Leo 3.0

It is insane that my little boy has turned 3 years old!  I remember thinking about writing a post about him at two years old...and I still haven't gotten there!  Ha.  So here are some things I want to remember about Leo at 3.

This kid LOVES his bike!  He started riding on an old hand-me-down bike last summer and has really come to be quite good at it.  He has already begged for me to take his training wheels off, which I declined for now.  I think he would be just fine to be on his bike from sun up to sun down if I let him.  We are lucky to live in a cul-de-sac where he has lots of room to ride and good neighbor kids to play with.  I am so glad it is getting warmer so we can spend lots of our day outside.  He also loves riding the tricycle and scooter that we borrowed from Livi.

He still loves Daniel Tiger on PBS and has more recently gotten into Thomas the Train.  I think he'd watch Word World every day, unfortunately it is only on once a week now and I can only stand watching the same episodes so many times.

Speaking of Thomas, he has developed a love of trains that matches his love of cars, almost.  He knows all of the different trains on Thomas (I can't tell most of them apart) and knows exactly which ones he hopes to get next.  He got a train table and train set for Christmas and has spent many hours pushing those trains around the tracks.  I'm glad we don't have to live at Barnes and Noble anymore :)  However he still has a soft spot for anything with wheels!  He loves when we have to get the oil changed or tires rotated and thought it was awesome when Nick's car wouldn't start and got to ride on a tow truck.  (Past bedtime on the other side of Houston, we didn't think that was quite as fun...)

Leo is funny.  And he wants to be funny, which is funny.  He is usually so happy and is always coming up with new ideas for us.  He is considerate and very thoughtful for a 3 year old.  He says "please" and "thank you" almost all of the time and will put his dishes in the sink when he is done.  And he is SO loving!  He frequently takes breaks from whatever he is doing to come tell me he loves me or give me a hug.  He says "I love you" at least two dozen times a day and fights with me often over who loves who more.  He loves to hug and cuddle but has recently started designating only one day a week where he leaves my kisses on...all of the other days he wipes them off.  Below he is insisting to carry my purse for me and cuddling with Dad when they had a sleepover in his room...all part of a very elaborate plan to work up to camping in a tent :)

 

He LOVES letters.  He has known his alphabet for quite some time now and is always trying to sound out words.  He pretends to read all of the time and my favorite is when he tries to make up what is on the back of the books...it usually is something like "this sturdy book is the best in the whole wide world and is good for kids who like to read and..."

So far he can write 18 of his letters so that you can tell what they are every time (since I started working on this post like a week ago he has pretty much mastered all 26 letters...he loves to practice writing!)  The others I am sure will be quick to come...he is mostly mad at me that I want to only focus on practicing one new letter a day.  Just today we wrote numbers 1-10.  He very clearly can write his name and can spell "Leo Vernon" by himself.  Again,  he is mad at me that I haven't taught him "Nicholas" yet.

His drawings are getting more fun- he has started doing his version of a person and a car.  He loves drawing on his magnadoodle and with a pen if I ever give him one.  He is dying to go to "real school" (not pretend school or pre-school) and when I ask him what he'll do there he says "learn with my friends".  I just love his sweet innocence, not to mention his love for learning :)

 Leo loves rules and is always very concerned about who is following the rules.  We are lucky and able to do so many things because he is very cautious and worried about doing things as I've said. Like bake.  He loves to bake and is pretty good at doing it without making a mess.  He is not interested in anything that gets his hands messy but can stir just about anything and keep it all in the bowl.  He also loves to play board games and is very good at following the instructions on how to really play.  He is getting better at pretending (thanks Livi!) but is very concerned with making sure everyone knows it is just pretend.

 

He loves bath time, although he will take a shower if he has to.  He loves his bedtime routine and can tell anyone exactly what to do and in what order.  He loves reading a story before bed and is getting really good at saying his own prayers.  Below: bath time and new birthday jammies from Grammie.

For his birthday Leo got two new books from Grandma Lyndy and Grandadoo: Steam Train, Dream Train and Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site.  They are really cute books and great for reading before bed.  Leo already has them both completely memorized!  And these aren't tiny little board books!  For awhile I couldn't understand what he was always mumbling under his breath but then I would recognize it as a stanza from one of the books.  He is a funny little guy with a real knack for memorization!  Now most nights he "reads" to us.

Oh and does this boy love his daddy!  I frequently tell Nick to never do anything wrong because I'm pretty sure Leo would follow him through fire.  He can't wait for Dad to get home from work every day and I don't think he'd miss me if I was missing on the weekends when Dad is home to play ALL DAY!  Consequently and obviously, Leo is a Broncos fan.  And even though they lost, we had to show our Bronco support in the Super Bowl with some new jammies...although Leo did take a break from the game to play Eric Carle's ABC game...which we play at least a few times every single day. I told you, we LOVE letters around here.

Leo was so proud to turn 3 so that he could go into his gym class by himself.  Up until now we have been doing the mommy & me gymnastics class and I was worried about the transition, but he is thrilled to go in by himself...and I enjoy the little break I get to just sit and watch!  He normally isn't the most daring kid around, and I doubt ever will be, but he is getting more brave in his class and I love to see him conquer not only new physical feats but his own fear too.  And he can somersault like no one's business :)

We are currently in transition to a big bed.  He loved his crib and never tried to get out so we let him stay in it until now.  We have taken the side off and put the toddler rail on and he has done awesome-  he is so excited about his new bed.  And so far he has done really well with the clock we put in his room so that he stays in his bed all night.  This week we took the toddler rail off his bed completely so it is basically just like a  mini daybed.  He still is doing awesome and is excited for his "own bigger bed".

Leo is getting so independent.  He has mastered going to the bathroom by himself (angles singing) and can get undressed by himself.  He can put his shoes on put all his dishes away out of the dishwasher.  We haven't given him any formal chores yet because he is always so excited to help with anything.

Did I say he loved his dad?  Here he is on Valentine's Day when we decorated Dad's car at the park-n-ride and him using his new "shaving" kit he got for Christmas.

He is a master of technology, like all kids these days, and has no trouble using a mouse, touchpad, ,or touchscreen.  He frequently tells me he has a message he needs to text to someone and asks for my phone.  I am happy though that he really doesn't seem to be addicted and want screen time all day long...except for when he is sick.  Below he is catching some early morning cartoons after a long, sickness-filled night.  All four of us cuddled in my bed and it felt like heaven on earth :)

Leo loves church.  Period.  He loves wearing special church clothes like Dad.  He loves going to his nursery class.  He loves getting to take his turn passing the bread and water trays.  He loves going to find a seat in chapel.  He loves singing the songs.  And lately he especially loves when Dad takes him to the bathroom at church and he gets to use the special potty...aka urinal.  Ha!  And all in all I have to admit he is really great at church and is dang cute when he is all spiffed up :)

Last week, even though Leo had pneumonia, we stayed up late to go to the big Pinewood Derby race that the cub scouts were having.  Leo thought is was great to stay up late, go in his jammies, eat treats, and watch cars race!  We had a pretty fun time with him too.  He is really at such a fun age where he isn't completely a rat yet but is definitely old enough to enjoy some fun things.  I'm sad for the day when he doesn't think his dad and I are the most awesome friends!  

Of course I am his mom and I think he is amazing and I could brag about him forever, but I have to actually publish this post sometime.  There is just so much I want to remember about this age!  Leo is such a sweet boy and we are definitely loving being 3 :)

And then the heavens opened up...

When Leo was starting to eat, he was great.  He'd eat lots of things and try almost anything we were eating.  I remember the days when he'd eat serving after serving of lasagna.  Well...then he turned two I guess.  Testing boundaries, being stubborn, whatever you want to call it is fine with me but the moral of the story is that the child just was impossible to feed.  For months we had just a few foods we'd rely on for mealtimes.  He never got tired of snacking though (probably because he never got full at mealtimes) which drove me crazy as it seemed like I couldn't go anywhere without a whole picnic in my purse.  I got really tired of making him a separate dinner all of the time, but I hated him to go hungry too...because he was fine to just not eat if I wouldn't make him what he wanted.  I tried fighting him about eating a few times, but I quickly realized I just don't have it in me- the tears and anger and standoffs did no one any good.  So I eventually landed on a new approach to eating- I continued to offer all foods, however if he would use his manners (no thank you) I didn't push.  Exhausting as it was/is, it is how we survived for awhile.

And then one day, the heavens opened up and the kid just decided to eat!  Now I am not boasting that he will eat everything I make, but in the last few weeks we have had major breakthroughs.  (All of this after one of the most frustrating food battles ever...he wanted noodles for dinner, I didn't have rotini so I made spaghetti, he refused to eat it and sobbed and threw the tantrum of all tantrums just because it was a different shape, he eventually had a bite, he asked for two more bowls after he finished the one I originally gave him and then asked for spaghetti for dinner for the next few nights.  Really???)  Anyway, his mind has suddenly opened up to trying things- from orange yogurt (we were strictly vanilla for a long time) to even a carrot (which he didn't like and still spit out...but he TRIED it!)  Dinner is getting way more fun because all of the sudden there are more than like 3 options for his main course.  And it is even slightly possible to build a meal for all of us around what he will eat.  I know it sounds dumb, but it has been so awesome the last few weeks!  I really hope this isn't a quick phase...

In the last few weeks here are the things he has started eating (most of them he used to eat just fine but then didn't eat them for months):  corn, strawberries, orange yogurt, homemade chicken nuggets, homemade french fries, grilled cheese sandwich, spaghetti, mac and cheese, smoothies, a pancake, mandarin oranges, popcorn, granola, chocolate raisins, apples.  I know it isn't an amazing diet yet, but it is a remarkable difference and it makes me feel so invigorated to actually cook again (really hard to stay motivated when Nick rarely makes it home for dinner, I'm exhausted, and all Leo wants is a peanut butter sandwich).  I have been eating better myself too because we have more fruits and veggies around since he'll actually eat them and I love it.  I didn't realize how much I missed eating real food!  Here is hoping for many more great meals!!!

These two

Leo and Livi are the best of friends!  They have a love/hate relationship and most of the time instead of breaking up fights we are breaking up hugs...I find myself saying "Leo, no more hugging!" way too often when we are with Livi!  He just adores her and calls her "my Livi".  I am glad that we live close enough to at least a couple of cousins for his sake.  He asks to go play with Livi almost every day!

One day we picked Livi up from dance and on the way home stopped for frozen yogurt...I just love their expressions in these pics!  You can totally tell that they just love each other!

The Little Gym

When school started this year, Leo was pretty confused and disappointed that he didn't have anywhere to go.  I started to investigate different opportunities for him and we tried a free class at The Little Gym.  To be honest I wasn't completely bowled over with the class...maybe because we are spoiled with having a great nursery?  But Leo LOVED it and kept telling me that he loved it in "his class"...plus the gym does have a lot of cool equipment to play with!  After a quick chat with Dad, we signed Leo up and he was thrilled.  He loves having days we go to his gym ("my little gym") and is doing really well there.  He is one of the oldest in the class (it is still Mommy & Me style until he turns 3) and although he is not the most daring, he definitely can do anything they ask.  He especially loves the bubbles and stamps at the end :)

He loves walking on the beam and is so thrilled that he looks like the commercial before Daniel Tiger on PBS :)  He is getting braver and can even go on the high beam without holding on to anyone...on a brave day!  We have learned how to go forwards and backwards on the beam, as well as wheelbarrow style where he just walks his hands on the beam while I hold his hips up in the air.  He has even started climbing up on the high beam like the older kids do and not using the little stairs that are out for the little kids.  I know that doesn't seem like a lot, but he isn't a daredevil and it is exciting for us to see him get more confident.

Bars are fun to swing on and he is finally coming around to idea of flipping over it.  And just this week he finally tried walking on the lower bar while he holds on to the higher bar, back and forth.  He did awesome! He is getting better at somersaults and rolling too.

We are always SO excited when the rings are out- the equipment changes from week to week depending on what the big kids are working on and Leo is always disappointed when the rings aren't out.  He loves to swing on them and thinks it is hilarious to let go and plop down on his bum.

His gym class has been a fun addition to our routine.  He loves his class time and the open gym time too.  He likes singing songs and playing with the balls and parachute...and it is helping us both get to know other kids and moms in our area.  Leo loves his teacher, Miss Kierstin, and can't wait to tell and show her things each week.  He even insisted we take her a Halloween cookie when I said we were making them for our friends.  And I am excited that he is getting comfortable in the gym so he will hopefully make a smooth transition to going to a class alone in just a few short months when he turns 3!  My little baby is growing so fast! :)

Pumpkin Patch

We are lucky enough to live really close to this little farm that has a pumpkin patch (and where you can go cut down your own Christmas tree soon!)  Nick and I couldn't wait for the first Saturday in October to take Leo to his first real pumpkin patch experience.  It was still pretty hot but we sweated it out to see the pumpkins and, most importantly, ride the train.

The hayride was also a hit...although not quite as great because we had to sit on scratchy hay.  We have the most finicky 2 year old!  We sat up close to the tractor and eventually Leo ended up on Nick's lap, both of which made the hayride a bit better.

 Seeing the pumpkins really wasn't that high on Leo's to-do list...there was a train don't forget!  But we convinced him to check out a few piles...

He was far too nervous to climb on the pumpkins like all the other kids, but was eventually persuaded with a lot of help :)  He is one cautious little guy!

He had fun chasing Dad around this giant spider...

He couldn't wait to get a wagon to pull around...however he picked the smallest pumpkins we could find!  We looked at lots, but he kept insisting they were too big.  We eventually found some tiny pumpkins by the check out and he was more than happy to pull them in the wagon...all the way out to the car!  

He was happy to pick out 3, one for each of us, and wanted to hold them the whole way home :)  Although it didn't really feel like fall because it was SO hot, we were happy to welcome in my favorite season with something that will definitely be a tradition for years to come!  

Hooks Airport Open House

So one day while we were running errands I saw a sign for an open house at this little airport that is just a couple miles away from us.  I wondered what it would be and was thinking we should check it out...and then I got an email about it from my playgroup leader which solidified my decision.

It was actually a great day for it...slightly overcast and not quite as stifling as it can be in late September.  It actually sprinkled a little bit while we were there but we just took cover in the main hanger for a few minutes until it passed.  Leo loved it!  It was great that it only took like 5 minutes to drive there...and then it was great to have somewhere to just let him roam free and explore.

He was kind of timid at first- which is becoming a theme lately- but warmed up and loved wandering around and checking out all of the planes, helicopters, and especially fire trucks that were there. 

It took far too long to get him to actually touch the propeller for the picture above...I don't know why he is becoming such a scaredy cat lately!  I mean I would never say that he has been a huge daredevil, but he is way too afraid of silly things now!  Really hoping this is just a phase...  On the other hand, he wanted his picture taken by every single wheel of this fire truck.  We actually happened upon this one volunteer firefighter that was way too anxious to show off the truck and he took us to a big ladder truck that was over on the side, not in the main arena with the planes and other emergency vehicles, so Leo could explore all by himself!  It was awesome :)

Leo loved getting to actually climb in this airplane!  And I will say that Nick and I both had just as much fun as he did looking at all of the airplanes and watching our little man explore to his heart's content.

Leo really loved watching some of the planes take off and land...and especially the one that stopped to get fuel!  (We play gas station about a million times every day at home!)

And the most unexpected thing we saw was right as we were walking out...a PIG!  In a stroller!?!  Pretty sure it was time to call it a day after that!  We had a really great time and didn't spend a dime which was awesome.  Plus it only took a few minutes in the car to get there.  So glad that we decided to check it out!

First Dental Visit!

My hopes of catching on my blog are seeming more and more impossible...so at the moment I am giving up and just moving forward.  Hopefully this will help me to record what is going on more regularly :)

Today Leo had his first dental check up.  We went to Dr. Andersen as he had come highly recommended by the Cosby girls.  Leo was all about it- he didn't seem nervous and told me before we got there that he "loved the dentist".

When we were walking in he said "Mom, you are brave at the dentist?" to which I said "Yes" and that was it.  He loved the toys in the waiting room and was almost disappointed that we only waited like 2 minutes.

A super friendly Texas hygenist let Leo look at all of her tools and then he let her "tickle" his teeth and get a drink from her super cool water gun.  She let him pick a new toothbrush and then we waited for about one minute for the dentist.

He told Leo he was going to count his teeth and Leo was happy to open wide.  Dr. Andersen assured us all was well and said his 2 year molars were no where in sight yet.  Sigh...more teething...wahoo.

Leo chose a kaledoscope out of the treasure box at first, but quickly reconsidered for a jump rope to "help me jump".  I'm not sure if he knows what to do with it but he sure jumps a lot while holding it! :)  We are glad that our first experience with the dentist is #1 a good one and #2 over!!!