He's 3!

This birthday has left me the teariest yet.  Yep, we have to pay for him with everything now.  Just kidding, I'm pretty sure it's more than that.  I'm so happy with my little boy, and so sad-at moments maybe even panicky- at how fast this is going.  Long days, but short, short years.

He's got these long, almost lean but not really, tan legs that just look so, well, boy-like.  They surprise me every single day.  If he finds a flower he declares it's for me.  Then tells me he'll keep it safe in his pocket.  He holds the door open until I come, even when I don't want to. He's prone to bossing me around.  Sometimes I let him.

He loves rockets, technology, bugs, coins, trains and all things aviation.  He also loves baby dolls, baby equipment and his play kitchen.  He's this mix of strength, independence and sensitivity that often leaves me wondering what I'm dealing with.  He's fearless in the pool, swimming independently with arm floaties and going underwater without them.  He's never met an animal he wouldn't approach (for better or worse) or a roller coaster he didn't want to ride.  But he's sensitive too.  A few days ago Fifel brought a cricket into the living room.  Jude laughed hysterically, "he's kissing the cricket!"  His face slowly morphed into horror, "Fife's hurting the cricket! Help him, mommy!"  I scooped the now 3-legged bug up and euthanized him on the balcony.  Upon returning inside, Jude immediately asked if he had flown away.  I told him I'd check, returned to the balcony and kicked him off the edge.  Yes Jude, he did!


He's reserved in new social situations but loves people he knows.  On our way to a birthday party yesterday he announced. "I like my friends.  I like my grown-ups."  When really pressed, he appears more likely to "implode"  i.e. stop talking, retreat to a space by himself, than to act out. Though, trust me, we see that too.  He keeps me honest.

He loves his brother.  Since my sibling strategy has been to assume they won't be friends, I'm continually surprised by the idea that maybe they will be just that.  He insists on bringing Luke "food" (play food composed of blocks, plastic shapes, etc.) when we go anywhere.  Fake food for a baby that doesn't eat.  Now that's thoughtfulness.  He decided to give Luke one of his two blankies for bed tonight even though I encouraged him not too.  He asks Luke questions and takes Luke's bobbing head as an affirmative "yes."  Jude: "Lukey would you like a penny? Okay, here you are."  "Lukey, would you like to play trains?  Okay, sit in your seat."  Jude still wants another baby brother; today he added that he just wants two baby brothers, that's it. Noted.

He is happy that his birthday party isn't today because, well, he wants to actually enjoy his birthday.  He has decided that he doesn't want to go to his party.  (reserved, remember?)  As he puts it, "I don't need to be three."  Last week I asked him what he wanted on his birthday cake.  "A moon flag and lunar lander."  Lesson learned: do not ask Jude what he wants on his cake.  He keeps adding components to it too: a rocket ship (which I suppose makes sense because the lunar lander didn't get there on it's own, duh), plus two astronauts and moon rocks.  Basically he wants me to recreate the entire man-lands-on-the-moon scene.  No problem.  No problem at all considering I presented his 1st Birthday Cake in heap with a mound of poorly distributed frosting over the top.  No joke.  Can't believe none of you have mentioned that in the years since. Or at least haven't mentioned it to me.


I just discovered that I could write volumes on this child that I totally get and that completely baffles me.  I'll spare you more and leave it simply as.....


Here's to age three....Happy Birthday, Jude!

We've spent every birthday at the spraypark.  Today was no exception.