Dear Andrew @ 3 years old:

 

Andrew,

I am amazed every day at how quickly time flies when it comes to my babies growing up. How can it be that you are already 3 years old? You are very much a boy, and very much caught in the stage in between being a baby and being a big boy. There’s so much you want to do on your own and yet there are so many times you just want Mommy or Daddy to be there with you. You still have no interest in using the potty like a big boy but you always want to put on your own shoes. You want to do “school” just like your big sister, yet you don’t quite have her attention span. You throw a tantrum when you can’t get what you want, yet you try to be so tough when you get hurt.

You love all things “boy”: cars, trucks, trains, and rocks (definitely rocks!). You love “vrooming” your little cars around, and especially bigger ones like your dump truck. You love watching trains and construction vehicles and trucks outside and you love any chance to ride one. Basically you love to be outside. You love to push your lawn mower right alongside Daddy—it makes you feel so big. You especially love to play in water and always drop things in the tub just to see the splash they make. (You’re not such a big fan of actually swimming in water, though, and don’t like your clothes to be wet or dirty.) You love to dress up in your cowboy boots & hat and prance around on your horse.

And yet even after all that “boy” you’ll always choose to watch a Princess movie with Leah or Dora. You don’t mind doing girly things just to be with your sister, even if she does get on your nerves when she takes your toys or doesn’t let you play with her. Most of your arguments with her are a result of just wanting to do what she is doing. You also love animals, especially dogs, and you get so excited to see cows or horses along the road when we’re driving.

While you love playing and “roughhousing” with Daddy, you are definitely Mommy’s boy and whenever you get in trouble or get hurt, you always cry for Mommy. And how can I resist that pitiful little face? I hate to admit you can usually get what you want from me. I know you won’t be my baby for long, though, and soon you’ll be interested in bigger boy things like girls or things that Mommies don’t know much about. So I’ll cherish this clinginess now, while I still can. For now I’ll still read you stories at nap and bedtime and still hold you while you drink your cup of milk when you wake up. I’ll still kiss your boo boos and hold you close when you’re scared.

I can barely remember when you couldn’t walk or talk, because you’re non-stop now. Though most of the time you get bored of things quickly, there are some activities you could focus on for over an hour: Play-doh, or painting, or splashing the water in the sink. You love sensory activities like playing in a bucket of colored rice or beans. You have an amazing vocabulary and you’re so smart! You know all your colors and shapes. You’re learning how to recognize some of the letters, but only know just a few at this point. You can count to 15 and order things by size. You repeat all sorts of words you hear on TV and ask SO. MANY. QUESTIONS to figure out what they mean.

My sweet little curly top, you’re growing up so fast and becoming such a handsome little man. And even though 2 has been a rough age and 3 isn’t looking much better as far as the tantrums go, I definitely don’t want to rush you through anything!  I pray you keep your energy and excitement for life and I pray you continue to grow strong in the Lord and know Him intimately.

 

Happy Birthday Little Buddy!