3 years!!!

Dear Aiden,

Today was your 3rd birthday. I can hardly believe it. It seems like yesterday that I wrote you your very first letter from mommy. I remember I wrote it the first day I felt you kick in my tummy and when I didn't yet know if you were a boy or a girl but I already loved you so much. Three years ago today you turned me into a mommy and that is a role that you continually teach me how to do every single day. Three years ago today you turned your daddy & me from 2 care-free young kids into a family and this family is filled with more love, laughter, and happiness than I could have ever imagined. You were our "unexpected blessing" but God sure did know what he was doing when he brought you into our lives. I felt like the grinch who discovered the meaning of Christmas...the day you were born my heart swelled to 3 times its size and it's never gone back, in fact my heart continues to grow with more and more love for you. So much so that with every passing stage in your life I always think "this is my favorite stage, I couldn't possibly love this child anymore than I do" and somehow I always do. There are so many incredibly special things about you that it's hard to put into words but I'm going to try to name a few things about you right now at 3!!!

-Your smiles are infectious and you're always so happy.

-You are so polite and sweet. You use good manners and remember to say please and thank you even when I don't remind you. You're naturally a very gracious little boy, I dress you in a shirt you've never seen before and you will thank me over and over throughout the day for your "new" shirt. You always remember who gave you what toys and you will thank them out loud whenever you play with that toy even when they are nowhere around.

-You love your family. You always ask about extended family when you haven't seen them in a few days and you pray for everyone in your family whenever you say prayers.

-You are a natural nurturer. Any time I am sad you can sense it, even if I'm trying to hide it and you will sit close to me and give me hugs and kisses and say "it's ok, I kiss it all better". You do this with your little sister now too. Whenever she cries you try to "kiss it all better".

- You are so sweet to your friends when they are hurt or sad. You play sweetly with other kids even when they are less than kind to you, you don't hit or hurt other kids and that makes me proud.

-You are fearless and athletic. You will try anything with absolutely no fear and I usually don't worry too much about you because you are just as coordinated and agile as I am and if you get hurt you will shake it off quickly. You're such a big boy!

- You like to talk on the phone now and whenever you see me on the phone you will ask me who I'm talking to cause you want to talk also.

-You love to go to church!

-You think daddy hung the moon and want to be with him, playing with him, laying with him, etc. constantly whenever he's home. (by the way, your daddy is awesome cause he is never too tired to play with you even after working 12 hour days, we are both lucky to have him!)

-You are so sweet hearted and it makes you sad when anyone you love leaves. You want multiple hugs and kisses before anyone is allowed to leave.

-You will come and tell me you love me sporadically throughout the day and when you ask me if you can tell me a secret you always whisper "I love you" in my ear. It's the best secret I've ever heard :)

-You are incredibly smart and somewhat manipulative. We will tell you, you can't get out of your bed at night and you will get out but always with a reason you know won't get you in trouble. You will ask for something to drink, ask to go potty, or just tell us you needed hugs. You're so smart! :)

-You love ALL things transportation. Trucks, trains, tractors, cars, airplanes, buses, helicopters, motorcycles...if it GOES, you want to GO on it!

-You like to sing and dance and LOVE the wiggles.

-You have an incredible sweet tooth and will do pretty much anything if we bribe you with sweets. Chocolate, candy, cupcakes, cake, ice cream, suckers, you really don't discriminate. If it's sweet you want some.

-At 3 you are still VERY much attached to your blankie. You call it your blue blankie and it is your comfort. You never took a pacifier as a baby but you would suck on your blankie and you still do this. When you're hurt or sad or just tired you always want your blankie and we haven't had the heart to take your blankie away yet...although the time is coming :(

- You always want to "make a deal" anything we ask of you, you want to do in 2 more minutes. If I'm watching something on TV you will say "we watch wiggles first, then mommy's show, ok?". When I say no cookies, you will say "one cookie and that's all ok?". You might be a lawyer when you grow up.

-You play make believe but not as super heroes. You will pretend you are different people in our family.

-You went through a stage where "cars" was your absolute favorite movie and you wanted to watch it over and over again. Then it was the "polar express" and now "toy story" is your favorite. You love buzz lightyear and woody.

-You like to read books but only if you can sit in our laps while looking at the books.

-You want to do everything we're doing and you follow me around everywhere.

-You still go potty with everyone that comes into our house, not just family. You say "I'll watch you" and then you are a great little potty coach. Telling us "good job" and "I'm so proud of you".

-You amaze me with your memory and the random memories that will pop into your head that you're now able to verbalize in perfect sentences.

-You're such a big "helper". You want to help me do the dishes, fold clothes, cook, clean, feed or bathe hallie. Just everything. You want to help!

- You love love love to be outside and you know all the reasons why you're sometimes not allowed to go outside so you will come say "let's go outside, It's not dark, it's not cold. Let's go!!!" Like I said before...you're smart :)

-You have entered into the "I do it" phase and you want to help get yourself dressed, put your shoes on, get into your own carseat and so on. You're going to be quite the independent little boy.

I'm sure there is more. There is so much to your little personality right now and soooo much about that little personality that I love. You can also be defiant and stubborn, I'm not gonna lie. You have trouble minding on the first time. You usually want to negotiate or I can see your little wheels turning trying to see how serious I might be?? But all in all you're such a sweet hearted little boy that I can never be mad at you for very long and that sweet little personality and infectious smile help keep you out of trouble a lot of the time! Your daddy and I are pushovers for that smile and your sweet words. We love you so much it's crazy.

Every single one of these pictures was taken within the last month. See how happy you always are?? Took me no time at all to find pictures of you, just being you!

Aiden, I'm so proud of the big boy you're turning into. I've described how incredibly sweet and wonderful you are. How kind and compassionate. How full of energy and personality. I can't wait to see you more in your role as a big brother. Your little sister is going to adore you just as much as we do and she is going to look up to you and you are going to fall in love with her, I just know it. I hope you will be the best of friends. You are an amazing little boy and I am so lucky to be your mama. Even when you're making me crazy, I'm always always proud and there's not a single day that I don't thank God for bringing you into my life. I pray that God will continually grow me into the mommy that you need me to be and that we will raise you in a way that is pleasing to Him. 1 Samuel 1:27 "For this child I have prayed and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him." I promise to pray over you for all the days of my life and where I fail, God will not.

And there ya have it, baby boy. Another year has come and gone. I loved the tiny newborn Aiden whose wide eyes took in everything and whose sweet demeanor first captured my heart. I loved the bald baby Aiden who learned to crawl and discovered that his world was bigger than the blanket laid out on the floor. I loved the fun toddler aiden who communicated everything through squels and laughs as he unsteadily walked (or bumped) through our house. And now I love the handsome little boy Aiden- loving us and others through your sweet words and actions. One last time, Happy 3rd birthday Aiden David, we love you so very much!! Or as Buzz lightyear would say.... "to Infinity and Beyond!!!!" :)