Three Years

 

Here we are at three years.  When L's birthday comes around, I don't really think much about the day of  his birth.  It was a c-section, so the whole thing was precise and right on schedule.  There was no screaming or pushing, just a tugging feeling and then a very, very loud cry followed by a lot of joy.  I tend to think more about how much he has changed and grown in the last year.

His stubborn streak (M blames me and I blame M's Polish heritage) is shining through, but so is his empathy and sense of humor.  He loves his sister and although they drive each other crazy at times, he always asks about her if she is not around.  He loves dinosaurs and all things NASA, of course. His best friend is still Daddy, with E running a close second.

As hard as it is to raise a toddler and deal with all of the things that go along with it, like potty training and socializing, I know that this is a simple time.  The world is still full of absolutes:  good and bad, nice and mean, yes and no.  There is no gray area, yet, and I try to remind myself that there will be a day when I won't know where he is at all times and I won't be able to check on him every night before I go to sleep.  This birthday seems more bittersweet to me.  His increased independence means more freedom for the whole family, but it also means that we're traveling farther away from that little chunky baby that felt so good in my arms. There is no stopping time, so we try to enjoy this stage with all of the ups and downs included.

He is a wonderful and amazing little boy and I am so lucky to be his mom.