3/3*

We had our two May birthdays again!  And they were closely intertwined I guess I'll just do a joint post again.

First, as always, came The Wife's:

McD's!

I took the day off so we could have fun times together and make a long weekend of it.  We surprised the birthday girl with breakfast burritos and a free morning to do whatsoever she wished!  Mom came over during nap while we had a little date for Indian food and a couple of kid-free errands, and then we went to our alma mater to check out some favorite museums and fight some crazy wind and beat some crazy rain.  After putting the kids to bed we had Taco Friend nachos and watched The Big Year and readied ourselves for the big fun to follow...

Ganesh!

This picture is so much.

 

A delicious birthday cupcake...

... which was approved of by all.

Of course this boy had no problem helping out with unwrapping presents (it was good practice for the next day).

Because then, of course, came The Boy's:

Finally hitting up the Natural Curiosity Museum!

... Which it turns out is pretty awesome.  Thanks for getting us in, Nana and Papa!

We just had never been to the Natural Curiosity Museum because we didn't think The Boy would be really into it yet, but we needn't have worried, because even Baby was thrilled with the baby play areas and all the things to see and do.  We were worried it would be really crowded on a rainy Saturday but it was just perfect (though it started to pick up as we were leaving) and having seasoned cousin Brady along to show us around was really fun.

Presents and dinner and...

We were worried that no naps would be had by anyone after the exciting morning, but apparently the excitement wore them right out and a great nap was had by all (well, by both), after which of course came the presents and the dinner and the cake!!!  He loved his giant firetruck puzzle and the megablock play table, and he had a great time making his own little pizza, and visits from Nana and Papa and Matt and Jack are always lots of fun, but the biggest hit by far was the construction site cake.  He has hardly let the diggers out of his sight since, and of course it was delicious.

That cake!!!  It was a HUGE hit.

(And then later that evening the parents of the household took turns sprawled out on the bathroom floor, most likely thanks to Arby's drive-through for lunch, which isn't how we wanted to end the day, but at least it wasn't during the day, and that's all I'll say about that.)

And that means our little man is 3.

I can't get over this shot still.

He's so smart and big and independent and funny, his sense of humor is really showing these days.  He repeats phrases and tones that he hears us say when we're talking to each other and they sound hilarious in his little voice.  Along with this independence comes the very occasional mini-tantrum (or not so mini... he can make his voice heard if he's in the mood and something triggers him).  He loves music and is really into a growing handful of Disney songs (Perpunzel, Baby Lion, Mermaid and Crab, Tiana), which I'm slowly expanding so as to not kill some favorites by overplay.  He's still totally into anything with wheels and is really starting to get the hang of his balance bike.  He loves books and reading and always looks forward to the library, which often results in him staying up way too late reading in his bed (in the dark) but at least he's quiet and relaxing.

Playing with a variety of toys at Barnes & Noble.

Snow buddy!

He loves a sheet wrap.

Riding roller coaster skates!  Just like in his beloved Richard Scarry books.

As The Wife says, shades of Ramona.

Long shot of new Christmas jammies from Nana (which are still a popular choice).

That high-pitched-echoing bear is still hilarious.

Repost of him figuring out how stockings work.

I love days off work.

We finally just replaced that beloved and long-lost Yoda hat.  I love to hear him say, "yyeeEEEEees."

He aaaalways wants to go outside first thing when I come home from work. Pajamas are his favorite clothes and he'll change them several times a day. It would be nice if he were a little more forthcoming with the whole potty training thing, but he's getting there.

He figured out how to hold the pen perfectly all on his own.  O, my son!

Same smiles a couple years apart!

He's still that baby boy.

He loves to get out his own tools whenever I'm working on something.

But he loves Kitty best of all.

Such a good helper with yard work.  He insisted he use the big shovel and I use the little one.

Mooooovie night!  He really liked Perpunzel.

Entertaining himself while we wait a thousand lifetimes of woe and bewilderment in the post office.

Surprise Valentine's Day snow!  Kitty has proper footwear.

A simple place setting for a tea party at Chez Charles.

Bonny Bobby Shafto.  He's such a little mimic these days, especially of the ever so populated Busy Town books.

An exciting discovery while visiting Nana and Papa.

So glad to have a visit from Grandma!  They loved taking her outside to look at all the green things starting to appear.

Fezes are cool.

Dogsitting a mission friend's lab for a day turned out to be the best thing ever.

Always glad to visit Papa and immediately ask to watch Monster Trucks.

He's on track with his teeth-replacement, and nothing can be wrong when you get prizes after seeing the dentist. 

Helping with the refreshments at my cousin's wedding reception.  You turn around for 30 seconds...

"I sit like Mommy!"

Of late he likes to give birth to Kitty...

He's such a sweet big brother and sometimes he's rough and playful (which makes her laugh like crazy times) and then sometimes he's so gentle and leading her by the end and asking if she's okay when she might be sleepy or crying in the car that it just melts us parents into puddles.

He also likes to emulate the birds he loves watching by finding little nests wherever he goes, even if it's just a manhole cover.

What a sweet, funny, bright and vibrant boy we have.  I cried just a little bit the night before his birthday when I suddenly realized he would never be 2 again.  But we're so happy to have him and so looking forward to what 3 brings.