Dear Will, On Your Third Birthday

Dear Will,
Happy ~~Fool’s Day~~ Birthday! Yes, the joke’s on me. I named you Will. You ended up being the most strong-WILLed child I have ever come across. And, I wouldn’t change it for anything. Except for maybe when it comes to potty training.

You are one heckuva little boy.

You have quite the dramatic flair. No yogurt when you want it? You throw yourself on the floor, kicking and screaming. Forced to eat a green vegetable? You shudder, wince and pretend like you’re going to throw up. Not getting your way? You push out that lower lip, bat your eyes, then glance upward to make sure someone is noticing. Good thing it’s pretty stinkin’ cute.

You love your family. We walk with Graham to the bus stop in the mornings. You make sure you give him a bear hug right before he gets on the bus. When it pulls away, you shout, “I wub you, Gwam! Have a good day!” It melts my heart every time. When I pick you up from day care, you run up and hug me, then immediately grab Graham, hug him and you both tumble to the floor in squeals of delight.

As I walk to the playground to pick you up from pre-school, you are waiting for me, standing on a tree stump with your little face peeking over the fence rail. As soon as I pop around the corner, “Mommy’s here! She came! Mommy always comes back.” You betcha kiddo. And let’s not forget your Daddy. When you hear him come in from work, no matter where you are, no matter what you are doing, you go for the run and tackle. “Da-ee’s here!” Yes, you love with enthusiasm.

You do not like to be told… anything. When you poop in your diaper instead of the potty, I know. I know because the first thing you do is come up to me and say, “No tell me.” Translation: “Yes, I know I was supposed to do this in the potty. No, I didn’t feel like it. Don’t tell me what to do.” When you do anything that merits discipline, the first thing you say is “No yell me.” I think you do that because you know what’s coming. 🙂 When we put you in your car seat without letting you climb in by yourself…. “No touch me!” I think you’ll notice a trend here.

You LOVE a peanut and butter jelly sandwich. For breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner. The best part? You sing the Peanut Butter Jelly song. If we’re really lucky, we get a few dance moves too.

You’re gonna make a great big brother. I can’t wait to see you teach your little brother how to build a train track, stack a tower, and kick a soccer ball. I can only hope that your little-brother-to-be will get some of the enthusiasm you have for life, the capacity for love that you possess…. and your skill at throwing a right hook punch. He’s gonna need it.