I CANNOT believe our little guy is 3. And sadly, I cannot believe that I am just now writing about it. Trying to catch up. I'll get there eventually. Anyway, Carter has just grown up so much, I can hardly stand it!
To say he is active is QUITE the understatement. He is super coordinated and loves to climb, crawl, jump, run, play sports, dance, sing... you get the idea. Carter is great at puzzles. We have several 30 and 40 piece puzzles that he'll loves to work on and can put together 3 or 4 times in a matter of minutes, and even a 100 piece puzzle that he's really getting good at. It's bigger than he is! If I can download the picture off of my phone - I will.
He is really doing well with numbers and letters. He'll tell us numbers on street signs and letters in words. We are working on sight words now and making progress - slowly but surely. He can draw shapes pretty accurately.
Carter's memory is off the charts. I was like that as a child, but now I can't remember what I had on yesterday unless it's still in a pile on the floor. Granted, I can tell you what my aunt and uncle's first address was, or phone number, or random junk like that... Anyway, he remembers all kinds of stuff. Laney is like that now, too. She was able to tell me who every one's mommy was in class by about the second week of school. He is extremely perceptive as well. Kids in general are, more so than people give them credit for, but... his first impressions are usually right, and I feel like he can sense emotions like an animal!
He is very creative and can make a game or pretend play set-up out of just about anything. Usually he will add lots of commentary or even his own little song. He LOOOOOVES to play with Daddy, of course, and often mimics things Joel does. Pretty funny. I remember when we were changing the office to his 'big boy' room. I walked in when he was supposed to be sleeping to find him "installing new baseboards" with his hammer. He will also exercise like Daddy (and me, too, believe it or not!). He runs laps, does pull-ups and push-ups, even squats! It's pretty funny.
There is very little he's afraid of - which makes me very afraid. He is very engaging now and usually tracks down a friend or two quickly at the park to run around with. Sometimes, Laney will do. :) Actually, it's funny as he will call them 'friend' until he finds out a name. "hey friend, come over here. Do you want to slide, friend?"
I am very, very surprised that we have not made an ER trip yet. It's just a matter of time. I just don't know which one it will be for first! 'Monkey see, monkey do' is definitely a theme around our house.
Joel and I just love how Carter is such a BOY. There are some who don't always welcome it, but... I never want to change who he is. We find ways to modify the rough-housing, but I never want him to change his personality or be a push-over. He can also be soooo affectionate, too. Most of the time, he is super sweet to Laney. They are best friends, and he takes such good care of her. He loves to teach her things and is usually the first one in her room when she wakes up. She loves her "bro bro" too. He is always, always her first person we thank God for at night. I love that he is old enough to do more things with, but I also hate how fast he is growing. As much as I enjoy playing catch and cooking things and learning things together, my favorite times are snuggling up with him and night and just talking before he goes to bed. Sometimes I go in there and snuggle when he's already asleep.
He loves all things dinosaur, science/nature/outdoors, cars, trucks, pretty much everything little boy. But, he also loves to play with Laney's kitchen, play tea with her, and he really, really loves to cook with me. We try to explain a lot of things to him, and he usually remembers. He can change batteries in his own toys (using a screw driver), he feeds the dogs and fills their water bowl, he feeds his fish (Nemo - what else??), turns on the CD player and radio, opens the car door by himself (started on the house door a while back!), and he has been able to get himself in his carseat and buckled since Laney was born really. He kind of had to! He sings songs and does the motions. Often Carter will say little random things that he has heard us say before. For instance, we were driving some where the other day, and I said,' Wow... look at all this traffic!' He replied, 'I've never seen it like this!' Or he will ask me if I am speeding when a police officer drives by or when we pass a speed limit sign.
We love you, lil' dude. Your daddy and I have had so much fun these first three years and can't wait to see what the future holds for you. We are so thankful God chose you for us, and we will always know what a treasure you are! From your big blue eyes, to your "cheese" smile, to your sweet little freckles, you were perfectly made - tailor made - for us. Love you bunches, sweet boy. - mommy
These are not the best pictures, but I like being able to look back on all who attended. C had a great time at his party and was happy to see all of his friends. Some of these kiddos have literally been around since day 1!
Nice family photo, huh?
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