There has been a bit of memory capturing going on here lately – trying to slow down and embrace the summer memories that we are creating. But there’s one thing in particular that I wanted to capture.
You turn three years old this week. Has it been three years already? The years seem to have moved much faster with you, the second and youngest child. I blinked and looked and you are this precocious little big boy – not a toddler as you like to point out.
Sometimes, I’m sad that you’ve inherited my temper and grumpiness but there is a part of me that loves your fire and conviction. You’re fearless in that way. I like to describe you as my little bulldog because you have the tendency to dig in your heels and fiercely protect your ground, all while looking super cute and smushy. Frankly, all I want to do is smush your cheeks. That is probably my downfall because I will let you get away with so many things because you look so cute! But you also have a silly, smart-ass side – you know exactly how to play something to perfect comic pitch.
You still clutch your bag of tricks wherever you go although your bags and treasure boxes seem to have grown exponentially. You can spend hours transferring your assortment of guitar picks, beads, rocks, silly bandz, jewels, pennies, etc. from bag to treasure box to an old Sucrets box to plastic container to ziplock and back again. You also have a ridiculous assortment of stuffed animal friends that have taken up residence in your bed. I have no idea how you manage to sleep there every night.
Happy Birthday. I can’t wait for my next big koala bear hug from you.
{Linking up with Alison and Galit for Memories Captured.}
Oh, he IS very cheek-smushy! Happy 3rd Birthday, young man-not toddler!!
Thank you for linking up with us, Christine!
Alison recently posted..Memories Captured – August Link Up!
Thank you Alison (and Galit) for hosting such a lovely party each month. I definitely look forward to it and the space it provides. The cheeks are just ridiculous. How could you not smush them!
Oh, happy 3rd birthday to your sweet boy! Such a bittersweet time of watching them grow and seeing them develop and, of course, squeezing those sweet cheeks!
Galit Breen recently posted..Memories Captured August Linky!
It is bittersweet – time moving slowly and quickly at once. I love that you are a #cheeklover too!
Aww..happy three! I so love this age!
tracy@sellabitmum recently posted..Little Camp On The Prairie
It is a fun age. See, he’s perfect for Astrid!
Happy 3rd birthday to your Dude! It’s so crazy to see all of the blog land kiddos growing up. Makes me look at mine and see how old they’re getting too!
dumb mom recently posted..Stuff Dudes Like. iPad Projectors and Sleepovers.
Thank you!! It is wild to see all the kiddos grow up. Your dudes are getting so big!!
So darn cute! Happy birthday to him and to you (’cause it’s a mile marker for you too). It goes TOO fast!
misszippy recently posted..1 week, 100% unplugged
Thank you so much. It is a crazy mile marker and it makes me want to pull the plug and make everything slow down, at least for a little bit.
Oh,I just want to smush those cheeks too! My son, who is now almost 7, still has his bags of tricks and mountains of stuffed animals. His love spills over to every McDonalds Happy Meal Action Figure (please don’t tell ANYONE that I let my kids have Happy Meals – that is so unlike me!!!) and stuffed puppy and real life friend. It’s a wonderful way to live. Happy birthday to your most adorable son!
ilene recently posted..Lessons from D
hahaha! I love that you take your kids to McDonalds. We do too – for french fries and ice cream cones. But I like how you describe it – they have so much love that it spills over to every stuffed animal and real life friend tho’ less real life friend spillage for my son. He’s a curmudgeon through and through…mostly.
OMG he is the CUTEST little boy!! I love his cheeks!! Such a beautiful tribute to the little guy, I love this post. Speaks volumes to you as a mama to him, so sweet!
Jess recently posted..Sweatastic trickery (a running tip)
Aww, thank you! The cheeks really can be too much sometimes. I just look at him and I want to squeeze him to pieces. I keep asking if I can have a bite of his cheeks but he won’t allow me. Shame really.
Awwwwww!!! Happy Birthday!!!! He is an adorable little man!! Hope you guys have lots of fun things planned =) Loved your post…so sweet and heartfelt…he needs to read this when he is older =)
Michele @ Nycrunningmama recently posted..No Greater Sacrifice
Thanks Michele! We had his birthday party about a week ago which was a lot of fun. He’s obsessed with dinosaurs right now so it was dinosaur everything. I hope that the kids will want to read some of these posts when they’re older. Can you believe that AJ will be this big soon too?
Isn’t it so strange when they start losing their baby-ness and turning into little people? He’s so cute!
Katie E recently posted..Memories Captured: Back to School
I know. It shocks me sometimes. I’ll look at him or his older brother and just be amazed at how big and grown up they are. And that I can have real conversations with them.
Oh, I want a koala bear hug from him too! I’m also certain that he would get away with anything in my house too with those cute cheeks!!
Three is a great year with your second one. Enjoy and capture every memory that you can!
Kristen recently posted..Birthday Self Photo
The koala hugs are my favorite but I have to specifically ask for them and he is quite stingy about giving them out. I’m really excited about this year with both boys. I feel like we’re starting to emerge from the woods.
i think that fire in the belly will out grow the grumpiness, right? HUGS HUGS HUGS! so cute.
lindsay recently posted..Don’t Stretch it & Recipe
Yes, I think you are right. I kind of love seeing the fire in his belly – and it’s such a round little belly too!
OMG – those cheeks are adorable!
Nadia Venus recently posted..Nice To Meet You
I know, the cheeks. I can’t stand it sometimes.
My Little Man turned 3 recently and I feel the same way about him growing up. He has a digital camera and I love looking at life from his view. It’s like his own moments captured.
Lisa @ A Little Slice of Life recently posted..Make your Pots Sparkle in No Time
Happy belated birthday to your little guy! I love the idea of giving our kids digital cameras and seeing what they capture. That’s fantastic. I might have to borrow that idea.
His adorableness is bananas. OMG.
Cat @ Breakfast to Bed recently posted..Dungeons and Dragons’ Groupies Are Easy
Seriously it’s too much for me sometimes.
awww! I love the photo collage. He is ADORABLE!!! Happy birthday!!!!
jobo recently posted..FEF: what I’m loving.
Thank you friend! I was trying to find as many smushy face pictures that I could find!
Awww! Happy Birthday to a sweet little (big) guy! My first thought when I saw your pics – I want to squish his little cheeks.
Enjoy every precious minute Mama!
Angela @ Happy Fit Mama recently posted..Marathon Training Weeks 11-12
LOL thank you!! That’s pretty much my thought every time I see him.
I LOVE THIS!!! My girls are the same way with their buddies. I honestly have to tell them once or twice a week to throw some of their buddies on the floor at night so they won’t somehow roll over and suffocate!!! (Hannah has at least 15 buddies in her bed at all times.)
Melissa @ Live, Love, & Run recently posted..Weekly Chase: Getting Un-Stuck & Finding My Focus
Seriously, I have no idea how in the world he sleeps with all those friends in his bed plus clutching something in his hand. Although, every night, he does kick out Donald Duck. I’m not sure why Donald but he’s very adamant about that one. LOL.
I could eat him right up! What a sweetie – soooooo cute!
Missy | The Literal Mom recently posted..Was Robert Frost Right? Do Good Fences Make Good Neighbors?
Thanks Missy! I try to take a nibble from his cheeks every once in a while but he swats me away.
You can see by the twinkle in his eyes that he absolutely would have perfect comic timing. What a sweet face!
Thanks May! Yes, he sure does have a tinkle in his eye – especially when he’s up to no good too!
There is no way anyone could ever resist those cheeks!
Happy birthday to your handsome boy.
Mirjam recently posted..Wealthy
Thank you!! Pretty much everyone falls victim to the cheeks. We’re powerless.
What a handsome little 3 year old! Happy Birthday, squishy cheeks!
MamaCassie recently posted..A Family Affair at The Renaissance Faire
Thank you!!
I hope he has wonderful year being three. My son had a great time being three.
JDaniel4′s Mom recently posted..Taking Time to Play- Famiglia & Seoul
Thank you. I getting the feeling that 3 will be a good year and I’m looking forward to it.
Oh my goodness, he is absolutely ADORABLE!! Happy Birthday to your sweet baby/big kid!
thedoseofreality recently posted..WOULD I PAY MONEY FOR THIS: Being Crafty + GIVEAWAY!
Thank you!
He is just adorable. Happy 3rd Birthday.
Susi recently posted..My Boy…
Aww, thank you!
Happy Birthday!! My little guy turns three in just a few days. I can not believe how fast they are already three!!!
Julia recently posted..Capturing Me
Thank you! It is absolutely crazy how quickly the time passes. Happy Birthday to your little guy too!
Looks like there was some fun happening this summer! Happy Birthday too….to the little one.
Leah aka FFPMaMMa recently posted..Pule’s Progress: Daddy’s Home!
Thank you! We have been having a fun summer. I feel like he’s really come into his own these last few months and his personality is shining through.