Jude. Today you are 3.

Today you are 3.

Today, you sing yourself to sleep.  

Lately it goes something like this: row, row, row, your boat, merrily, merrily streammmmm. merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily life went down the drainnnnn.  

At the moment, your are singing A-B-C's in your loudest voice while in bed.

You also sing in the tub, when playing in your pretend kitchen...everywhere.

Today you ride and race your tricycle all around the backyard.

You love to play "Simon Says"--when you're in charge it goes like this: "simon says touch your nose. oh-ho!  Simon didn't say Mom!!  Simon didn't say!!!!!"

You say, "Mom, I promise I'll stay in bed.  Is that a deal?" when you go down for naps (in our bed) and you shake your finger at me while you say it.

Today you are Daddy's little shadow.  You follow him all around the yard while he works on this and that.  You say things like, "I just wanna play with my friend Daddy."

Today, you love your special letter J.  And you'll tell us all what letters our names begin with.

Today, you mostly take your naps--from 3-5, or 3-6.

When you don't take your naps, we have a rough rest of the day.

You lovvvvve to hide behind the couch cushions and under covers.

You love to make a mess. 

You run around outside without shoes.  Everyday, all the time.  You know the consequences and the pain of stubbed toes, but you just love to run free.

Today, you can make your hand into a 3, and say, "I'm two, but I'm going to be thfree.  On my birthday.  Right, Mom??"

When I ask you what you want for your birthday, you say cupcakes.

And a cars party.

Today you still love to grab toys from Leland to show him how they really work.  You like to ticka-ticka-ticka-ticka him.  

But, to be honest, you pick on your little bro quite a little bit.

Today, Leland just adores you to pieces, despite it all.

You have a high pitched giggle.  We can count on you giggling most of the day.

Giggling most of the day when you're not having a royal, stubborn, 3-year-old tantrum.  When you throw a fit, you say what you wanted on repeat for a lonnnnnng time.  One time you had a melt down because I wasn't nice to your sucker.  One time because you wanted to put your shoes on, not me.

Most the time this is because you haven't napped.

Today you like to test your limits.

Today you are super easy going, but have these moments where you want to do things by yourself.

And I mean allllll by yourself.  Start to finish.  You want to pick your outfit, shoes, etc. You want to put them on--find the right hole, front/back, etc.

If I ask you "flip-flops or sandals?" you look at what I have on, and then you say the same.  I totally dig it. 

Today you run with your body sorta hunched, and arm movements really exaggerated.  Sorta like a granny run.  It's friggin' awesome.

Today, you have grown up so big and I just want to soak all of you up, because cuteness just oozes out of you, and there is just not enough time.  How are you already 3?

Today, I am so, so, proud of you and all that you are.

Silly, squeaky, easy-going & willful all at once, deep-thinker, night owl, cautious, lovable and loved.

Jude @ 3 stats:

Height: 40 3/4" (97%ile)

Weight: 34.7 lbs (75%ile)

BMI: 15.66