Is He Really 3?

WOW -- my sweet sweet little boy turned three last Sunday. He had quite a celebration week last week - Valentines Party (with candy) at Ms. Carries on Thursday, Birthday Party (with cake) at Ms. Carries on Friday, and another Birthday Party (pizza and more cake) at Wiggly Play Center on Saturday.

We are quite blessed with our friends and loved ones generousity. Trying to teach Zachary to be gracious but all he wanted were "more presents!"

My father (Z's Gramps) was in town and I think a tad bit frightened by the party at Wiggly Play Center. The party place is essentially an indoor playground with a bounce house. It was a horrible day weather-wise so the location was very crowded. I think the chaos of it all actually shocked my dad into silence! It was a bit overwhelming.

Zachary had 15 of his friends and 5 babies as well as all of the parents there to help him celebrate. He was so excited until he realized he was the center of attention. He got a little shy and didn't smile a lot in the pics. But he blew out all of his birthday candles.

The celebration continued on Sunday with MORE presents (I tell you we are very lucky!!) from Uncle Andrew, Aunt Jessie, & Baby Lucas as well as Gramma, and Chad and I.

He is such a joy to watch grow and mature. He is definitely a little boy -- yep seems the twos really weren't terrible - it's the threes you have to watch out for!! Chad and I will embrace every moment as he explores life and struggles for independence (a battle I am told continues for decades to come) and try to shower him with all the love, patience (I said try), and freedom we can.

We are so blessed.

A Twist On A Classic Tune

Zachary loves to go to Target but not for the same reason I do. I could spend hours shopping there - clothes, shoes, cards, candles, picture frames, ice cream, etc - you get the idea. Zachary LOVES (his word) Target because he gets a rainbow cookie and milk when we go.

Last night, we took a small venture to Target (make sure you say with a French accent - Tarzjey) for some Valentines miscellaneousness. He had his cookie and his milk and was a very happy camper. Towards the end (that mean after an hour of sitting in the cart) he starts to entertain himself by singing the alphabet song over and over. Seriously - over and over. The check out lady was amused at first and then annoyed -- I think because she knew it would be stuck in her head all night. I just had to laugh and sing along.

It did remind me of a blog post I wanted to make. When Z first learned the alphabet song, he would get stuck in a loop and would keep singing only because he couldn't figure out how to end the song.

He would sing: "A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, and Z, now I know my ABCDE, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, and Z, now I know my ABCDE, F, G, etc."

A round of applause for the musical genius that is Zachary James Martin. Oh how I love that kid!!!

You Eat What??

Yesterday Zachary told Chad that he ate Heiney Oodles. Confused - Chad asked for clarification. Z said Ms. Carrie cooked Heiney Oodles for Heiney New Year.

One of Zachary's Ms. Carrie Friends is from a Vietnamese family and her mother brought supplies for celebrating the new year.

So the translation from Z speak to English is Zachary had Chinese Noodles for Chinese New Year.

Happy Heiney New Year!!!!

Deeeeliciousss

Not really relevant to the title but made me laugh -- this weekend Zachary started singing Nah Nah Nah Nah...Nah Nah Nah Nah....Hey Heeeyyyy Goooood Bye... WHAT? Where did he learn that??? He cracks me up!!!

OK the real point of this entry is on Saturday after getting his hair cut we went to Chicken A (aka Chick-Fil-A). He ate all his chicken and a bit of fruit but seeing that the play yard was just feet away he was distracted. He is struggling in play places to climb up to the top. He gets nervous when he gets too high and he (ahem) chickens out. He didn't play long since it was well into nap time and he asked for some Aheyescream (very Texas twang.) Not paying attention I ordered a Kiddie Ice Cream and forgot to ask for the cup. So Z was quite excited to see his Aheyescream Cone!

The whole point of this blog -- we are getting closer -- was that we buckled him into his car seat, he would take a lick of the cone, lean his head back, let the ice cream melt on his tongue, he would let out a big sigh, and then swallow and say deeeelllliciousss. He savor every single bit of that ice cream cone. A gentle reminder for me -- savor every bit and not just of Aheyescream.