Soon enough I will be back in a regular blogging groove, but for now, I want to try to stay on top of our kids' monthly and yearly posts. I don't want to forget these sweet early days and want each of them to have memories to look back on when they're older. And I'm going to try my hardest to make sure they each get the same "coverage" at each milestone. ;)
So here is my post for our big boy, who turned 3 on July 28th.
I have said this so much lately, especially since Emily joined our family, but Ryan is like a 3 year old going on 30 in so many ways.
He is so aware and mature for his age. He helps me around the house, he looks out for his sisters, he "babysits" Emily when I need to run into a different room for a minute, he reminds me of things that we need to bring places and then asks if I have them once we're in the car. At his party, when the first guests had to leave, he told them all on his own, "Don't forget to grab a goodie bag" as he was splashing in the pool with his friends. And in these moments, he just makes me laugh, because I forgot about the goodie bags, but he was on top of it. All barely 3 years of him.
He is sensitive, kind, organized, content, determined, chatty, tough, silly, and careful. He is a rule follower, observer, early riser, and book lover.
He is hands down the best big brother around.
His favorite things right now are: anything with a ball, swimming, painting, crafting, working on puzzles, making up silly jokes and words, reading and practicing sounds of letters, playing with bubbles, searching for bugs, and playing hide-and-go-seek and chase. He just recently stopped calling chase, "let's run each other" and also recently stopped telling us where he was going to hide.
Whenever he grows out of saying things that are so cute and young-sounding, I have that bitter-sweet mama moment where I'm sad that he's less little but love watching him grow all at the same time.
I love how his "L's" are still "W's" like when he says, "weh-whoa chickwing" for yellow chickling, or when I tried to help him fall back asleep in his bed until his light turned green and he told me he didn't "wike the smewl of my sweepin breaf." (translation: like the smell of my sleepin' breath)
Matt and I went to his preschool for the parent meeting last night, and I fought back tears several times. Because things like backpacks and packed lunches and carpool drop-off are totally tear worthy right now.
He is growing up so fast.
He starts school next Monday, and I'm trying hard to remind myself that this is 3-day preschool, not college. But every time I picture him walking into that classroom on the first day and me not seeing him for the next four hours, I fight back tears. Yep, there they are again. I know he will do great and is ready for the change, but I don't know if I am yet!
Right now, when Matt and I take him to a birthday party, or the playground, or an organized kid activity where he doesn't know the other kids, he often invites us to play with him. And it really doesn't seem like he doesn't want to play with the other kids because he'll join in with them too, but more that he likes having us a part of what he's doing because that's what he's used to. So I know that the first time he runs into a group of kids he doesn't know and starts playing with them and we stand on the sidelines and watch will be a mixed-emotions moment. But I'm sure that's what's coming once he starts school, and I know it's a good thing!
Watching him grow up these last 3 years has been the greatest joy for us as parents.
Here are a few of my favorites of him over the years. :)
First pair of shoes
He thought he was hiding :)
So stinking cute! Happy birthday to your little man!
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