Leo at Three

It was Leo's 3rd birthday a few weeks ago.   3.  I still can't believe it.  I was looking through a whole bunch of pictures to do a display for his birthday and it brought so many memories back.  He has been the most joyful boy his whole life.  He makes us laugh all the time.  I am so happy to be able to be his mom and to be the one who is teaching him.

 

 

 I thought about when he was born and as a newborn.  He was this 9 pound boy and I just remember feeling these bursts of happiness that he was in our family.  It was him who taught me how to be a mother, something I will continue to learn for many years to come.

My favorite phase was when he was about 7 months old.  He was sitting up and just learning how to crawl.  He crawled everywhere and was so fast.  He'd put his head down and go like crazy.  He just had this sweet excited face.  He has always been a book lover, even at that young age, and I can remember reading him the doggie book with the finger puppet and he would laugh and laugh.

When he was around one, I got this little house with a mailbox.  He spent hours opening the door and going inside.  He'd look at me through the mailbox and laugh and laugh.  He's always loved to play with other kids and be a friend.  I think I will picture him at age two at the park, running around, climbing up things and going down the slide.

When we moved to Logan just before his 2nd birthday, it was an adjustment.  He loved being outside with dad though and scrapping the snow.  He loves matchbox cars and will play with them for hours without tiring.  When Amy was born soon after, he loved his sister.  She had to be on a billi light for several days after coming home and she did not like that at all.  He brought over his most beloved doggie and put it by her.  He is a sweet thoughtful boy.

In that 2nd year, we started going to a music class.  Leo was the most excited to be there, he's always been a music lover.  One of his special gifts is his joy, when he is happy about something there is no containing the joy for him.  And you know what, we all need to have things to be excited about.  He sings and talks all the time.

Lately, he's started really playing with other kids and even trying to make new friends.  We were at the park several months ago and he went up to a little guy who was obviously upset.  Leo says, "you lost your momma?"  The boy was looking around for his mom.  Leo turns to me and says, "this guy's lost his momma.  We've got to help him?"

Leo has a pair of light up shoes that he loves.  Excessively.  He won't wear any others but they light up so I can't blame him.  We were at the park a few months ago and he went up to a little boy there at the park and said, "my shoes light up."  And the other little boy responded and back and forth they went.  It's so fun to see him making friends. 

And now he's 3.  He's our big talking, potty trained guy.  I never expected what these three years brought into my life.  I am profoundly changed and so happy he's with us.

We threw him a big party to celebrate and invited a bunch of his friends.  For months he said that he wanted to have a "paw patrol birthday" and so we did.  I did some little games (balloon toss, bean bag toss at cups and a rice bin with construction vehicles, which was the hit of the party), and had some treats, mostly different kinds of popcorn.

It was wild, 10 2 and 3 year olds and 4 infants plus adults.  The moment I want to remember from it all was when we were all eating treats.  Leo was sitting on the living room floor on a blanket next to his buddies, he was eating his popcorn and just so joyful.  My mom even came out and spent a week with us to be involved in the party.

 

It's been a great three years.  I can't wait to see what all the next years bring.