I have been thinking a lot about the personality of this little boy lately. He is really finding his place in the world right now. He keeps me on my toes. I have known since I was in labor with this boy that he would would not want to be pulled and pushed and prodded. He would do major kicks and punches every time there was a contraction. So is his big little life now. He had his third birthday a month ago and he had been waiting for it for so long, I don’t think he could believe he was finally three. He would ask me every other day for a couple of weeks, “Am I still free (three)?” If there is anything that little boy wants, it is freedom to be his own person, make his own rules, do things for himself. Although, he is getting better at learning to obey. I have never had one who just likes to defy. Not because I believe he is bad, but because he likes a battle. He likes to be engaged. And that is definitely one way to be engaged. So we are working on engaging him in other ways.
He is a very sweet little boy. A wonderful brother. He is the first to share anything he is eating. If someone is hurt, he wants to make it better. He has a tender heart and will break into a sob that makes me want to cry when he has been reprimanded. He is really starting to play with his siblings. He sure has an imagination and a great little problem solving brain. He is so full of energy. He loves anything that is on the active/violent side. He has this little drill that he likes to use as a gun. So we keep emphasizing not pointing the gun at people. Don’t shoot people. Yeah. I know. So tonight he had his little drill gun out and he said,”I’m shooting lava out of my gun! But I’m not shooting you, because it’s hot. I’m just pointing it at the wall. That’s okay, right?” Well then he really got creative and decided he would use the drill gun as something else. He came up to me and said, “Mom, open your mouth and say ‘Ahhh!’ and I will shoot some pizza in your mouth!” So he figured out a way to point the gun at us and for it to still be okay. What a kid.
So many faces. But they are all cute. It’s a good thing, too. A couple of Sundays ago we all laid down for an afternoon nap except for Taivan and while we were asleep, he turned on the furnace instead of the air conditioner. AND he also flipped the breakers to half of our house. And almost pulled two of them out. I was watching him the other day as he opened up our printer/copier/scanner. I was amazed because I didn’t even know how to do what he had just done. I asked him what he was doing and he said, “I’m just trying to figure out what this thing is and how it works.” It is no wonder that Curious George is his favorite show/movie.
One of the many crazy faces he makes. That is definitely one of his talents. He always has us laughing so hard.
Another great face. It is his, so of course it is great.
This was the day, oh wait, one of the days he got into my make up. This time he was playing paint the neighbors and the stuffed animals were the neighbors. Thank goodness for a washing machine and washable toys. And I’m thankful that I don’t care that much about make up.
His favorite teddy bear, Feefee.
The second time he got into my make up was a little more interesting. I washed/wiped his eye three times that Saturday night and I still didn’t know if people would ask me how he got his black eye the next day in church. I think he slept on his face that night, because I couldn’t really tell the next morning. It would have made a good conversation piece though.
Here he is helping his cousin Kirstin make cookies. She was so good to let him. Of course he always has his style of cooking. Here he wanted to add cream cheese. Today he wanted to put garlic salt on his peanut butter oatmeal. Of course he thinks he is a chef. I don’t know how many times he has “helped” me in the kitchen by adding an extra tablespoon of salt to the cookies, or an extra cup of water to the already-made tortilla dough. Good thing I’m excellent at salvaging things like that. Probably because I mess up my recipes on my own through forgetfulness. Or it could be distraction.
This is a picture of Taivan’s birthday present. Yes. I know it is a doll. And a girl doll. But this is what he wanted. And he loves her. He named her Bella and I think he is going to make a wonderful father someday. For now he will keep me smiling and wringing my hands with wonder. I wish I could freeze time. What a wonderful time of life to be in for all of us with this amazing boy. Happy late birthday, Bubby Boy!