I gave the boys mini Snickers for a treat after dinner one night, and when Carmine asked what it was, I told him it was a Snickers. He pressed it to the front of his shirt, and got very angry when it fell, shouting "It's not sticker - it won't stick!"
The past few times I've taken him to the doctor, it's been a nightmare - squirming, pushing the doctor's hands away, yelling, shaking - all-out terror. So I braced myself for the worst at his 3-year checkup a few weeks ago, and was very surprised when he did absolutely GREAT! He cooperated, he smiled, he laughed, and was downright pleasant and agreeable. And when he was all done and the doctor was getting ready to leave the room, he threw his hands up in the air and yelled "I DID IT!!!" So cute to see them so proud of themselves.
He loves, loves, loves sledding! We spent a good hour sledding the other day, and he trudged back up that hill with his sled every single time, commenting as he got to the top - "I'm good climber, Mommy." And the whole way down, you can hear him yelling "Wheeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!" : )
Whenever we put on an episode of Phineas & Ferb (his favorite show), he watches the opening credits, and then yells excitedly "Oh, I LOVE this one!" - with the same level of enthusiasm for every single episode. He's definitely Phineas & Ferb's number one fan. He even has conversations with Phineas when he's up in his crib at 'naptime,' during which he usually just plays and sings and talks. He seems to now be on an every-three-or-four-day nap schedule.
At 38 inches tall, he's clearly big enough that he could climb out of his crib if he wanted to, but he has zero interest in doing so. The other day, I actually caught him trying to climb IN the crib. Not a bad problem to have.
I went the other morning to get him out, and as soon as I opened the door to his room, he said "Mommy, Gabe was a skeleton." After some more talking, I realized that he must have had a dream that Gabe was a skeleton. Creepy - but also fascinating that he remembered the dream and was talking to me about it. We talked about how dreams aren't real, and they're just something that happens when you're sleeping. I have no idea if he understood that - it's kind of a tough concept for a 3-year-old - but he's mentioned it a few more times, saying "Dream is all gone. Dream was in my bed." I'm just hoping he doesn't hold a grudge against his big brother for coming into his dream and scaring him!
We made a snowman during one of our recent snowstorms, and as we got ready to put on his accessories, Carmine yelled "Now put his hat on, so he can talk!" Guess he was paying attention when they watched Frosty at Christmastime.
I was making banana bread with chocolate chips the other day, and snuck him a few chocolate chips, and as he was sitting at the table eating them, he commented "Hey, they're like little Santa hats." So now he asks me for "Santa hats." I think I'll let him keep calling them that for a while longer : )
As we left the gym the other day, I realized that I had forgotten my coat, so we walked down to the fitness room, which I don't think he's ever been in. We went in to grab my coat, and he was in awe of all the machines and the noise, and asked me a lot of questions as we made our way back out to the parking lot. And as we talked about how people were exercising in there, he commented "You live in there, Mommy." Not quite, but we're there so often, it probably feels like that to him!
We went last week for his preschool screening, and it was so funny to see him go through all the little games and tests they do. He does everything with such enthusiasm and flair and personality. He really has a serious amount of charisma, and it blows me away sometimes. And watching him in that classroom setting, I just couldn't believe that next year at this time he'll be in school a few mornings a week - on his own, learning, making friends, and continuing to grow up at a rapid pace.
It does make me a little melancholy, but mostly it makes me proud of him, and excited for him. He's so ready to discover the world, and I can't wait to watch that process start to unfold....
Oh, wow, I love this post! He is such a cutie. My youngest is off the kindergarten in the fall and I get teary every time I think about it. We have been enjoying a lot of one on one time this year and I am treasuring every memory we make.
Posted by: Nicole | February 15, 2013 at 03:01 PM
You sure do have a way of tugging at my heartstrings....this was a lovely post and your feelings are those of all good Mommies who enjoy their children !
Posted by: Mom and Dad | February 15, 2013 at 03:38 PM