July 21, 2008
Dear Mason II,
Happy Third Birthday!
Thirty-six month statistics: Weight: approximately 40 lbs. Length: TBD inches. Diaper Size: 6 Clothes: 4T
Hard to believe that three years ago you were just my tiny little baby boy. Where has the time gone?
The past three months have been a whirlwind of activity for me. I finished three masters classes, planned the PEO State Convention, and changed jobs. It has been quite an exciting time around here. I’m so glad to have most of that behind us now.
While I have been scurrying around, you have also been scampering about town. I mentioned in your last letter that your imagination has really taken off these past few months, and that has certainly continued. Everything you touch magically turns into a rocket ship, garbage truck, or fire truck. You constantly give us instructions on how to jump aboard to get ready for take-off.
In addition to your imagination, you love your musical instruments. The guitar you received for Christmas has been getting a good bit of use, as well as the bongo drums and other miscellaneous music makers. For your birthday, your dad and I purchased a harmonica, castanets, recorder, and a xylophone for you. They have become fast favorites.
Your birthday was such an enjoyable time. We celebrated on a Saturday morning with breakfast munchies that included Danish, muffins, yogurt, and bacon/mushroom and broccoli/cheese frittatas. We borrowed a small pool from our friend’s, the Leary’s, and everyone had a great time splashing in the water and playing in the yard. When all was said and done, we had almost 40 guests, including your Nana and Nanny, all the way from Las Vegas. You received many wonderful gifts including: books, crayons, makers and coloring books, a set of blocks, cash register, puzzles, and an airplane and other small vehicles that you can take apart and put together on your own.
Perhaps the best gift of all was the Sunday after your party, when you, dad, nana, and me went to the Frederick Keys baseball game in Frederick, MD. What fun! We had the best seats ever! We were in the second row behind home plate. We were so close we could hear the umpire make the calls. We ate hot dogs, popcorn, and of course, ice cream in a baseball hat cup. Nana bought you a souvenir baseball, and dad bought you a bat. After the game, all the kids were invite to the field to run the bases. You loved it. In fact, you were very upset when you had to leave the field. After running the bases, they had a beautiful fireworks show. It was so late, but we stayed and all enjoyed the show. It was such fun; we can’t wait to go back again.
Your daily routine hasn’t changed much in the past few months. Unfortunately, you seem to be waking up earlier and earlier. You are currently waking around 5:45 or 6am each day – sometimes earlier! Sometimes you will stay in your room and read books for a while, but most days you are right into our room. You are hard to resist when you wake us with your cheery greeting, “Good Morning, Mama! I had a good dream.” Then you proceed to tell us about the dinosaur or rocket ship or fire truck that you dreamt about.
Speaking of dinosaurs, we took dad on a special Father’s Day outing to the Museum of Natural History in Washington DC last month. Another spectacular day of fun. You were in awe of the giant dinosaur skeletons. We walked all through the museum and ended the day with lunch and a trip to the gift shop. You left the gift shop with a small container of dinosaurs that you now play with in the tub.
Speaking of tub time…. What a mess! A month or so ago, we had a bad situation one evening when you got soap – lots of soap, in your poor little eyes during hair washing. Ever since, you hate having your hair washed. As we walk up the stairs for “rubby-tub time” you begin begging for us to not wash your hair. Your dad has been working with you to practice putting your head back, and it usually takes both of us, but it is getting better.
When you exit the tub you absolutely love to run around our room naked. You sing and dance and do flips on the bed. Post tub time isn’t the only time you love to do this. Another morning ritual seems to be you taking a few turns on jumping on our bed. I view jumping on the bed as a rite of passage that all children should enjoy while they can. I know, I know, don’t hit your head on an end table! You have also recently taken to doing somersaults on the bed. So long as you tuck your chin and don’t fly off the edge, I think this is great fun.
Well, I thought this month’s letter would be short, but here I am going on two pages again. When I first started writing your letters I had this great vision of making a scrapbook for you with each letter and pictures to go with it. While, I haven’t totally given up on that thought, it does seem like a distant possibility at this point. I am going to do some scrapbooking in a couple of weeks, and I’ll be happy if I can just finish up to your second birthday. We also have some fun trips planned in August and September, including your first camping trip - more on that to come in the next letter. My dear little one, you are such a joy to me. I am so proud of you, and I can’t wait to see the man you will become. Just don't grow up too fast, okay?
Love, love, love,
Mama
