Happy 3rd Birthday, Jensen Todd!

Dear Jensen,

Little dude, you are three! What a wonderful year we have had together. You have learned so much and absolutely blown us away by how sweet, thoughtful, perceptive and SMART you are.

At age three, you are all boy. If it crawls, has wheels, or is just gross in general, you love it. Your favorite is trucks, excavators in particular. We have spent countless hours in the car driving around looking for, or even parked at, construction sites. You LOVE to watch the excavators at work. Any time you get to pick out a toy, I can rest assured that it will be a truck, or train, of some kind.

At our end-of-the-year conference with your preschool teacher, she mentioned that you are the silent leader of the class. She said that, while you are never bossy or loud, other children just seem to naturally look to you to see what to do. Ever since she said that, we have been noticing that it's true. When in groups of children, you are interested in what they are doing, but if it doesn't look like something you want to do, you will just go do something else. You don't seem to have any desire to just "follow the crowd"...you do your own thing, and oftentimes others end up wanting to join you. That's not to say that you don't enjoy playing with your friends...you love a good game of chase or wrestling with your buddies!

Jensen, you have a knack for figuring out how things work...from constructing a complicated train track to figuring out how to get into something you shouldn't, you are extremely clever. Your favorite thing to say is "Why?", which should probably be getting old by now considering I hear it at least 50 times a day, but you say it with the cutest little lilt in your voice that I could listen to it all day long. One night, after putting you to bed, your dad came downstairs looking shocked. "Did you know Jensen can read his entire "Good Night, Good Night Construction Site" book?" he asked me. I didn't, and quite frankly I thought your dad was exaggerating, until the next night when I asked you to read it to me. And to my surprise, even though we'd only been reading you the book for a week or two, you had memorized the entire thing (and it's not terribly short!). It was very impressive.

You may be all boy, but you are quite possibly the sweetest little boy in the world. You seem to know when I'm having a hard time or struggling with something, and during those times I feel like you do what you can to make the situation easier on me. You constantly tell me, "I love you"...and today I told Charlotte I loved her and you said, "I love Charlotte, too!". While you've become immune to many of her tantrums, if the is truly upset you will become very concerned and even tell me that you are sad because Charlotte is upset. And speaking of announcing your moods, you'll often tell me (sometimes out of the blue), "I'm happy!". We can be just driving along in the car and you'll announce your
happiness. Too sweet.

Why do you look like a 19-year-old frat boy in this picture?

When you were probably 2 1/2, you gave up napping. You started sleeping maybe every other day, then once or twice a week, and now you nap maybe once a month. I still put you in your bed each day for quiet time, but you usually take that quiet time and use it to take off your clothes, jump around in your bed, shriek loudly, mess with the thermostat, and various other activities. So your quiet time does not tend to last too long, and so I blame you for the lack of blogging over the past year!

You seem to have also developed a touch of the Terrible Three's. It's not bad--yet, anyways--but you have your whiney moments and lots of wanting Mommy to hold you. And you still have a temper...when you get frustrated, it usually involves tears and even the occasional thrown toy or knocked-down sister. I find myself yelling, "Be gentle!" on a regular basis.

Jensen, you are just about the most amazing little boy I could ever have dreamed up. You will just grab my face, pull it to yours, and give me big kisses...it's the best thing in the world. I may have mentioned this in a previous post, but we got fortune cookies one night, and yours read, "Your happy heart brings joy and peace where there is none." I've kept it hanging on the refrigerator because I really couldn't have said it better myself...your joyful spirit, contagious laugh, and sweet nature are an absolute blessing to our family and everyone around you. I can't wait to see what this next year holds for you! Love you more than words could every say, my little dude.

Happy 3rd Birthday, Charlotte Anne!

Dear Charlotte,

You are three! Watching you grow this past year has been amazing...you're no longer a cute little toddler, but a beautiful, long-legged little girl. And while you've grown so much, some things haven't changed at all throughout the past three years: your intelligence, sense of humor, and animated spirit keep us alternately smiling and trying to think of ways to out-smart you!

Your very favorite things at age three...first, I would have to say music. You love to sing and can memorize a song amazingly fast. You like to lie in your bed and sing to yourself...if you wake up in the middle of the night, you will often sing yourself back to sleep. When you hear a song that you know or like, you will stop what you're doing and intently stare at the source...if it's coming from the computer, you'll just sit and watch the blank screen. If it's me singing, you'll stare at my mouth to try to memorize the words. You really have an ear for music and it's so interesting for us to watch your mind at work.

You also adore your books. You read all the time and have many books memorized. Your dad and I will sit and listen in amazement as you "read" an entire book that you've only had for a week or so. You insist on keeping books in your bed and you usually read before you go to sleep at night.

Charlie, you've always been a very particular girl (and your dad admits you get this from him!) and that hasn't changed this year. You are quite set in your ways and once your mind is made up, you absolutely cannot be persuaded to change it. For example, as far as shoes are concerned, you will wear Crocs and Converse. Period, end of story. You received some very cute hand-me-down flip-flops and sparkly Keds the other day, and you took one look at them and exclaimed, "But I like my Crocs!". You will only allow me to put a tiny bow in your hair to hold it off your face. No ponytails, no headbands, no bows that are, in your words, "too big!". You wear your jeggings almost every day and pretty much never wear dresses without them underneath (noticing a theme here? You're not exactly a girly-girl!).

You fight us tooth-and-nail on things you don't want to do. Every night, yes, literally every night, you scream and cry during your bath. You decided you don't like to take a bath and that's that. I'm shocked that the neighbors haven't come to investigate all the noise, because I'm not talking about a little whining here...I'm talking serious shrieking. Our current battle is swim lessons. You love to play in the pool, but you decided you don't want to take swim lessons...so every lesson is a battle. You begin to cry and scream the minute you see your swimsuit, and you don't stop until the lesson is over. And let's not forget potty training. You just flat out refuse to go on the potty. Oddly enough, you would go at school for your teachers, but you've made up your mind that you aren't going to do it at home. I'm not sure what to do to change your mind...but hopefully by the time you're reading this I'll have thought of something!

You are very into Mommy these days...and you are very concerned with everyone and everything having a Mommy and a Daddy. If you have a stuffed animal for which you cannot find a suitable parental figure, you will instruct me to stop what I'm doing and cuddle the stuffed animal because it needs a Mommy. You've informed me that you would like a baby sister named Rosie (although I feel certain you'd change your mind pretty quick if you were ever faced with having a real baby brother or sister!). Sometimes, when you're acting a little whiney, we (actually your dad) figured out that you really just want to be cuddled.

You grab your Lovey (can't go anywhere without Lovey!) and plant yourself on my lap for a cuddle, then all is right in Charlie's world once again. You are also way more into your brother than you have been in the past. You often ask him, "Jensen do you want to play with me?", and if you are in the mood to perform a song, you will usually ask him to sing with you. (He often says, "No, thank you",  which doesn't make you very happy!)

This year, you developed your first crush. One day I asked you something about your friends at school, and you brought up a little boy named Cooper. I hadn't heard this name before, so of course I had to ask your teacher about him (yes, I plan on stalking you and your crushes until you're married. Sorry.). She informed me that Cooper was in the Old 2s class and that you and Cooper enjoyed playing together. She said Cooper was quiet, like you, and that you two gravitated toward each other and really just preferred to play near each other rather than really interact. Your teacher also said that you have good taste, as Cooper is a very sweet boy. Good job, Charlie!

You really alternate between being quiet and chatting up a storm. When you're happy and comfortable and playing at home, you rarely stop talking (and/or singing). But when in a new place or around lots of people, you are very quiet...you are so observant and you take in and study everyone around you. Then later, you'll randomly bring up details that I never would have guessed you were noticing. On a recent visit to Grandma and Grandpa's house, you walked into their bathroom and immediately asked why they had gotten a new scale in their bathroom. It's so crazy the things you notice and remember!

Charlie, at three years old, you are such a beauty! You have your Aunt Holly's almond-shaped eyes (but yours are an amazing blue/grey color), a cute little button nose, and a priceless little dimple. Sadly I don't think that your great smile will ever be captured by a professional photographer...you're not much for getting your picture taken by strangers, so I have to try to do my best to capture your smile using my very non-professional skills.

Charlotte...these past three years with you have been amazing. You are bright and hilarious and strong and so very special...you are truly your own person and we wouldn't change you for the world. You bring so much joy to our family and we absolutely can't imagine our lives without you. Happy third birthday, Charlie Bug!

Happy Mother's Day!

Mother's Day weekend was crazy-busy, as is par for the course when you're trying to fit in celebrations with moms from two families (not a bad problem to have, though!). On Saturday, Jensen and I hit up a first birthday party for my friend Rhiannon's twins, Meghan and Sam. Poor Charlotte had to stay home and nap because we had family pics later that afternoon and I wanted her as well-rested as possible. Jensen had a wonderful time in the bounce house...some would say a bit too wonderful of a time, as at one point I looked in and he had removed his pants. I suppose jeans are a bit constrictive when trying to partake in bounce house fun. Lesson learned!

Me and J, Rhiannon and Meghan, and Lacey and Connor.

Having a blast. This must have been pre-pants removal.

Jensen and I left the party and rushed home to change and get pretty for Shelton family pictures. We had the pictures taken in Brian's parent's backyard, and considering the fact that there were seven children under the age of seven, I think they turned out pretty well. In some of them, almost everyone is smiling...with the exception of our little Charlotte. Apparently she did not get quite enough beauty sleep.

(I brought up the pictures on the online gallery and took pics of them with my phone. We have the CD ordered so hopefully I'll get around to posting the real pictures, but in the meantime these grainy pics can be placeholders.)

Enlarge to get the full effect of Charlotte's expression of agony. This is a fairly accurate representation of Charlotte's feelings about picture day. I wish I could say it was just because she was tired, but honestly, this is her attitude about most things these days. Terrible threes, I hate you!

The whole gang. I really love the way all the colors turned out.

Family pic with our two over-it kids.

When the picture-taking fun was over, we hung out for a bit before taking the kids home and putting them to bed. I then treated myself to a little Mother's Day outing and went to meet my friends from my MoM's group at Joe T's. We didn't have a sitter so Brian stayed home and I was the single lady among married couples. No big deal though...I always have so much fun with these ladies. I'm so happy to have met so many great friends in my multiples group!

Early the next morning, my mom came over so we could exchange gifts. Earlier in the week, she took Charlotte and Jensen on a "secret mystery trip" to make mommy something for Mother's Day. Also earlier in the week, the following conversation took place:

Charlotte [yelling]: Mommy, for Mother's Day I made you a pink cow!
Grandma: Charlotte, shhhh! That's supposed to be a secret!
Charlotte: Oh. [then begins whispering]. Mommy I made you a pink cow!

So on Mother's Day morning, I found that she did indeed make me a pink cow.

Jensen chose to make me a blue airplane, and fortunately my mom decided to have them make something with a bit more meaning...their sweet little handprints. :) I'm so fortunate to have a mom who takes my kids to do fun things like this.

After the gift opening, we headed to Brian's parents for playtime, presents and lunch. At nap time we went home to let the kids rest for a bit before our next outing: an early dinner at Uncle Julio's with my family. I was afraid the kids would melt down from exhaustion, but they were really good and we had a fun time...I have decided, though, that I think I'm going to vote that we stay in next year. Everywhere is SO packed, and even though we ate at like 5:00, the restaurant was already out of a few menu items. I think it'd be way more relaxing to cook a nice dinner at home!

My mom. As you probably know, she is nothing short of amazing.

You'd think the Mother's Day fun ended there, but no...this year Mother's Day weekend was the gift that kept on giving, as we picked up a stomach bug from one of our nieces and spent the entire next week switching off being sick. So lovely. Charlotte's symptoms were so odd that I wound up taking her in to our pediatrician, who was afraid she might have appendicitis and had us go to Cook's for an ultrasound. Fortunately there was no appendicitis, but unfortunately, I came down with the stomach bug while lying on the ultrasound table with Charlotte. Again, so lovely...the glamorous life of a mom!