

What's your favorite thing to do? Play cars and trains

What do you want to be when you grow up? Based on this year my guess is you'll be a mechanic.

Daddy's favorite memory of you this year is: "How you say "tickle". Finding a word to ask me to play. Melts my heart every time... I also love our bed time prayer ritual and how your list of things to thank God for has grown. It goes like this, I ask you what you want to thank God for and you respond with Mammadadaneeneepapnonowatercarcar. (Mamma, dad, Nana, Papa, Deeno, water, cars)

My favorite memory might be of our dates.  I love how little things bring you great joy. Often when we go on a date you get a cheese burger happy meal and we sit in the car to watch traffic.  You get excited about any kind of truck that goes by with a, "Oh wow! Mommy car! Wow!" and your favorite are when the "Wee-woos" (emergency service vehicles) go by.

Laighter’s favorite memory of you this year is the water gun fights.

Man of the woods favorite thing about you is your laugh.

I love you sweet boy!

Mommy