My Son’s Epic Third Birthday Celebrations

Wow, it’s been a crazy week. I started out writing a sweet little birthday note to my firstborn, on his actual birthday, and then the celebrations overwhelmed the blogging time. (Putting together the yearbook and writing report cards didn’t help either.)

There’s been so much partying that it must seem to him that his birthday really is ALL of June (he’s spent so long telling people, “I’ll be three in June!” that now he figures it’s still his birthday). Is it right for a three-year-old to have this many presents and treats in the span of a week? I don’t know, but it’s pretty fun. Aside from the very early mornings where he must get up and play with his new… whatever.

Here is a much-belated recap.

The Mommy Message:

Friday, June 8th, 2012

Dear E,

Happy Birthday! You are THREE YEARS OLD!

You’ve been waiting for this day for a long time. This morning, Daddy wished you a happy birthday and you were up in a blink. When I reminded you that this meant you’re finally three, you grinned like you could hardly comprehend your good fortune: “Yeah… now I’m three!!”

It’s hard to believe how grown-up you are, for all of us adults who remember so clearly when you were just a baby. From your perspective, I know, you are a big boy who has lived a long time and had lots of life experience.

And you ARE big! You are tall for your age, and you are solid. You run around, and push yourself around on your tricycle, and you do stairs by yourself (mostly), and you get yourself in and out of your car seat. I always have to ask if I can help you with things – and usually you don’t let me.

You are also pretty stubborn and strong-willed. (Where on earth did you get that?) Sometimes you decide that you want things to be a certain way, and you get very angry if we don’t cooperate. You use your loudest, scariest voice, and it’s both hilarious and irritating. And sometimes highly inconvenient (like when we’re trying to get to the babysitter on time). But these moods don’t last long – and we’re grateful you’ve never lost your temper in a public place, like the grocery store (knock wood).

I’m glad you assert yourself. And when we ask you to use your words and your manners, you usually do really well, even if you are upset. It’s amazing to see you learning which communication techniques work.

You are also incredibly sweet, still full of love and cuddles. One night recently, you were having a bit of trouble falling asleep, but you were calm and quiet. I wonder(ed) what you were thinking about. At one point, unprompted, you said, “I love you, Mama,” which never fails to melt my heart. A few minutes later, when I thought you were already asleep, your eyes opened and you stared at my face and said sleepily, “Mommy… you’re pretty.” AS IF you are that charming half-asleep, you little dickens. I was bowled over.

You’re more talkative than ever, and you question almost everything – although, thank goodness, the “why” stage seems to be ebbing a little bit. Here’s an example of the kind of thing you say: “That’s a stegosaurus. Oh, no – actually, it’s a dimetrodon.” (The way you say “actually” just slays me.)

You know you are going to get a lot bigger. Now that you don’t get carried much, you are looking forward to the day you’ll be bigger than me: “And I can pick you up, Mommy!”

I know that day will come. Sometimes I flash forward to it in my mind – particularly when we’re walking together and your still-babyish hand is in mine, and you’re still so miniature with your high little voice, and your sweet face is so beautiful it makes me hurt. Someday you’ll be a big hulking teenager, eating me out of house and home, and I’ll hardly believe you used to hold my hand, give me kisses in public, stroke my cheeks, or say things like, “I want you to snuggle me, Mama.”

I am cherishing these moments as hard as I can.

The Schedule

Wednesday, June 6th – Last day at the babysitter M’s before your birthday. She gave you some awesome presents that made you so happy! (As in, you told me explicitly: “Mama, I’m so happy I have an ambulance.”)

Friday, June 8th – Actual anniversary of your birth! Babysat by Grammie and Papa, big present (balance bike) from Mommy and Daddy, dinner at the restaurant with the “green sun” (East Side Mario’s – you think the Statue of Liberty’s crown sticking out of the roof looks like a sunrise), French fries for you (the only restaurant food you currently eat). The manager gave you a crazy silicone tomato that goes SPLAT if you throw it at a window and then slowly reforms itself. Almost as popular as the bike.

Saturday, June 9th – Rained all day, but you were intrepid enough to go biking anyway. Off to Grammie and Papa’s in the afternoon, more presents, and cake and celebrating with Aunties Em and Beth.

Sunday, June 10th – Beautiful hot, sunny day, trip to the ice cream store with Mommy and Daddy, dinner out again with Grandma J and Grandpa T, and… more presents.

Monday, June 11th – Another day at M’s, then straight to Grandpa R and Grandma S’s. Celebrating with more two aunts, one uncle, three cousins, two grandparents, and two great-grandparents, and guess what – MORE PRESENTS. With a dinosaur theme!

Now you’ve forgotten what it’s like not to be feted and get presents every single day. You’re getting spoiled – but you are so fun to spoil.

The Presents:

1) Vehicles

• 1a) Balance Bike

Here you are on your balance bike. Since you still can’t properly pedal your tricycle, we are hoping this will be more fun and useful, and avoid the need for training wheels later. So far you still just walk astride it, instead of sitting and pushing, but you seem to LOVE it. It must seem like a big-person bike to you.

You were pretty stoked about the helmet, too. (In the picture, you’re showing me with your fingers how you’re three. Note the nail polish – painting your nails was one of the first things we did, at you request, on Saturday morning. Each nail is a different colour of your choosing.)

• 1b) About a dozen Hot Wheels (Zellers is going out of business and Daddy got a little crazy in the clearance dinky car aisle).
• 1c) Duplo tractor with accessories (same situation).
• 1d) One ambulance truck, one snowplough, one racecar, and one truck with trailer (you call it a “spy truck” because it has flames on the side), all from M.
• 1e) A set of tiny Thomas the Tank Engine characters, to go with the Thomas book from your great-grandparents.

2) Animals

• 2a) Dinosaurs! Triceratops, Apatosaurus, Raptor, Corythosaurus, Ankylosaurus (you know their names because of your book, How Does a Dinosaur Count to Ten?)… plus a T-Rex that talks in a growly voice and swallows cars as they come down a ramp… it’s quite something. PLUS, dinosaur pajamas.

 

• 2b) Plush pipistrelle bat with magnetic wings – Grammie and Papa were inspired by your interest in bats, and taught you to say the word “pipistrelle” because there’s basically nothing cuter than hearing you say strange words.
• 2c) A whole set of little tree frogs and turtles with their names printed on the undersides – so of course we’re learning to say things like “Azureus” and “Golden Mantella” – again, mostly because it’s cute.

3) Books

• 3a) First book arrived by mail from our cousin Q – called “ish”, by Peter H. Reynolds. Ideal for you, the little perfectionist – you’re too hard on yourself already when your colouring doesn’t go quite as you imagine it should.

• 2b) Several books from Auntie Em, including “Blueberries for the Queen”, which has ALL the fantastical creatures you could hope for!

• 3c) “Bat Loves the Night”, starring the abovementioned pipistrelle.

• 3d) A set of 8 Disney books from Grandma J and Grandpa T – with a special accessory, below.

4) Technology

• 4a) Disney “MeReader”, which will read any of the 8 books to you. You turn the page and find the corresponding symbol on the machine, and voila! You can “read” the same book as many times in a row as you want. Or the same page, even. (For some reason, you are mesmerized by the page where Nemo and Dory get zapped by the jellyfish.)

• 4b) Your very own laptop – or rather, “Leaptop”, from Auntie T! You are all over this thing. For one thing, our household contains many real laptops. Also, Laura from daycare has one like yours, but pink. You are so engaged with this, you dance to the music and you even talk to it when it asks you things (something you never do with Dora or Diego).

[Note: A large number of your presents this year say, “Ages 3 and up” or “3+” on them. We have checked with you numerous times, and you know the truth: you’re three! And apparently you told Great-Gramma Sue the other day, “When I’m finished being three, I will be four.” Yep, you’re on the ball.]

The Cakes:

You are blessed with at least two Aunties who make amazing cakes!

1) For Grammie and Papa’s on Saturday, Auntie Beth made you THIS CRAZY CAKE. Looks like a normal – though very purple – cake, until you slice into it! (She had the forethought to take photos of the process, so it’s getting its own blog post.)

2) Auntie A made a cake to go with the dinosaur theme on Monday… Wow!

What a lucky little (big) boy. We – ALL of us – love you so, so much. We are very glad your third birthday is happy.

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