This time three years ago, mommy was trying so desperately to get some sleep, but wasn't able to. Why? Because a certain little monkey wanted to play "hard to find," forcing mommy to stay hooked up to monitors to read your heartbeat. See? You always were a little mischievous, even in mommy's belly.
In a few short hours it'll be that bittersweet day of the year again. You'll be a whopping three years old (eek!), and though I love watching you grow and explore and learn, I realize it takes you further and further away from being that tiny baby mommy and daddy brought home. You've grown so much this year, Jake. You speak in almost full sentences now (and that just seemed to happen over a weekend when mommy was gone!). You're SO independent, wanting to do things yourself and after having done something exclaiming, "I did it! All by myself!" You're a big help to your papaw, especially with bringing tools and equipment to him when he's working on something (the big project this year is a room being built on mema and papaw's house). The build has seemingly been a big wonder to you. You've gotten to see up close a tractor working and a cement truck. Obviously you are typical boy, loving anything mechanical and...well...BIG and mechanical. Trucks, tractors, emergency vehicles, planes, helicopters...yep, you point every single one out to me or daddy. And a lot of times make their noises, too.
Aside from that, your television/movie loves are Sesame Street, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Cars (especially Mater), Horton Hears a Who, Bob the Builder, Super Why, Animal Mechanicals, and Thomas the Train. I love how you now interact with your shows like Sesame Street and Super Why. You really like learning (which is AWESOME...please don't ever lose that). You like to get out your markers and paper and have mommy draw letters so you can trace them. You point out letters or numbers everywhere. You even turn your snack into the alphabet, biting corners or loops off of pretzels or graham crackers to turn them into letters. You absolutely love books, and typically want mommy to read to you at bedtime (sorry, daddy, I guess mommy just does it better!). Any time you can you present a book to mommy or daddy to read. Sometimes we'll read to you, or we'll tell you to "read" to us. I love the stories you come up with, both with books or with everyday things. You once told me that a helicopter couldn't fly because it was sick and had to stay home and watch Sesame Street.
You're so caring and attentive. You ask about your cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and even great grandparents all the time. If someone coughs or says ouch, you immediately ask, "You okay?" You want to see the doggies that come to the house for mommy to groom. You love your kitty cat, Cali. You pick her up whenever she lets you. When she cries, you ask her if she needs help. You help mommy every morning feed your own doggies, Lady and Sprite. You love animals in general, pointing out squirrels at the park or deer in papaw's field. You love when we get to go to Yoder's to see the farm animals there. Your favorites are the goats and pigs (when you see them) and think the turkey is funny when it gobbles at you.
Potty training is kind of at a standstill right now. You do wonderfully going pee pee but are still struggling with going poopy in the potty. Lately you've been telling mommy you need to go potty, but have already gone poopy in your underwear by the time you're there. You get so disappointed when that happens. It's frustrating, but you'll get it.
You also love music. You sing. You dance. You love to play instruments like mommy's keyboard or mema's piano or your toy drums or xylophone. Anytime music comes on a show, you stop playing and say, "Need to dance, mommy." And sure enough you do it. You have a Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer recorded book you got from Uncle Chris, Aunt Danielle, Emily, and Kaila one Christmas. On the last page, after Aunt Danielle finishes reading, your cousin Emily sings. You love to open just to that page and wait for Em to start singing, then you begin dancing around the room.
One thing mommy's really thrilled about is that you love going to church. You're a little nervous lately because we've changed buildings, and you aren't the greatest with change. But you still see Miss Dannielle and Miss Amy and Miss Christine and everyone and always have a good time learning about God and Jesus and the wonderful works that have been done and continue to happen all around you.
Well, you're asleep now and mommy needs to sleep, too. When you wake up you'll be three, or "free," as you proudly state now. You're growing up too quick. You're a sweet little man and mommy and daddy couldn't have asked for better. We love you so much, monkey.
Happy birthday, Jacob!
In a few short hours it'll be that bittersweet day of the year again. You'll be a whopping three years old (eek!), and though I love watching you grow and explore and learn, I realize it takes you further and further away from being that tiny baby mommy and daddy brought home. You've grown so much this year, Jake. You speak in almost full sentences now (and that just seemed to happen over a weekend when mommy was gone!). You're SO independent, wanting to do things yourself and after having done something exclaiming, "I did it! All by myself!" You're a big help to your papaw, especially with bringing tools and equipment to him when he's working on something (the big project this year is a room being built on mema and papaw's house). The build has seemingly been a big wonder to you. You've gotten to see up close a tractor working and a cement truck. Obviously you are typical boy, loving anything mechanical and...well...BIG and mechanical. Trucks, tractors, emergency vehicles, planes, helicopters...yep, you point every single one out to me or daddy. And a lot of times make their noises, too.
Aside from that, your television/movie loves are Sesame Street, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Cars (especially Mater), Horton Hears a Who, Bob the Builder, Super Why, Animal Mechanicals, and Thomas the Train. I love how you now interact with your shows like Sesame Street and Super Why. You really like learning (which is AWESOME...please don't ever lose that). You like to get out your markers and paper and have mommy draw letters so you can trace them. You point out letters or numbers everywhere. You even turn your snack into the alphabet, biting corners or loops off of pretzels or graham crackers to turn them into letters. You absolutely love books, and typically want mommy to read to you at bedtime (sorry, daddy, I guess mommy just does it better!). Any time you can you present a book to mommy or daddy to read. Sometimes we'll read to you, or we'll tell you to "read" to us. I love the stories you come up with, both with books or with everyday things. You once told me that a helicopter couldn't fly because it was sick and had to stay home and watch Sesame Street.
You're so caring and attentive. You ask about your cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and even great grandparents all the time. If someone coughs or says ouch, you immediately ask, "You okay?" You want to see the doggies that come to the house for mommy to groom. You love your kitty cat, Cali. You pick her up whenever she lets you. When she cries, you ask her if she needs help. You help mommy every morning feed your own doggies, Lady and Sprite. You love animals in general, pointing out squirrels at the park or deer in papaw's field. You love when we get to go to Yoder's to see the farm animals there. Your favorites are the goats and pigs (when you see them) and think the turkey is funny when it gobbles at you.
Potty training is kind of at a standstill right now. You do wonderfully going pee pee but are still struggling with going poopy in the potty. Lately you've been telling mommy you need to go potty, but have already gone poopy in your underwear by the time you're there. You get so disappointed when that happens. It's frustrating, but you'll get it.
You also love music. You sing. You dance. You love to play instruments like mommy's keyboard or mema's piano or your toy drums or xylophone. Anytime music comes on a show, you stop playing and say, "Need to dance, mommy." And sure enough you do it. You have a Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer recorded book you got from Uncle Chris, Aunt Danielle, Emily, and Kaila one Christmas. On the last page, after Aunt Danielle finishes reading, your cousin Emily sings. You love to open just to that page and wait for Em to start singing, then you begin dancing around the room.
One thing mommy's really thrilled about is that you love going to church. You're a little nervous lately because we've changed buildings, and you aren't the greatest with change. But you still see Miss Dannielle and Miss Amy and Miss Christine and everyone and always have a good time learning about God and Jesus and the wonderful works that have been done and continue to happen all around you.
Well, you're asleep now and mommy needs to sleep, too. When you wake up you'll be three, or "free," as you proudly state now. You're growing up too quick. You're a sweet little man and mommy and daddy couldn't have asked for better. We love you so much, monkey.
Happy birthday, Jacob!
