Joe is THREE!!

I can hardly believe it.  Joe is three already!!

Growth Stats
Weight - 31.5 lbs (48th Percentile)
Height - 38 in. (64th Percentile)

These birthday blogs are fun because I get to think back and try to best describe the kids as
I see them now.  As I sit here and do that for Joe, all I can do is laugh to myself.  He is such
a handful, but he is the cutest stinkin handful ever.  So cute that it actually makes it hard to
ever really get mad at him.  From his crazy curly blonde hair, to the constant funny things
he says and does...he always has us smiling (even when we're trying to be mad).

What's funny is I never really thought Joe had a terrible two phase.  He had his moments,
but never anything that bad.  Turns out that what he lacked in his terrible twos, he is making
up for in his terrifying threes.  I wouldn't say he's naughty in the sense that he does mean
things to people, breaks things, etc...it's more of a listening issue.  He has selective hearing
and chooses when he wants to listen to directions.  For example, when I ask him to go
put his shoes on so we can leave for school in the morning, he instead chooses to start a
wrestling match with Owen on the kitchen floor.  When I ask him again to put his shoes on,
he then chooses to go read a book on the back bench.  This goes on and on until I finally
resort to threats of either leaving without him, no shows, no games (Kindle), or worse...no
treats!  I've decided that 3/4 of my gray hair is a product of us trying to get out the door to
school in the morning.  If it is any indication of how our mornings go, I can most likely count
the number of times we've been to school on time this year on two hands.

Another way Joe keeps us on our toes is his curiosity.  Joe has earned the nickname
"Fingers" from my mom and stepdad because he is into everything.  You can't leave him
alone for long or he will find something he's not supposed to get into.  He loves to check out
everything.  A perfect example is the other day I was in the living room with Owen and Miles
and Joe walked towards the kitchen.  I didn't think anything of it.  After a few minutes and
realizing he was being pretty quiet, I went to check it out.  I walked into the kitchen to find
Joe standing there with the cupboard underneath the kitchen sink open.  Around his feet
were piles of Clorox wipes, 409 and the bottle of Pledge Orange Oil.  He had sprayed the oil
all over the floor, refrigerator, inside the snack cupboard, and who even knows where else.
I looked at him and asked him what he was doing.  His response, with a cute little smile on
his face was, "Mommy, I clean your house."  I mean, how can you be mad at that??

But with the bad comes the good, and there is WAY more good than bad.  One of the great
things is he has developed a strong sense of independence.  Only 4 short months ago he
was clinging to me wherever I went.  It was rare that I could walk out of the room or leave
the house without him crying or getting upset.  He was my own little shadow.  But now he is
way more confident on his own.  I spent the day with him in his class for his birthday and I
was surprised with how the day went.  I'm not sure what I was expecting, but he didn't care
at all that I was there.  He went about his day playing and doing the things he normally does
at school.  He played with the kids in his class, sat on the carpet for story time and followed
their classroom routines.  It reminded me that he's growing up and becoming his own little
person.  He is totally content keeping himself occupied.  Whether we're at home or at a
friend's house, I never really need to find things for him to do.  He keeps busy. 

Joe is such a smart little boy.  I think it helps having an older brother that he models himself
after, but it is really amazing.  He can count to 10, recite the ABC's, do 24-piece puzzles on
his own with ease, and he talks up a storm.  I could sit and listen to him talk all day.  

His mispronunciations of things always make me smile.  It's hebby (heavy), Oh tay (okay), I
tumming (coming), Pirate booties (booty), My told (I'm cold).  In fact, he frequently uses my
instead of I...My love you, My not (typically waving his hands frantically).  Just the funny
phrases he says makes me laugh.  After he does something wrong and we've made
amends, he'll say with a big smile, "Mommy, now I not mad at you anymore."  Wait, who's 
mad at who here?  And don't even think of getting angry with him or he'll quickly tell you,
"You being wude (rude) to me!"  And if I do need a break for a minute, not a chance.  He'll
ask me, "Mommy, why you not talking ta me?"  And if I try to hide I'll hear,
"Mommy, where is you?"  

Toddler talk is one of my favorite things.  The exaggerated hand gestures he uses to go
along with all his questions though are a close second.  He holds out his hand in front of him
like he's begging for change and moves it up and down very matter of factly. And if he's
really trying to get his point across both hands go palms up, to his sides, and again he
bounces them up and down.  It's hilarious.  Another fun thing to hear is him sing the songs
he's learned in school. He is in the Star room this year, so "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" is
one of his favorites. "Itsy Bitsy Pumpkin" is a close second.

Here are a few of his other favorite things:

Favorite Foods - Mac 'n cheese, sprinkle pancakes, cheese curds, french fries
Favorite Snack - Goldfish, "too-ties" (Cookies), really anything sweet for that matter
Favorite Drink - Apple juice

Favorite Show - Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

Favorite Toys - Dinosaurs, puzzles, tractors 

Dislikes - milk, fruits, (with the exception of strawberries), veggies, ice cream (crazy, right?)
 

 Joe you definitely keep us on our toes, but we love you to pieces and wouldn't change you for anything.  Happy 3rd birthday buddy!!