Today my toddler is 3

***Life has been busy and crazy and crazy busy but I HAD to find the time to write this for my guy***

Three years ago today I was in the hospital.  I was going through labor yet again to produce another fine child for the raising.  He was born long but small, relatively.  At 7lbs 10ozs he has been my lightest baby.  I remember staring at him for what was probably minutes but felt like hours saying 'you are so small' over and over.

He has remained a tiny guy, not ridiculously small, but he is not the big guy that his brother is or among the bigger kids in his age group.

He was active and alert from the start.  That is not special for my kids.  What was special was his early crawling.  Early walking was nothing new, but the crawling normally waited till 6 months.  At 4.5 months I video taped the guy army crawling all over the floor. 

He is still a super active guy.  He is into everything.  He dances.  And he is so smart.  I know.  Its shocking to hear a mother say something like that. 

He is definitely a challenge, and definitely in one of the harder ages to parent.  The energy and interest and curiosity and need to 'do it himself' does...on several daily occasions...drive me CRAZY.  But there are an equal number of times that I am so proud, like when he counts to 15, picks up toys, hugs his sister, helps with the baby, etc.

He is a nice guy but tough, tough tough tough.  He will get hurt and cry and as soon as you say 'its okay' he's fine.  He will equally play football and princess with either older sibling.  He loves helping with his baby.  And he gives the best hugs. 

He sings his big brother and sister to sleep at night. 

He pretends to be our Pastor as a game, he will sing Jesus Loves Me, have the big kids come sit with him, show them something and pretend its about Jesus, and then pray JUST like Pastor does for Childrens Sermon.  Its pretty amazing.

I am ever so thankful that this little guy is mine.  I'm looking forward to this year, I think 2-3 gets steadily worse for listening and behaving but 3-4 gets steadily better.  That will be very nice I think :)