Cinco de Matty, #3

My Matty,

You are three years old today! Happy Cinco de Matty! Meeting you three years ago was one of the greatest surprises of my life - you are my only baby whose gender was unknown before your birth. Needless to say, I was very anxious to meet you, especially after waiting 42 weeks! I can still remember giving birth and hearing your proud daddy announce “It's a boy!!!” I immediately burst into tears, and you've had me wrapped ever since. We have a special bond, you and me. I can't quite put it into words, but we have a little love affair and I think you are the most adorable thing ever. Your smile melts my heart. Your chubby hands are so fun to hold. Your snuggles make me feel safe. Your snoring at night keeps me up but is the sweetest sound in the world. The blonde in your hair is completely gone now, but you still have a sparkle in your eyes and a dimple to boot.

When you woke up this morning, the first thing you asked me was "Mommy, how do I turn three?" How I love your cute little questions as you grow and learn to navigate your way through this big world.

Here are some comments/observations about you at three years old:

• Your favorite color is green. Or blue. Or red. Or black. It depends on the day.
• When you grow up, you want to be a garbage man. We still run outside anytime we hear a garbage truck in our cul-de-sac. You've also said you want to be a doctor and a daddy.
• Your favorite TV show is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. I am so grateful that you are not into ninjas, superheroes, pirates, and other action figures yet (although I know this is coming).
• Your favorite food is mac & cheese. I think you could eat mac & cheese for every meal and not get tired of it.
• You gave up your naps when the paci fairy took your pacifier away. Enforcing “quiet time” has been difficult for me, yet I consider it a win when you and Taylor will play somewhat quietly in her room for an hour.
• Lately, bedtime has been challenging with you. After you finally pass out from exhaustion, you wake up a few times throughout the night and come into our room. After many weeks of this song and dance, you learned that waking me or daddy up only gets you an escort back to your bed. Being the smart little guy that you are, now you just climb up from the foot of the bed and sneak into the middle of us. There have been many mornings when I'll wake up and discover you sleeping next to me, with no recollection of you coming in. Stinker!
• You love going to school. You have a crush on a little Asian girl in your class named Sophia. When I co-oped in your class a few weeks ago, I enjoyed watching you and Sophia interact, especially because Sophia speaks very little English.
• You are so excited to have friends. We talk about play dates a lot because you are always so sad when Taylor is invited over to a friend’s house and you have to stay home with me.
• Recently, you refuse to go into the child care center at church on Sunday mornings. You have come to the church service with Tommy and me as a result. I love that snuggle time with just you.
• You still love all of your cars, but you play with them less than you used to. Someday I will count the number of little cars in our house, but I am guessing we have upwards of 250.
• When you are upset, you say “Mommy, I'm going to put you in the garbage.” When you are happy, you say “Best Mommy ever!” When I ask you “Who’s your girlfriend?” you point to me. Sometimes, you'll point to another women in the room just to tease me.
• Your daddy and I laugh all the time when you ask us questions and demand a yes or no anwer. For example, you will ask me if it is going to rain today. When I say, "I don't know, Matty, maybe it won't?" you reply with, "Say yes or no." You want a straight answer! We think it is so funny!
• You and Taylor fight all the time about anything and everything. But then there are moments when you are the best of friends. Many days my mood is 90% dependent on whether you and Taylor are getting along.
• You are Brayden are starting to play together more. You love being a big brother. Generally, you are very good to him. I am excited for the two of you to share a room soon.
• You give the best hugs and the best kisses. You still love to give me Eskimo kisses too.
• You have the cutest little run. There is a little bounce in your step as you run. I wish I could permanently paste the image of you running around the driveway in my brain.
• You are extremely verbal for your age. I have received several comments from teachers/friends/strangers over the last year about your vocabulary.
• You are very perceptive and I can see the wheels spinning in your head. We have very rational conversations together. Sometimes I can reason with you better than I can with your sister.
• You are still sweet and sensitive, yet you have learned how to instigate fights with Taylor. She used to walk all over you but you can definitely hold your own now. 
• When you say prayers at night, you like to thank God for everybody, and you list them one by one. These prayers can go on for a long time!

As I say to you all the time, I am so grateful that God gave you to me. I am so proud to be your mommy. I love you, Matty-boy, and I hope you have an awesome third birthday!

Love,

Mommy