How many am I? I'm three

Dearest Mason,

The three candles have been blown out on your cupcake. Friends and family have gathered to celebrate you. Our little light. Its funny because this year you weren't as amped to be the center of attention at your birthday party, which is totally the opposite of me. Baffling. You did want to sing "Happy Birthday" as long as it was to Papa or your George.



At three you are already a giver.

Its amazing what this year has given us. Not only big life changes but all the changes in you! Your personality, emerging daily and lighting up our house. Books would define you as a "spirited" child, you are! You are full of spunk and God's goodness, all wrapped up in one little package. You are stubborn, loving, active and imaginative. You are smart and kind. You are our hearts!

You love to play pretend. You are my little creative monkey, the stories you tell and the magical powers you have are extraordinary. You are able to turn our chairs into flying cars and jump to the top of buildings. You love to talk on the phone and you are the first to respond to an imaginative fire....right after you put on all of your fire gear of course. You remind us daily that channeling our inner kid is so much fun!

The simplest things make you radiate. Just this morning you climbed into our bed to announce "that you went out to the living room already to check and "yup, it was still Christmas , the tree was here! but you didn't see any presents so Santa must still be in that north place!" Dad and I are so excited for Christmas this year because God's light shines bright through you when we think about this special season.

 We love waking up to your sweet voice. The big kisses you plant on our lips with "I love you so much Mom or Dad!" Sometimes we are woken up in the middle of the night and we scoop you into our bed and snuggling. I kiss your cheekies a lot when you do this and in your sleep you smile. These moments will always be in my heart.

I think one thing you do get from me and possible your birth order as first born,  is Bossiness.  Ya its hard to believe but I was very bossy...its ok because as you get older you learn to channel this trait as being direct and assertive. Right now you practice this dominate trait on the dogs and your stuffed animals. Poor George, has sat on a lot of time outs lately.

 

But you also like giving praise.

Maybe just maybe Dad and I are doing some of this parenting stuff correctly!?!?Some days it doesn't feel like that but than there are those moments you show us you have been listening.

SCHOOL!!!  When I come to pick you up at school, I sit outside your class room to watch you...creepy right?:) You are so kind;sharing toys, giving hugs to classmates and helping your teachers. You have a new best friend everyday. My favorite part of these days is when you see me, nothing melts my heart like the way your face lights up as you throw yourself into my arms. The worst parts of those days are the mornings. You have been going to school two days a week for almost a year and every time its a struggle. Its tears and "Mom don't leave me." It stinks but I know how blessed we have it, so like, many things in life, we just do it.

Your teachers comment frequently about three things:
1. Your communication skills. You are a talker. You ask A LOT of questions. Some of them I really have to think about how to answer. For example, the other night while saying our prayers you asked me "where is Jesus?" I told you he is everywhere, kind of a lame answer since you are three and everywhere is an odd concept. SO I said he is in our hearts, your heart, and my heart and Daddy's heart. You looked down your shirt and said "ok, yup I see a baby Jesus in there but I think mine's in my belly!"

2.Your helpfulness; you are a roll your sleeves up and help kind of kid, praying you carrying this through your teenage years! You love to help Dad outside with the yard work. You will stay out there for hours with him, telling me that "this is work for you and Dad only!" It really breaks my heart to have sometime to myself:) but I do have to tell you Girls can mow lawns and Boys can cook dinner!

You do love to cook. Our pancake breakfasts and blueberry muffin making are so fun.

Its funny because with how much you love to help you sure do not like to pick up your toys.

3.Your athletic skills. Mrs. Maria thinks you are a MBA star in the making. You do have one heck of a shot. You can thank Uncle Nick and Aunt Ang. for getting you that basketball hoop for your birthday. They are just helping you on your way to our meal ticket:) You are sports obsessed. Many objects in our house become a bat and a ball and I am forced to utter words my parents frequently shouted at us "no ball throwing in the house!!!"
You started riding a bike this year too! You will go on 2-3 mile adventures with me and 90% of the time you don't complain or need me to carry the bike. Hey we can't be perfect.

But to your Dad and I you are perfect. We are enjoying all these moments, even the challenging ones. We know these days will pass and if we could, we would slow the hands of time. God truly has given us the best gift of being your parents.

All of our love,

Mom (and Dad)