Chubbiness

 Every once in a while, I am reminded that my little boy is growing up. This picture taken last August shows how chubby he used to be, right before he got tall.

And now, he looks tall and lean...fun new stage, but still sad that he's not going to be my little boy forever.

Signs

I seriously love teaching my boys signs. I love it for two reasons:

1. They can communicate.

2. They think whatever sign they just learned is the only sign they know. Right now, "Drink" means "please", "no", "all done", "I need that", "food", "more", "give me that", "thank you", and "drink". This afternoon we have been laughing over the Peaceful Hero's desire to communicate. He signs drink, and we give him his cup and he looks at us so strangely. He really wanted me to lift up the chair that fell over.

This is him signing drink. He was asking to get down.

 

 

I'm THREE!

 When asked a few weeks ago, what he wanted for his Happy Birthday, The Friendly Hero thought about it and told me he wanted a train cake and a baby doll. He has been excited for his birthday since the Peaceful Hero had one. I wanted him to live up to his expectations.

He LOVED the train cake. He helped me pick out the colors for the frosting. Pink for the caboose and orange. I couldn't get a third color from him until I asked what color the engine should be, and that was blue.

Blowing out the candles!

 Pleased with his efforts!

 The Peaceful Hero took great pains in eating this cake. It was serious business, and so was he. After all, we don't get cake every day, so he made the most of the occasion--with concentration.

 This is the Friendly Hero's smile for the camera. I know, he looks like he's in pain, but he thinks he's smiling and showing the world how happy he is to be 3!

The Friendly Hero opened one present in the morning, and we had him open his baby doll. He named his baby doll: Patrick Baby Doll. He loves his baby doll, he spent most of the day changing his diaper, putting him down for naps (and getting him two minutes later) and throwing him down the stairs. I asked him if the fall down the stairs made PBD sad, and with a smile, he told me that PBD thought it was funny and LOVED to fly down the stairs. PBD doesn't have any clothes yet, and I'm trying to fix that, but he does have a pirate blanket that we find every once in a while. But Baby Dolls don't like to wear clothes, they like to be in a diaper.

After Cake we opened a few other presents, and recorded him opening some for those who sent presents from a far, like a really cool aunt in Korea. (He still likes the book--and reads it to me now.) He had asked his Honey for a train whistle, and he loves it. The first few times he tried to blow on it he made the noise (hoo, choo) instead of making the whistle blow. I love him so much! Then we had him open a present from Peaceful Hero: Chopping Food. He loves his knife and to cut up the food.

 And a present from Dad: Candy Land. We have played twice and he has won both times.

I am so grateful to have this little boy in my life. He is a joy to be around and there is nothing sweeter than hearing "Mommy, I need ya." Even when it's whiny, as he's trying to get my attention. I love seeing his face light up and knowing that I am helping him learn and helping him feel love.

*We went to the store in the morning to get him 3 balloons. The Peaceful Hero really has yet to let him play with them. But isn't that what younger brothers are for?

Playing Last Night

 We played around together as a family last night while I baked a cake for a birthday boy. (Tomorrow we'll talk about someone who's 3.)

We had so much fun, all of us, and I had to share a few pictures. The Peaceful Hero with his puppy. He loves stuffed animals, and this is a particular favorite. He sleeps with this one.

Smiling and laughing for the camera, in his hat.

 This is the Friendly Hero's Baby Doll. He wants a real baby doll for his birthday, but he has loved taking this baby doll around. I had to get one picture with it.

The Peaceful Hero is saying a prayer. He loves to help us remember, and this is what he says when he folds his arms for his prayer. At the end, he signs food because Dad mentions putting something in his mouth. He is a good little boy and brings us lots of joy!

Finds on the Camera

 I have been really bad about taking pictures this month. So imagine my surprise when I find out that the Bug Hero has taken a few.

Since he started WALKING he has been climbing! The Peaceful Hero is always looking for an adventure!

 It wouldn't be our house without a little LEGOs running around.

 Yesterday I woke up to heavenly smells and to breakfast waiting for me. He even cut the strawberries into hearts! He is so GREAT! (And he took the picture, he was afraid the boys would eat it before I got down.)

Sick

We spent a long time in January and February sick with colds. The two boys had it the worst.* The Friendly Hero had an ear infection, and then the next day we took in the Peaceful Hero. The Peaceful Hero didn't have pneumonia because we had been giving him breathing treatments. He didn't have an ear infection, but had a sinus infection, a cold, and it was in his lungs, nearly pneumonia. He wasn't very happy. But after two days on medicine, he was very happy.

All said and done we are grateful for our doctor. We are also really grateful that the boys are healthy. We are enjoying playing together.

We are looking forward to Friday. Somebody, a certain 2 year old, has a Happy Birthday then!


*Worst? They ended up with medication and were better within a few days. Dad and I? We're still slowly recovering. At times I almost wish I had gotten a little bit sicker and could have qualified for medicine. The colds this year that have gone around have lasted everyone 4 to 6 weeks.