W is Three Years Old

Winston turned three years old!  Three seems so big.  So old.  I feel like I've joined the ranks of the grown up moms with "big kids."  He's a little person with an enormous personality and an even greater amount of energy.  He is still so sensitive and kind, yet rough and tough and seemingly indestructible.  

Here are some more things I love about this boy and funny one-liners:  

• He's still obsessive about baseball.  Anything red is automatically associated with baseball.  I thought his baseball athletics were normal -- he can swing, hit, catch alarmingly well -- but as I've watched other kids his age and even older, Winston has some skill.  Really.  
• (using his Buzz Lightyear straw) "Eyes.  Ears.  Listen to your heart.  Open your mouth.  I dot-cor (doctor)!"  12.12.11
• "Is dat po-fec?" (Is that perfect?)
• "No pwob-wem.  No woo-wee."  (No problem.  No worry.)
• He has this imaginary friend(s) whom he calls his "bwudders," like brothers.  Sometimes his bwudders have a name or names.  Sometimes they're just bwudders.  But his bwudders like to play baseball and hockey and basketball.  Sometimes Winston has to remind them to only play hockey downstairs.  
• He's been on a dragon kick ever since seeing the Magic Flute at the St. Louis Symphony.  In this rendition, the dragon dies, which was a little traumatic for Winston.  But his greatest make-believe always includes some sort of dragon.  
• During breakfast one morning:  "Mommy, you a pwincess.  Sissy a widdle pwincess.  And I...a dwagon!!!"
• Sometimes when I ask him to do something, like brush his teeth, his response:  "OK, Captain Mommy!"  No idea where he got that one.
• He wakes up Mon-Friday around 6:50 when he hears D getting ready for the day.  Thankfully, D gets him a sippy of milk and they hang out together for D leaves.  
• W still loves his blue bike.  He can ride it all over with great balance and coordination.  Now, he can't seem to figure out how to steer with a steering wheel (like on a motorized car or push cart), but he can steer a bike.  Go figure!
• While trying to get out of the door one morning, I asked him (for probably the 10,000th time) to put his shoes on, to which he replied, "Ugh!  My mommy tewibble."  ("My mommy terrible.")  I think he was surprised by my reaction.  I told him he hurt my feelings.  He's only said it once or twice since.  
• He's currently very interested in using the camera and taking pictures.  
• He has the world's best giggle and a million tickle spots to coax it from. 
• He can recite several books verbatim:  Babies, No Room on the Broom, If I Built a Car, The Big Hungry Bear
• "I wanna go on a mission.  A blue mission."  
• W loves to play with friends.   Having friends come over excites him more than anything else.  
• He sings "I Love to See the Temple" and most of "I am a Child of God."  
• At home, he never seems to be fully dressed.  Either the shirt with no pants, or pants with no shirt.  I think he prefers it that way.  
• He loves to "fix" things and insists on getting his tools out if anything needs repair.  
• Lately, anytime you speak to him, he automatically asks, "What?" very sharply.  
• Everything must be done, "All by my self!"  This phrase my drive me (his mother) to drink.  But I suppose I do see the value in his independence.  
• He prefers to play alongside me and/or his sister rather than play by himself.
• One morning W went out to the garage and I could hear him saying, "Ugh, David.  (dramatic sigh) "Aww...Day-vid!"  (another dramatic, exasperated sigh) "Day-vid!"  I had no idea what he was so worked up about, but now I know what I sound like when I'm frustrated with my husband.
• Likes to say prayers.
• Often takes handfuls of toys to bed with him.
• Many nights I will go into his room before I go to bed only to find him asleep with books sprawled out all over him.  W is a bookworm!
• Mealtime can be a battle.  He is still as finicky as ever when it comes to eating...anything.  I think he would prefer an IV milk drip so he never has to eat again.

 A few months ago when my mom was in town, I had had a particularly challenging day with W.  My mom reminded me that Winston is a spirited boy and I would do well not to quash that spirit, which can be one of his greatest strengths and finest qualities.  Good advice.

Questionnaire:  

1. Favorite color:  blue
2. Favorite toy:  choo choo trains
3. Favorite fruit:  strawberry and 'nanas
4. Favorite show:  Caillou
5. Favorite food:  hot dogs
6. Favorite outfit:  baseball shirt
7. Favorite game:  baseball
8. Favorite snack:  pretzels
9. Favorite animal:  elephant
10. Favorite song:  ABCs
11. Favorite book:  dragons
12. Best friend:  Buzz Lightyear...and Josie (Larson) and Mason (Arch)
13. Favorite cereal:  ?
14. Favorite thing to do outside:  baseball
15. Favorite drink:  milk
16. Favorite holiday:  ?
17. Take to bed:  Buzz and blanket
18. Favorite breakfast:  waffles
19. Birthday dinner:  pretzels
20. When I grow up:  big, big, big man