Knox : 3 Years

I'm gonna have A LOT to catch up on blog-wise this week between our beach trip and the fun we've had this weekend... But all that can wait, because today my little man is THREE years old. How did that happen???

***Disclaimer : I gonna try my hardest to capture my Knox as he is right now, but I feel like to do it completely I'd have to write a book! So warning - this could get wordy ;)***

David Knox - May 29, 2008 - 8:26pm

7lbs 6oz, and 20 inches of Perfect!!!

And I had to throw these in here too...

[Knox at 1 year. Oh what I wouldn't give to kiss those fat baby cheeks again!!!]

[2 years... Ugh!]

Knox, at three years...

You are an absolute joy! Ok, most of the time... Ha! As easy-going of a baby you were, you are a little more of a challenge as a toddler. Mostly because you are SO strong-willed and independent. Which I pray will be a good thing for you someday... Although I will say you really only have melt-downs when your off your schedule or out of your element. (We are STILL in recovery-mode from last week's vacation!!!)

Your measurements are 39 inches and 35lbs. (According to my growth chart app - 79% for height and 74% for weight.) You wear 3T but I tend to buy 4T shirts so you can wear them in the fall. You're in a 9.5 shoe. And bless it, you've been fully potty trained since February! You may have had 3 accidents in the past 4 months and none of them were your fault.

I'm amazed by the things you pick up on! You know your shapes, letters (by sight and most by sound), can count to 20 backwards and forwards, sing many songs, write and spell your name, and draw simple things. Although I'm sad to say I'm 95% positive you've inherited your Poppy's color-blindness. (Which this gene is passed from fathers to daughters, so I carry it and 50% of my sons will get it.) With all the things you can do, you just have NOT picked up on colors. Everything is green ;)

You are SO social! You love being around your friends - especially Max and Carter and your friends at school. You'd be thrilled to go to school everyday if we could justify the extra $$$ to let you while I stay at home. And your teachers think you are just the greatest... You also love being around all your grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. It makes me sad you can't see them more often.

You are very verbal. You can tell us just about anything you want, and sometimes the way you end up saying it comes out so funny. You pick up on EVERYTHING. You also go through 2-3 week stages where you'll use the same few phrases over and over. Right now it's "That's not funny!" and "It's not fair." and "Mama fiiix iiiit!"

You're really in to dinosaurs and trains right now. (Especially Thomas and The Land Before Time.) You're also kind of starting to get in to more little boy things, like superheroes. In fact, there have been days when you insist we all call you 'Awesome Boy' and we all play along because it's kind of cute... That being said - you still ask to watch things like Backyardigans and Sprout, which I love ;)

You also love anything involving a ball. I think your current favorite at the moment is soccer. You do SO well with your ESPN t-ball set in the backyard.

You love playing outside - especially at the park and on the trampoline. (And you're finally jumping with BOTH feet - Woo hoo!) You also like any kind of water play and the pool. (Well you REALLY did last year, but you had a little more fear towards it last week. I think you've finally gotten used to it again though. I'm hoping we can get you swimming this summer.)

You're still my finicky little eater. You hate the textures of veggies, and also don't like a lot of food that most kids love - french fries, mashed potatoes, bananas, etc. You really have a sweet tooth, but some of the better foods I can get you to eat include lasagna, spaghetti, chicken, pasta, eggs, most fruit, rice, sunflower seeds, carrots with dip, and sandwhiches.

You love to sing songs and say your prayers. You sing God Our Father before meals, and Now I Lay Me before bedtime... When you proceed to decide who you'd like to "Bless" that night... "God bless Poppy, God bless Mimi, God bless Josh, God bless Sandy (the dog), etc..." and last night you even thanked God for your ears, outside, and birthdays. :)

You love books, but are not content to be read to. (Although Lord knows I try!) You like pointing out everything and telling your own story. You just talk right over me. That is SO you.

You sleep well at night, but occassionally wake up with night terrors. I HATE this because it's so hard to wake and/or console you and it's kind of scary for us :( ...You go to bed around 8:30-9 and are almost always awake by 7. You still take one good afternoon nap.

Medically speaking - you're healthy as a horse, but recently we've been treating you for asthma. Especially during allergy season. You really only get attacks at night though. Again - HATE seeing you like that.

And let me just say - I have LOVED watching you become a big brother! I worried myself sick over how you'd react to having another sibling around but you loved Hadley the moment we brought her home and took on the protective big brother role immediately. This makes me SO very proud of you. You two are already best friends. If one of you is upset, the other is NOT content until they see if he/she is ok. And Lord help me - you both could be mad at me, but when you see each other it's all smiles and laughs. I pray y'all always have that special bond!

In short - you just LOVE life. Like seriously, I'm jealous. You are so friendly and out-going. I especially realize this when you're around kids who may be more shy. You make friends EVERYWHERE you go! You have strong opinions and aren't afraid to let them be known. You are scarily independent. You think you can do it all. ...But you also have a lovey side. You melt me when you're my 'Snuggle Boy' or those times when you just want me to hold and hug you.

Knox, Mommy's always praying for you everyday. These are a few of the things I pray...

- For your safety and health. You've given me probably 23 heart attacks since you were born and I worry myself sick over you.

- I pray for myself. To be the best mommy I can be to you. I pray for an ever deepening relationship with God so that you may see what that looks like and yearn for it too. I pray for the patience to "train you up in the ways of the Lord" and to teach you the little things, even when I know it'd be easier to do it myself.

- I pray for when you are older. That you are always out-going and well-liked, but never the bully. I pray you are strong and confident enough to stand up for the weaker ones and for what you believe.

- I pray for the girl God has already hand-picked to one day be your wife. (As much as the thought of "giving you away" breaks my heart...) I pray Daddy and I are able to show you what a real man and healthy marriage and family looks like.

- I thank God for you! You've brought so much joy and purpose in to my life, and have taught me some really big lessons in just 3 short years. I love you so much and am honored to have been chosen by God to raise you!

...Ok - there's enough sappiest to last you a good week! I was up til 1am last night alternating between writing this and looking through his baby pictures. I'm a mess... James asked if I was going to go look in on him at 12:01am, and I said no. His actual birthday will not be til 8:26pm and like every year, I'll take an 8:26 picture!

Of course - we had his "friend" birthday party a few weeks ago, celebrated with James' family last week at the beach, and will now celebrate his official birthday tonight with my Dad and his crew here... I'll touch on that later!