A Year of Change

Happy Birthday to my Wesley David.  His 3rd year was so full of change & growth. Just six days after he turned three Wes became a big brother to TWO baby boys. He transitioned amazingly well. Maybe because his behavior wasn't that great to begin with, (hahaha) we didn't notice a huge change. He has always been gentle, kind & interested in his brothers. It was the realationship with his big sister that was at constant odds. For 9 nine months they fought, bickered, called each other names and pretty much made each other miserable. I thought for sure they were going to grow up despising each other.

Then they started swim lessons at Goldfish Swim School. After the first few weeks Wes still wasn't sold. He didn't want to go (just like pre-school). He'd fuss before the lesson saying he wanted to stay home. He hated wearing his goggles and never wanted to go under water. It got to the point I thought about not taking him anymore. As the weeks progressed Mia was having more & more fun. She was excited for her lessons, getting more comfortable in the water & showing off the ribbons she was earning with each new skill.  Around the end of the year something started to change in Wes. He would put his goggles on before class started. He started going under water with no complaint & and he would yell for Mia across the lane to watch him.

It was here I could start to pinpoint a change in their relationship. Instead of having one day a month where they might play nicely together, they would have 3 or 4 days in a row!!! I'd find them in Mia's bed sharing the ipad for morning cartoons.  He no longer fusses when it's time for school although I still think he would prefer to stay home & play with his friends all day (who wouldn't?).  His teacher said he has recently started taking more time & is showing pride in his  projects, AKA he didn't give a crap before. I've noticed at home too, all of sudden he loves coloring and will spend an hour on one picture. It's so funny because usually he only uses one color crayon. I'm so glad I stuck with taking both kiddos to their swim lessons. It's not always easy to find the energy after working all day to haul both kids every week but the pay off has been SO WORTH IT On so many levels!!!

 

Happy Birthday baby! I'm so proud of all the things you accomplished this year! Starting pre-school, being the best big brother & showing excitement for learning & adventuring. Every year with you gets better & better.

                               This post is in partnership with Goldfish Swim School.

Happy Birthday Wesley!

Happiest 3rd Birthday to my beautiful sunshine boy!!!! You're a total ham and make us laugh everyday, You're amazingly smart and people can't believe how well you communicate. You love Star Wars, legos, superheroes and music. You've taken to wearing a Super Man cape around the house. It melts my heart when you insist on wearing a hat, especially when you put your Yankees ball cap on. No prompting, just your personality coming through. You usually sleep with tiny Thomas the Train figures. You love to have dance parties to the Ghostbuster's theme song or Do You Love Me by The Contours. I would love to get you guitar lessons at some point because I feel like you truly love music. Tonite it was storming and you were afraid of the thunder. I told you it was just Thor in the sky using his hammer. You kept saying, "Mama I hear him, I hear Thor!!"

From two years to three it wasn't all sweetness. You torture your sister relentlessly. You throw tantrums to get your way. You love to say naughty words to get our attention. You've punched, kicked and spit. There are days when you say, "You don't need babies in your belly." Then there are my favorite moments when you tell me you are going to feed the babies and play with them. I know its going to be a hard transition going from mama's boy, the baby, to the middle child. Please always know that you're my first baby boy. You stole my heart the day you were born and we will always have that special bond. I LOVE YOU Wesley Crush!!!

Getting So Big+ A Bday Interview

Love watching you change & grow my sweet sunshine boy!!!!

Normally I would have given him a a sucker to make him hold still. We didn't have any so I made the mistake of using mini marshmallows. Please excuse the white foamy drool:(

Happy 2nd Birthday Wesley David

My Sweetest Boy,
From the moment you were born you've been a constant joy. Your  loving nature brightens our days. Hugs, snuggles, & lots of I Luh Yous!!! You are counting to ten & singing the ABCs. You want to do everything your big sister does. Including throwing tantrums, eating dried mangoes & lots of coloring.

You constantly make us laugh, toddling around singing Let It Go or demanding to push your mini vacuum around. You weigh 25 lbs wear 24 months/2t & a size 7 shoe. You say please, thank you & sorry after you've slapped someone in the face or bitten your sister!!!! You had a blast celebrating your birthday. You finally got to watch Planes Fire & Rescue with your beloved Dusty Crophopper. We had balloons & dinner with Grandma & Grandpa. It was perfect.

I loved watching you love the day.

Wesley Crush: 23 Months

At 23 months we can not take our eyes off you for fear you could be swimming in the toilet or scaling the book shelves. You love to torture your sister by hitting her or taking her favorite toys, squeezing them to your chest while shouting MINE! Your favorite toy in the world is a tiny Dyson vacuum daddy bought you. Unfortunately, we never want to give it to you because when its time to take it away you meltdown & cry for an hour.  Daddy bought you a set of Disney Fire & Rescue books & now you're in love with Dusty Crophopper. You love for mama to blow dry your hair after a bath.

You love music & know the words to Shake It Off & John Jacob Jingleheimer. We've been to story time at the library a couple times this month. You could care less about the actual stories but you love when the librarian sang songs with his guitar.You have a new crazy toddler smile when ever I pull out my camera. You love to count and know lots of your shapes. We are soooo excited to move into this new house so that you can have your own room!! No more sleeping in the basement family room!!!! You still wear mostly 18-24 month clothes & size 6 shoes.

 

This is the last time we will count your age in months. Now it will sound like 2, 4, 6, 20 years old. No matter what you'll always be my sunshine boy, my joy. The best baby/toddler on the block. Except when you're mad & you slap me in the face. eek

Wesley Crush:18 Months

You love to look out our back window & yell "Kack, Kack," at the ducks.You call Mia "sissy'" with the sweetest baby lisp. Anytime you hear a plane stop dead in your tracks, point to the sky and say "air pane, air pane." I remember Mia u doing the same thing.You want to to do everything she does & more. Mimicking her every move & demanding to have the same things she's eating and drinking. You're starting to shriek & throw tantrums when you can't have something you want.
You only have 6 teeth 3 on top, 3 on the bottom. Slowest teether EVER. Luckily it hasn't made you super fussy. You weigh 22 lbs 5 oz  & are 32 inches long. You're staying the course at 25%.

You little boy are continuing to prove how much you love to climb...ON EVERYTHING!!!! We finally had to move our little art studio bc you insisted on climbing on top of it while smearing paints all over your body. Obsessed with belly buttons. the minute your shirt is off you point at his and starts giggling!! You can point to his eyes, nose, mouth, hair & head. You LOVE the lift & see Karen Katz books.

On the subject of walking. In just one month you've developed so much more confidence in standing & cruising along the furniture. Occasionally you'll pull your hands free and just be standing, steady on your feet. I don't even think you even realize it. Maybe it's the 2nd time mom in me, but I'm not super worried. I know you'll walk eventually. Until then you'll just be mama's boy (& daddy's for that matter) a little longer.

Wesley Crush: 17 Months

You're still not walking but that doesn't stop you from getting into and onto everything. A few days ago I found you on the art table painting our walls a lovely shade of fuchsia.  You are double jointed & always bend your fingers down at the 1st joint. It's very odd.  I mentioned it to dad & he pointed his weird 1st joint bending finger at me. Apparently its hereditary. You weigh 21 lbs.

Right this second you have a high fever & runny nose. I held you until 3:30am this morning because you were fussy & wouldn't sleep. **We went to the docter after a 2nd brutal up all nite & you were diagnosed w croup:(  You love to dance & shake your hips. When you learn something new you'll say,  I did it & clap your hands.

You love to eat & have started insisted on feeding yourself with a spoon. It's pretty messy. As you can see, you take your O's very seriously. Drinking mostly from a sippy cup, still eating whatever weput in front of you. Except steamed broccoli. You're not a fan. You have 5 teeth, 2 on top 3 on bottom. You have 4 molars coming in & you're still our sunny sweetheart. Wearing 18 month clothes. As your hair gets longer it gets curlier & curlier

YOU ARE SUCH A HAM!!!!!! Love you tons Angel Boy!!!!!!!