P. age 3

*P. is our little chatter-box with a big imagination.  Just yesterday, we were driving to Oma's, and I was really hopeful that he was going to nap, since we were out late the night before and he's always exhausted, but instead he didn't stop talking.  He would be like "Mom, there's a truck, there's a car carrier, that truck is orange, there's the fair, there's daddy's work, hi, daddy", and lots of questions, and if I didn't acknowledge everything he said, he would keep repeating it until I did.  I was hopeful for a nice quiet ride, but instead we had our little chatterbox.  Even N. told him to be quiet, because he wanted to sleep.  He would just say, "I just want to talk."

*His imagination is huge...he is always putting on his imaginary belt before we go anyway (he runs back to his room, and comes out with it, then buckles it on).  He even puts pretend belts on my--wraps it around, says zip-zip.  He also puts on my tutu--he pretends and puts in on over my head down to my waist, then puts on my queen hat--I love it. Our car is often a tractor, and he tells me that I drive the tractor.  Our couch is sometimes a train, other times a tractor, and even a pirate ship.  He drives it, and presses a pretend green button to turn it on.   He plays on his i-pad which is a picture frame with a picture of grandma, kenna, me, N., and him, and carries around his flip phone(my really old phone).  He'll call just about everybody we know and have conversations with them.  Sometimes with this kid, I don't think he needs any toys at all--he's full of surprises.  So he has referred to himself for a long time as baby cow, I'm mommy cow, there's daddy cow, and brother cow.  Just yesterday, he changed himself to brother cow and E. as baby cow.  He'll use it all the time....baby cow needs a snack, baby cow needs a hug, baby cow wants to play, etc:)

*Loves barns, farms, and tractors...in fact, he got tractors for his birthday from me, grandma and papa, and oma and opa.  Neither of us had talked about what to get him or what he would like...they both knew he liked to play with tractors at their houses...he loves them all, and now has his very own bucket full of tractors.

*Often says the phrase "Look-it" when he wants you to look at what he's found

*He'll say in a whiney voice..."I need my Isaac or I need my dad or I need my Kenna", when he wants someone that's not around at the moment

*Favorite shows--team umizoomi, jojo's circus, peppa pig

*Loves pretzels--in fact as his birthday party, ate tons of pretzels and wanted even more, but didn't even take a bite of his cupcake.  Doesn't have a sweet tooth like his momma--whenever me and N. eat ice cream, he doesn't want it, and wouldn't even try pudding at oma's house.

*Has a very charming smile and an awesome giggle

*Has been sleeping on the bottom bunk with N. on the top since March--it was a tricky transition at first including time out strapped in his carseat in the garage.  After about a month, he was good to go, and we don't see him until the morning.  He no longer naps though and can be quite grouchy.  N. tends to wake up earlier and doesn't need as much sleep as P., so that's been a bit tough, because he wakes P. up, but they enjoy sharing a room.

*Likes to be a fix-it man and uses his tools to fix just about anything in our house

*Finally got him potty trained after a month of wanting to pull my hair out, then he was totally fine for a month and a half, and is now regressing again--he'll go when I tell him too but not very happily, but won't tell me when he needs to go and will hold it for a really long time until it's too late.  He needs to be potty trained for school, and I'm a bit nervous that he won't be.

*Loves to play with N.--they play really well together...I think he's having some jealousy issues with baby E., but I'm sure it'll work itself out.

*Loves sports and balls--our living room is often changed into a gym by him..he cleans up all the toys to make room to run and play basketball.  I love this picture of him and my brother playing football. 

Happy 3rd Birthday!  We love you!