"I'm 3 now!"

 I still can't believe my baby Hank is 3 years old!  He is certainly far from baby, and is turning into such an amazing little boy.  The changes we've seen in him over the past few months are incredible.  When I tell people I have a 3 year old I get so many remarks to the tune of -3 is the most challenging age, 3 year olds are so much worse than 2 year olds,  3 was the least favorite year etc etc.  Well, I realize we're just a month into age 3, but Hank typically hits each age early (he hit the terrible 2's at 18 months and had outgrown it completely by 2 1/2-and it seems the same is holding true for 3).  I have to say, that I am really enjoying age 3, certainly compared to age 2.  We've had our share of challenges with manipulating us, pushing the limits, etc...but honestly Hank responds to discipline really well and is just so darn smart that he figures out quickly that he'd much rather play than be stuck in time out.

I know all parents think their kids are smart, I hear it all the time at work, but without a doubt-Hank is a bright little boy.  He is learning so much right now, and it is so fun to watch him figure out the world around him.  He identifies all his letters, and can spell and identify his own name (he's working on writing it right now).  He wants to read and write on his own so badly, and he works so hard at it--I have no doubt he will be reading in another year.  He is so creative, imaginative, and inquisitive.  He's well into the "why" question stage.  By the end of a day, I have to tell him no more questions because I'm so exhausted from answering them.  "Why do the leaves fall down?", "Why do the seasons change?", "Why are their no clouds in the sky today?"  Without a doubt, each answer leads to another series of questions, when he's satisfied with my answer he'll look at me, nod his head, and say "thanks mom for explaining". Just the other day he asked me to explain the water cycle to him--I told him to ask his dad :)

While, I am so proud of how smart Hank is, what I am more impressed with is how kind and giving he has become.  He is at an age that is typically an "all about me" age.  The age of me, mine, no sharing etc.  Hank is always concerned about other's feelings.  In his class, his teacher told me that he will sit with kids who are upset and pat their back, reassuring them that "mom will be back after lunch".  When his friend Lucia was sick, he immediately went to work making her get well cards.  He loves celebrating other's birthdays as much as his own-he takes great pride in giving gifts to his friends and singing the birthday song to them.  For my birthday, he wrapped up a box of his favorite trains and track and proudly presented it to me saying "isn't it what you always wanted? does it make you happy, mom?".  He wants to help all the time, he will cook with me in the kitchen, ask to help me do chores, and help his dad work on projects in the yard.  I am constantly amazed at his kind-hearted, generous spirit.  This year for Christmas, we are sponsoring a very medically fragile foster child, and purchasing her Christmas gifts for her. Hank absolutely loves this project, after a tremendous about of inquisition about "why does she not have parents?" "why is Santa not coming to her house?" "why is she so sick?"-all questions that are very difficult to explain to him, but unfortunately we live in a harsh world that Hank will have to learn about eventually.  He talks all the time about her, and ideas for things we could get her because "she's very sick and needs our help, and we need to help her"  His kind heart, and generous spirit fills me with pride every day, and actually remind me to step back and find time to give back to others.

Of course we must not forget to mention Hank's size.  He's huge-plain and simple.  At his 3 year old check up he check in at 41 inches tall (98th) and 38 lbs (95th).  He's the size of an average 4 year old , and healthy as a horse (minus all the awesome preschool germs he can't see to refrain from picking up)

So because I feel like I have a pretty awesome little man, and because Johnny says I always go way overboard with birthdays we had a pretty great 3rd birthday celebration for Hank that I've documented with photos below.  On his actual birthday he was up with presents open by 730 am, followed by chocolate sprinkle donuts on the red plate (a family tradition), then we were off to the train museum complete with train ride, chick fil a for lunch, no naps, and pizza and cake for dinner!  The next day was his train birthday party in the park where we hosted about 10 3 year old buddies with a tray of nuggets, cupcakes, and a "yata" (pinata).  Hank was overjoyed with all the gifts he received, and it took a good 3 days to come back down off of the birthday high.

                              

 

We love you Hank! Next up--4!