To Yums: On the eve of your 3rd birthday party...

I'm glad tomorrow is just your party and not your actual birthday. I need to cling to every last second of TWO I can get. You know, little man, you have just grown up too darn fast for Mommy. It seems like just yesterday we were waking up early to head to the hospital to meet you, while at the same time it seems you've always been here, always been a part of us. My life became perfect the minute we realized you were growing inside me. Had I only realized back then what all the kicks, rib pokes, punches, and headaches you gave me were foreshadowing!! ;) The second you looked up at me with those big blue eyes none of that seemed to matter anymore. You must have remembered the impact your soulful gaze had on my heart as you've spent every day of the last 3 years perfecting it!!! You test and challenge me each and every second of every day, but I wouldn't have it any other way. With your strong will, sense of purpose, knack for logic, and heart of gold you are bound to change the world....you've already changed mine.

As I sit here trying to remember the blur that is the last 3 years, I am so very thankful I've documented it all along the way in photos. They along with this blog have served as my memories when my brain's been too busy trying to stay a step ahead of you. So for next year, when I'll sit down and try to remember exactly who you were at this exact second in time, here's a brief synopsis of you, at almost three:

* You're a Mama's Man through and through. You love playing with Papa, but Mommy must do everything from cover you up with your blanket to make your "hot milk"

* You've never wanted us (or anyone, for that matter!) to sing to you, but for the last couple of months you want Mommy to sing Rock-A-Bye-Baby as you get settled into your bed. And you let me know I'm doing it wrong if my head isn't lying next to yours on your pillow!

* You adore your preschool teacher, Danielle, and have taken to be quite the little class clown. You have a gift for making people laugh...not necessarily a gift for discerning when is the best time for that! ;)

* You and your blanket are still inseparable. Most trips out of the house I can get you to leave it home, but as soon as we walk in the door you want to know where it is.

* You love playing outside in the water hose more than anything and think it's hysterical to try to get us wet!

* You are the most polite little man I've ever met. You are truly grateful when you receive something from someone, despite Papa's efforts to spoil you!

* We can't leave flour, sugar, baby powder, or anything of the like anywhere that you could climb to reach it, as you have an obsession with "making roads" in it with your cars on the kitchen floor. I think we're up to at least 6 times that this has happened...you'd think we'd learn!

* You are so incredibly loving. Many times throughout the day you tell us unprompted that you love us "very much." When Mommy's sick or tired, you offer to rub my back or give me your blanket. If we hurt ourselves, you want to kiss it better. You are so empathetic and so in-tune to the emotions of others. We couldn't be more proud of you.



And because I needed to cry MORE I went back and found the videos from Yums' birth. I chopped out the parts with most of the "ugly crying"....the one below is about a minute and a half after he was born. Gosh, it seems like yesterday...




And a short video of us once we got home. We were/are so smitten! (Btw, notice the blanket?!)