Dear John,

Hey there buddy :)

Told your Deddy I was going to write you a letter today. There's so much going on in your lil' world right now & you sure bring smiles and laughter our way each day. Wanted to tell you a little about all your sunshine...

I'll start with the mornings...some find you dragging out of bed and some (like today) find you up & about w.pep in your step. Either way, you usually brush right by sleepy me with your "where's Ella?" and promptly place yourself right beside her on the bed. "Sweet pea" "Pretty girl" "Sweet Girl" or whatever other name you've recently heard us calling her is what you say hey to her with in your "only for Ella sweet voice." Because she's growing like a lil' weed, she now rolls to her side towards you, arms outstretched, ready to be close to you - smiling bright as the sun.

You let me know who's turn it is to get dressed - "her turn 1st." This morning while you were laying letting Ella have her turn, you were telling me how Carson has a lunchbox (yes, you always find random stuff to bring up - we can hardly fathom the rate at which your wheels spin). I told you that you had a lunchbox too - one with dinosaurs that was currently being used to hold all your balls. Your response, "Oh" (simple response, but I can tell the wheels are still spinning). You promptly find your lunchbox when we get downstairs (you go down 1st b/c that's how you "request" the order to go). Even though it has a short handle, you perch it like a purse on your shoulder and take to calling it your "pack-back" (translation: backpack). I tell you how your backpack's upstairs - the one w.the barn on it - you barely register that & come back with, "I want to talk about - my big barn. Where's my big barn?" I thought to myself, holy cow - my 2 1/2 year old just pulled a re-direct on me. As if to say, "that's great and all - what you're talking about...however, I'd prefer we discuss my big barn...what can you tell me about that?" Never...cease...to...amaze :)

Last night, I told you to pick a book to read, you came back w.a bible :) It's a kid bible, but nonetheless, not exactly a quick read - ha. I said "buddy, this may be a little long - how bout something else?" You decided on "Wee Little Lamb" a book your Aunt Shannon gave you for your 1st Easter. Now almost 3 years later, the inaugural reading of the book went pretty good. I was impressed so much when I would say something about the wee little lamb and you would counter with, "kinda like a sheep?!" - "yes, kinda like a sheep". Next page was a bunny - you, "kinda like a rabbit" - "yes, kinda like a rabbit." We thought Deddy was going to get to read it to you, but he forgot to read the inside cover inscription and you defeated his efforts quickly. So, you & I read it a 3rd time while he finished dressing Ella for bed. Of course we're all crowded in her room b/c her rocker is really the only place you care to rock & read. It's nice though - from the rocker, there's a clear shot into the bathroom where Ella's taking a bath and when she's done, we're all in there together. The only smaller room in the house is the 1/2 bath...funny how we congregate in small spaces :)

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Ok, finishing that got away from me yesterday - so here's the rest of your letter...

Another thing I have to mention right now is how into birthdays you are. You'll gladly acknowledge and sing Happy Birthday for other people, but your real concern is with your own birthday. "When's it going to be my birthday?" "I'm gonna have a big cake" "It's gonna be real hot when it's my birthday" (b/c this is what I keep telling you) "I can't have my birthday yet". I was thinking Toy Story themed till you informed me the other day that you wanted Spiderman. We'll see :) I asked you if you wanted me to bring cupcakes to school for you to share with your friends. You didn't like that idea either - ha. We'll see :)

We've been pretty impressed lately - you're not showing strong partiality to much of anything. Unlike before, you're not all about a certain toy, your animals, any movies - you more just want to hang out. Most nights we're not even turning on the TV. The sound of TVs & movies has been replaced with A LOT OF TALKING :). Did I mention that you talk A LOT?! Sometimes it takes you twice as long to eat b/c you're talking so much. Sometimes we have to tell you to be quiet so that you can eat. There is no such thing as idle silence at our supper table - I have to laugh at the thought of it.

We usually try & get you to tell us about your day...what we get usually sounds a little like this...

to whatever we're eating, "I don't like ____"
"I don't like _____ either"
"where did my chicken go"
(smiling, b/c you know you just ate it)
singing/shouting, "My God is so BIG.."
"what's Ella talking bout?"
"hers eating her oat-milk"
"i...i...i...i eat my oat-milk after i wake up"
"i need more milk"
"the B-I-B-L-E"
"i not like this"
"happy birthday Nana/Corben/Taylar"
"you gonna make a happy bowl mama?"
"i not make a happy plate"
or
"I make a happy plate & I get a treat"
(holding half your food in your lil' fist) exclaiming,
"I make a happy plate" (no, no you didn't)
"i need to go pee"
"i need to go poop"
"what's chester doin' - him eat that food"

all that's barely tipping the iceberg...as aforementioned, not much chewing to be heard at the table amidst all the chatter/singing :)

Speaking of the bathroom stuff - you're knocking potty training outta the park!! You stopped wearing diapers except at naptime & bedtime like a month ago & haven't missed a beat since. Yes, I've had to hose down your "underwears" in the driveway on one occasion & there's been a couple of "I peed a lil' in my diaper" moments - problem being that you're not wearing a diaper...BUT, other than a couple minor mishaps, you're doing AWESOME. And thank goodness, esp. on the poop-front - you go roughly the size of a small horse - to the point where your Deddy wants me to constantly "come look"...we're just glad you're not putting those mass amounts in diapers!

You're still finding your way to come cuddle with Deddy for the last hour or so of sleep at night. Since Ella sends Deddy to the couch somewhere in the middle of the night, you know to go looking for him in "his room" :) I know your Deddy enjoys this time although he often tells me that it ain't much sleeping happening sometimes - says you do LOTS of tossing and turning. I think he's taken to sending you to the big chair, but I don't think anyone's getting much sleep in "deddy's room" at that point :)

For all your joy and laughter, I would be a lil' remiss if I didn't mention that you do spend a fair amount of minutes in time out. Not too much, just enough to tilt that halo a bit :) Mostly it's for acting out in frustration - usually by swinging arms/feet or tossing down whatever your playing with. We often threaten you that you'll have to leave the room when you're fussing & that usually puts the pause in the whining/crying. One day, we'll surely miss where not being in our presence is the punishment you want to avoid. I'm sure there will come a time where going to your room away from us will be a welcomed option...I hope that day's far far away.

I'll end with how "all boy" you are :). Being outside, wrestling, playing ball, getting in the dirt, running - all things you love. Deddy's also been teaching you some "moves" - learned this the hard way in a choking incident last Friday. All of sudden, while supposed to be eating, you bust out w.what sounded to me like, "CHOW, CHOW..." all while punching your fists. Deddy has actually taught you some "boxing moves"...what you were saying was, "Jab, Jab - Upper, Upper". I said what I thought you'd said & mentioned how it reminded me of "chow chow on my beans"...well, Deddy had you say that & for some reason it made me laugh to the point where the lemonade in my mouth went straight into my lungs. After nearly hacking up a lung, I told Deddy you could no longer be encouraged to say "chow chow on my beans" b/c apparently it was near-deathly amusing to me :). Short & sweet, even when you're not trying to be...you're beyond funny :)

So, thanks buddy. Thanks for reminding us that our God is indeed so BIG & His blessings are abounding in our hearts and our home. Thanks for making us laugh & for teaching us - you really make us want to be better people. There's a big world out there & so much to see & do. Being able to see it anew through your lil' perspective is opening our eyes and minds in ways we never imagined. Thanks for helping us pause and be present in the moment. Whether it's looking for "spiders", playing hide-n-seek, sneaking up on "that big rat", or bopping dinosaurs who get outta line on the nose...you captivate us more with each day. I hope your imagination continues to grow and run wild...we're just glad to be along for the ride!

You are my sunshine,
My only sunshine.
You make me happy
When skies are grey.
You'll never know, dear,
How much I love you.
Please don't take my sunshine away.

Keep shining my sunshine ~ All my love, Mama