Dear Beck,
I am shocked that I am sitting here, in a hotel with a waterpark on Thanksgiving. Not because I am in hotel on Thanksgiving, but because today happens to be your third birthday. How did this happen? I mean, I guess I knew it was coming. It is truly amazing how much you have learned in the past year. The scariest thing is that we are so used to how you are right NOW that it is hard to remember what you were like before. Before you knew how to jump. Before you knew how to count in English and German. Before you could have full conversations in complex sentences.
After your Kid Rock class in the spring, you and I took an ooey gooey science class together in the summer. We had a lot of fun making slime and painting. You had a blast. It was good to get out just the two of us again. I definitely missed that for awhile when your brother came along.
You love your brother. Usually. Unless he is trying to take things from you. Or destroy what you are working on. You were just pushing him for awhile, but we have gotten to the point where you will now (usually) ask for help. You love to give him hugs and kisses. You like to crawl with him on the floor and have him chase you. He adores you. He smiles like crazy when you talk to him or sing to him.
In the fall you started preschool!! I was nervous about leaving you, but you did awesome! We talked a lot about what would happen, read some books, and, okay, Daniel Tiger helped some too. By the time the big first day arrived, you were ready! In the hallway you asked me "groooown ups comes back....?" Just like Daniel Tiger sings. When I said yes, you walked into the room, found your name on the rug and waved goodbye. It was almost too easy! You love your teachers--Monica and Molly. You love your classmates. It is so much fun to watch you make friends.
Some things have not changed... You still have little interest in using the potty, but I know it will come with time. You are still napping! Thank goodness. You take one nap typically when your brother does, and you usually sleep around 2 hours. That pushes your bedtime back until 9/930, but that is fine with us because then you get to spend some time playing with daddy after work. You go to sleep in you own bed after we read and sing, but you still end up in our room every night. I do not mind this so much anymore because I know it really will not be forever. Typically you climb into bed with us around 1 or 2 a.m. On the morning of your birthday party, you made it all the way until 5!!! Pretty soon you will not want the snuggles, I know.
Oh yes, your birthday party. We had so much fun! It was a construction theme this year and we had catering from your favorite restaurant--Moe's. What else do you love?
Cheese. Tacos. Quesadillas. Pizza. Hot dogs. Those are all the toddler food groups, right? Oh, and chocolate. Candy too, but you do not get that too often. Swimming. Obviously. Going to the park. Climbing. Sliding. Swinging. Running. Going fast in general. Sid the science kid. Daniel tiger. Curious George. Super why. And the occasional episode of Thomas the tank engine or Jake and the Neverland Pirates. Trains. Cars. Trucks. Excavators. Construction!! Good night, good night construction site. Strega Nona. Press Here. The day the crayons quit. Everyone poops. Building blocks. Stickers. Play-doh. Kinetic sand. Monster trucks. Puzzles. Oh, and the iPad. You also love to help in the kitchen (or play in your own kitchen)...baking, making lunch, putting away the groceries. You are a great helper.
We went through a period of cursing. Damn--thanks, Oma. And there may have been an f-bomb--thanks, Grandpa Kahn. We ignored it and you stopped saying it. And we learned to keep our mouths shut more often. You believe that when you are "bigger," you will get to drink beer and help daddy and Kahn fix things.
You are extremely polite. You often say thank you to strangers. Tonight, you thanked our waitress for your dinner at the end of the meal. You are more talkative to strangers in general now. You went through a phase of running in the stores when "somebody is coming!"
In conclusion, you are a whole lot of fun to be around right now! Most of the time. :)
Love you bunches. You will always be my stinkerbutt, my pumpkin, my first baby.
Momma
