And no, I don’t keep up with your age in months any more.  I had to count it out on my fingers.  Forty three is quite a large number, can it really be right?  I remember in my pre-parent experience with children, 2-3 year olds were always my favorite.  They are still small enough to seem babyish but old enough to be independent, generally speaking.  And now, seeing you at three and a half, I find myself wishing, like many other ages, I could just put you on hold for a bit.  Stop you from getting any older.  Even on the days I feel as if I might pull my hair out, you are just so gosh darn cute, I can’t help but smile.

  1. I love that you separate the heart marshmellows out of your Lucky Charms and save them beside your bowl for last.
  2. I hope that one day you can hear your little boy or girl tell you “Mom and Dad, you are de most perfect parents I ever saw.  I wuv you.”
  3. I love that you run in the bathroom, stripping your clothes off along the way, slam the door closed, only to yell that you need me as soon as you get on the potty.  Privacy is overrated.
  4. I can’t help but laugh when I see nekid buns tearing down the hall!
  5. And when I was outside trying to unload the car at night, you planted your little potty, the one you never use, right smack in front of the full view glass front door to strip and go potty.
  6. You politely turned heiney toward the neighborhood.
  7. And then you held your shirt under your chin (the only remaining clothing) and hollered out the door that you needed help with your underwear.
  8. I love how dramatic you are, the enthusiasm with which you approach everything.
  9. Including bugs
  10. I love that you tell me you love me at least 20 times a day.
  11. And you always give hugs and kisses.
  12. At night, you always have to tell me just one more thing.  “I hafta tell you just one more thing.  Again.” you say.
  13. You understand my neurotic organization of your vehicles by scale and type (Monster trucks, Cars [the movie] cars, Hot Wheels, bigger scale cars, trains, they each have their own container)
  14. Sometimes I think you have ADHD, until I pull out a book. You will sit as long as I will read.
  15. You love the Skippyjon Jones series, thus you regularly refer to people as wittle crumbcakes or bunny boots and my personal favorite, Mr. McPooh.
  16. You like to read books to me from memory.
  17. Your mind works faster than your mouth.  You get so excited trying to get it all out that you trip over your words.
  18. A kiss and some good hugs can still fix most anything.
  19. You look darn tootin cute in a hat.
  20. The last thing you say to me at night absolutely must be “Good night, I love you, sweet dreams.” If you happen to think of something else you just have to tell me, you have to say the good night sentence again when you’re done.
  21. You are thrilled to go outside and play with rocks, sticks, “flowers,” which are actually weeds, and finding a dandelion is like finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
  22. You always pick those “flowers” for me.
  23. You aren’t a morning person. You pull the covers over your head fussing that it is too bright! And I think you would stay up well past midnight if I let you.  Wonder where you got that from?  Hmph.
  24. You are still small enough to climb underneath the round ottoman in the middle of your granny’s living room. It is like a little tent or cave that you hide in, squealing with delight whenever someone exclaims “where’s Caleb?”
  25. You take the tires off of EVERYthing.
  26. You never forget anything.
  27. Herbie is a brand of car.  Like Ford, Chevrolet, and Herbie.  Every VW bug is a Herbie.  Scott tries to interest you in high dollar Ferraris, but you really just love a 50 year old car that was $1500 brand spanking new and loaded.
  28. You can spot a Herbie from half a mile.  You even check my mirrors!  I pulled in a parking lot and by the time I was out and opening your door to get you out, you were excitedly exclaiming “Dare’s a Herbie, right dare!!”  When I asked where, you replied “In da mirror!”  Sure enough when I leaned in front of your seat, I could see the back end of a new model Herbie several rows over.
  29. The King Krunch monster truck will be an important stocking stuffer, no doubt.  We’ve been looking for it for eight months or so.  You’ll love it.  But not as much as the Herbies.
  30. You told me a few nights ago that I was ‘such a character.’  Then you put your hand over your eyes and tucked your chin down and just laughed shaking your head.  Where do you get these expressions from?  And the ability to apply them in the correct circumstance.
  31. You ran straight up to a little girl, complete stranger, in Kmart last night.  I kept thinking you would stop in front of her.  Nope, you wrapped your arms around her for a big bear hug.  She shied away, and her mom just started laughing, and said “Aw isn’t he sweet?!”
  32. Sometimes you get impatient waiting to get cleaned up after meals and yank your bib off, defeating the purpose of the ‘crumb-catcher’ as it dumps the contents on the floor.  Yes you still wear a bib.  Something to talk about in therapy later.  At least you’ll be wearing clean clothes at our appointment.  Anyway, I give you the dustbuster to take responsibility for your mess.  It turns into more of a reward than a “punishment.”  In fact, you yanked your bib off after breakfast and after the sound of showering cereal crumbs on the floor, you said, “Now I need da dustbuster!”  As it so happens, you are not only content to clean up your mess, but also to vacuum half the house with it.  Which works in my favor anyway.
  33. You correct adults’ English.
  34. You approach everything with a loving heart.  Bugs found inside need to go back outside with their family.  Cars and trucks must be tucked into bed.
  35. I hope I’ll always be able to remember how you say “Oh no no no no” like Petrie from The Land Before Time.
  36. It’s not that I want you to wake up grumpy (you got that honestly), but I do enjoy those extra cuddles before you’re ready to face the world again after sleeping.
  37. In case you didn’t get the memo, putting your hands over your eyes and actually saying the words “Boo Hoo” is not considered crying.
  38. You are keeping the yogurt factories in business.
  39. Milk too.
  40. I think you actually know that you are classic entertainment when we are visiting with family.  I think it is because you like to make people smile.
  41. I love the passionate, caring, and independent big person you are becomming.
  42. I love the needing, gentle, and compassionate little person that you are.
  43. I love you.  With all my heart.

Comments

4 Responses to “43 things at 43 months”

    Scott
    November 29th, 2008 7:39 am

    I love you too monkey

    Jen
    November 29th, 2008 8:20 am

    Awww, very sweet!

    I love this age too…

    Amber
    December 1st, 2008 9:15 am

    I’ve always said he’s the funniest person I’ve ever met! ;)

    Dianna
    December 2nd, 2008 9:42 pm

    Aw, how sweet.

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