Three Years Old

Wow, well my love you are now three years old.  You are not a toddler anymore but a "preschooler" and such a handful.  I am amazed how three years could just fly by without a single thought.  It has been such a ride my love.  You can tell what a little boy you are in your bear pics.  I just look at them and see this little man right in front of me. 

We all know you are quite the verbal little boy.  You carry on such conversations that most three year olds don't.  I have realized that this means you take things quite literally and I have to be careful what I say.  Simply telling you that you have upset me or that I am mad at what you did can send you into a tearful fit.  So, basically you don't want to hear that you have upset Mommy or Daddy. 

You have become quite the handful and I think it has to do with frustration.  You want to do all these things by yourself and you get upset if we try to do them for you.  You tell us you are not a baby!  So we are learning to be patient and you are learning to mind Mommy and Daddy. 

You love Ava so much that when she takes a nap, you constantly tell me she is awake so I will go and get her.  You keep tapping her shoulder and saying "tag, you're it" and then you run off.  She seems quite puzzled by this behavior but eventually runs after you.  You are a very good big brother, everytime you get your drink from the refrigerator, you bring one for Ava too.  You are quick to tell me if you think Ava is doing something she shouldn't (which usually involves eating something she shouldn't).  I know you will be an amazing brother to your new brother too.

You are all about the movie Cars and trains.  But not just any trains, Thomas the train.  I have to say, I do not like watching those goofy shows but it makes you happy so I am happy to read while you watch them.  We bought you a train table for your birthday (took me three hours to assemble) and you love it.  It has been two weeks and it is still in tact, despite Ava's efforts to destroy it.  You play with it for hours, in fact since we have it, you are more content inside than before.

You have a good heart my love.  We pray every morning at breakfast when we read our scriptures.  I know it's a bit much for you to comprehend at this point but you try.  I just hope you know that Jesus loves you even more than I do (which seems impossible) and wants to live in your heart so that you can have a full life.  He is your heavenly Father and He created you in His image and you my love are perfectly made.

So, we conducted a little interview at dinner to see what is going on in your mind right now.  You had some interesting answers and what's crazy is you kept mentioning your brother's name!  It's a secret and when Mommy and Daddy talk about him, we didn't realize that you figured out his name.  So, it's basically only a matter of time until you spill the beans.  I just hope your Nana, Papaw and Mamalu can be patient and not ask you his name because you will tell them, and loudly too. (let's just include everyone here, I hope no one asks you) But for now, here are your answers:

Mommy: What were some of your favorite gifts this year?
Michael: Trains!
Mommy: What is your favorite color?
Michael: Green! Just like Emily. (I assume this is from Little Bear?)
Mommy: Who is your sister?
Michael: Ava and my brother is ####### (yep, you said his name)
Mommy: What makes you really happy?
Michael: Daddy, and you, and Ava and my baby brother ######## (yep said it again).  All of my friends make me happy. (these were your exact words, you make us so happy too baby boy.)
Mommy: What do you want to be when you grow up?
Michael: I don't want to. (well darling, no one really wants to but we can address this later, you enjoy being three)
For your actual birthday, we opened presents, had a yummy breakfast and just played for a bit.  Nana, Papaw, Gigi and Mamalu bought you this awsome playset and you had fun swinging and sliding.  Plus the train table was too good to tear you away from.  We then had lunch at your favorite place, Chik fil A and then headed to the train park.  It was so fun and overwhelming.  After dinner, we ate the best cupcakes with Thomas blue icing.  You went to sleep with some of your new trains and I realized that my baby boy was not a baby anymore.

Summer Fun

I have to say it has been a busy summer for us.  I think that moving closer to our familes has really changed things.  We are busier than ever!  It has been fun though, but this preggo mamma is tired.  Since I am very pregnant, in Texas, during the summer heat, we have been swimming ALOT.  I can't get enough of the water and baby#3 seems to love it.  Best part is, Michael and Ava seem to love it even more!  Michael took off into the deep water without his puddle jumper on! Can someone say, time for swim lessons?

Last week, my brother and his family came down to visit so of course we had to take some time for a baseball game and the beach.  Michael had been looking forward to the game because Derin has been working with him on catching and throwing the ball.  Plus, for his birthday he got a new baseball bat and had begun batting practice.  He asks pretty much everyday if he can go outside and play baseball.  We couldn't wait to get him to the ball park.  He did a great job watching the game for a while, especially since there is a large train in Minute Maid park.  But after hot dogs and popcorn, it was time to get ice cream and walk around a bit.  Michael loved being with his cousins Quinn and Nash and they all had fun making PaPaw chase after them.  I loved every second of it and can't wait to take them both again. Nana and PaPaw arranged for the screen to read Happy Birthday to Matt and Michael.  It was so amazing to see their names up in lights.  And good news, the Astros won in the shortest baseball game ever.  Ah, memoires.

My parents have the sweetest friends that live in the gorgeous condos right on the beach in Galveston.  There were multiple pools, a lazy river, a swim up bar (that I could not enjoy this time) and walk on access to the beach.  We had two private cabanas and all the water fun we could ask for.  Both of my babies seems to have become water babies.  They love the way the water feels and Ava just won't get out.  Now that she is so mobile, you can't look away for a second because she would walk straight for the water.  I personally enjoyed the lazy river, where I could just rest in a tube and let the water take me.  Felt SO good.  Quinn and Nash are professional swimmers, I kid you not.  Nash jumps in without any fear and I think he drank half the pool poor baby, but nothing was going to stop him from jumping in as much as possible.  Precious.  There is no other word to describe how cute the boys were swimming together.

After a while at the pool and cupcakes to celebrate Matt and Michael's birthday, everyone decided to head to the beach for a bit.  I am not really a beach person, mainly the sand bothers me, but when you have little ones you do whatever you can to make sure they have fun experiences.  So off we went.  Michael walked right into the water and just kept going.  No fear.  He loved it and Ava just rolled and played in the sand.  It was so much fun and just one of many firsts, something to cross off our list. 

We went to the strand for a bit and then home so I could head back and prepare for Michael's 3rd birthday party.  It was an exhausting and amazing few days.  There is just nothing quite like summer, I am in love.

Gone Fishing

Well it wouldn't be summer without a little trip before baby #3 gets here.  We went to a lakehouse with the DePalermo/Cano/Summers family and it was such fun.  We swam, grilled and fished.  Oh, and relaxed.  It seems easier to get up early on vacation than when you're at home because there is no schedule, no things that HAVE to be done.

Derin and Michael had a blast fishing and it was fun to watch Michael's reaction when the fish were reeled in.  I enjoyed sitting on the porch in the rocking chairs and just being.  Does that mean I'm getting old?  Oh well, it was fun regardless.

Lots of smores, chocolate and grilled meat make for a perfect trip.  To top it off, we went to the best catfish place I have ever been on the way home.  I never order catfish but this stuff just melted in your mouth!  It was amazing and the kids slept on the way home. What more could you ask for?

Happy Birthday

Well Ava, your birthday party was so fun because it was girly!  Crystals and pink and turquoise!  A far cry from baseball and firetrucks.  We had so much fun with your little friends and all the family that came to celebrate your first big milestone!  You looked so precious in your Mudpie outfit that sadly, only fit once.  You seem to be growing so fast, I need to overestimate your sizes from now on!  With all the cake, and fun you got tired and had to take a little break from the crowd but you were up and ready for your presents.  Such a fun day, one I will never forget.

12 Months Old

Well my sweet little girl, you are no longer my little chubby baby.  Instead you are my beautiful little girl.  I look at pictures of you from just a few months ago and I can't believe how quickly you've grown.  I feel like this year just flew by without a second thought.  You are everything I hoped and prayed for in a daughter and I am excited about what your future holds.

You give me the best hugs and kisses.  You just wrap your arms around my neck and hold on tight and when you are feeling generous, you give the sweetest little kiss and then just giggle. One thing, just one of the many things, I adore is how you crinkle your nose when you laugh.  Just like me!  Your eyes are still blue and we are keeping our fingers crossed they stay that way.  I have always wanted light eyes so I'm so happy to see that you will have them!

You were a great sleeper but it seems you would rather snuggle with Mommy and Daddy in the mornings than stay in your own bed.  Michael has now decided that it is fun too so here we are, the four (really five) of us in Mommy and Daddy's bed.  I am so sore thanks to your kicking and your brother who thinks he has to be as close as possible.  I told your daddy that we have become those people.  BUT, I would not trade these moments for all the sleep in the world because I know that all too soon, they will be gone.

So what are you up to now that you are one year old? Well, you can walk now and it is the cutest thing ever.  You get so excited and proud when you walk that half the time you fall down.  You now know what bothers your brother and it seems you find a bit of joy in doing what you can to stress him out.  You kind of just laugh when he gets all bent out of shape.  I will be happy when you no longer sit next to him in the car because you like to throw things at him and kick him in the shoulder.  Such a little stinker!

You can't seem to rest without your lamb Rachel.  You just love and snuggle her like nothing else.  Michael had stuffed animals but he didn't hug and kiss them like you do.  Such a sweet girly thing!  So needless to say, we must wash Rachel regulary and make sure she is ready for nap and bedtime. 

So my love, you are growing up too fast but I am having so much fun watching you with your brother.  The two of you just make my heart grow more than I ever thought possible.  So here's to another year, each second more precious than the last.