CAG at 3

Once upon a time there was a teensy weensy little fellow formerly referred to as the Speck.  Look at his funny little elf face:

And now that teensy weensy baby has achieved the illustrious age of 3!  I know I said this last year, but it's amazing the difference a year makes.  He's grown so much in basically every direction, and is such a little person now. 

(Sometimes he rides the bike and wears the helmet at the same time.)

Of course not everything has changed.  He still loves everything with wheels, though he can identify more of them by name now.  Loves his bike and scooter and gets better at riding them all the time.  He likes to be outside exploring, digging in the dirt, going on walks, jumping on the trampoline, antagonizing bugs or daredevil swinging. 

Just a little stitious.

Generally he has a great appetite, and he particularly loves cheese, peanut butter, fruits, and mac and cheese (who doesn't?).  He's still not a big fan of meat, but pepperoni has won him over.  Occasionally he'll tell me chicken is yucky.

I suppose you could say that in the last year his personality has simply continued to expand along with his physical dimensions.  He knows what he likes and what he wants and he's happy to tell you.  He recognizes when people are sad.  He has a sense of humor and laughs at funny faces and funny noises.  Sometimes we play a game where he says "Heyyyyyyy Mama!" and I say back something random instead of his name, like "Heyyyyyyyy bathtub!"  And he says, "Bathtub?!  Hah!"  Simple pleasures.

I will admit that we did not achieve all the goals I had set for this past year.  In fact we only hit one of them--moving into the big boy bed.  But we'll get to the others soon.  Sooooon.  And he does love his bed, though it took a few days.  

Anyway, he's just a funny and fun boy with lots of energy and lots of interests.  He loves to read books and make silly faces.  Also loves to watch Charlie and Lola and he also got to see a few movies this year (Tangled, Winnie the Pooh and Peanuts) and he still talks about all of them.  He's gotten into music lately too, asking for Lion King and Tangled ("Prepunzel") a lot, but also Princess and the Frog (Tiana) or sometimes the crab (Little Mermaid--I only have "Kiss the Girl" on my iPod...).  I love to see what he gravitates to, though you could say he just gravitates towards fun things in general.

Who needs eggs when you have golf balls?

 Like Baby:

This is a pretty good representation of their relationship actually.  Buddies, with no respect for personal space.  Lately he has been walking her around the house by the hand and trying to get her to make her own funny faces.  She has picked up a few from him as well.  If she's sad in the car he'll talk to her and say "We almost home, Baby.  It's okay, Baby."

'80s style

This was his flower sniffing stance for a while.  ??

He always pauses during a walk to sit in a "little nest."

I'm just amazed at how he's changed and the things he picks up on and understands now.  I love how enthusiastic he is when he says, "Oh!  I know what we can do!  Shall we go outside?!"  And I love when his eyes turn into half-moons with excitement.

(Still loves Kitty too.) 

Not to say that this year was without its bumps.  Like the rejection of potty training and of course the teeth incident.  He's had some epic meltdowns too.  But after all, he is still a pretty little person.  

But even during the meltdowns or when he wants me to move his water for him at bedtime (or tuck Kitty in or adjust his blankets or put his book in the right place or put his car UNDER the blankets or decides his jammies are "too hot.  Too hot, mama." etc. etc. etc.), he is just the best.  I'm looking forward to seeing what my favorite three year old has in store for the coming year.

Intrepid explorer. 

It's going to be good!