Peter is Free!

HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY PETER!

We had a lot of fun this last week counting down to Peter's birthday. He has been telling people for the last month, "I am two and a half. But on my birfday I will bee freeee! And I will go to preschool and swim lessons and have a blue cupcake!" It was so fun when the day finally arrived. We sang happy birthday first thing in the morning, and he loved the special attention first thing. We had a happy birthday waffle and opened his presents from his Gramma Lynne and Grampa Rake. His birthday was on Thursday, so Scott went off to work, and we had a fun day at home. 

Peter facetimed his Uncle Doug, Grandma, and Papa in the morning while opening the presents they sent him. He talked to his Grandma Joan, facetimed his Gramma Lynne and Grampa Rake after his two hour birthday nap (his gift to me!), and he had a long facetime playdate with his cousin SJ. They seriously sat in front of the ipads and played "zoo" with their stuffed animals & princesses for about 25 minutes. It was the cutest thing ever, and Peter was in heaven to be playing with his best friend. Sorry to Aunt Margy and Aunt Alyssa that we weren't able to make it work to facetime with you guys, but THANK YOU for making such an effort to spend time with Peter on his special day. What would we do without facetime? And how did we get so lucky with this family of ours?

 

Peter was really excited to go to his preschool open house first thing on his birthday. He was sad that it wasn't the real deal and didn't want to leave so soon after we arrived. Tomorrow is his first official day, so I'm hoping his enthusiasm is still in full gear. Our afternoon plans were a little derailed due to rain, but we had a fun indoor picnic and were able to make it on a bike ride around Staring Lake once it cleared up. And Scott was able to join! It was so great to have him home early! 

I can't say enough wonderful things about this boy of mine. I am so proud of the little guy he is. He is pure fun, sweet as can be, helpful, aware, smart, quick, imaginative, creative, wild, artistic, energetic, chill, happy, and patient. He has been my angel time and time again as I get the hang of this whole "mom" thing. He makes me truly love motherhood. I wouldn't change one thing about my sweet Pete. 

I cannot believe how far our family has come in the three years since his birth. Peter still carries the strength and understanding that he brought with him to this life. He helps me regain perspective when I need it. It's been this way from the very beginning; Peter just gets it. Peter, your Great-Grandpa George put it best when he held you shortly after I left the hospital, "How can such a big soul fit inside such a tiny body?" Your family that knows and loves you felt a sense of strength and wisdom in you from your earliest days. Thank you for blessing our family.

Peter, at age "free," you are:

so excited to go to preschool. We are sending you a year early (you will have three years of preschool instead of two) because you are just ready! You are right on the border birthday-wise. If you were a month older, it would be the official year for you to start, but we decided not to make you wait another year. You are imaginative, smart, eager, curious, and ready to make this change. We are easing you in with twice-a-week preschool, and it makes your mom cry to even think about letting you go! You are getting so big! You are a wonderful communicator for such a little guy, and you are a good friend. We are excited for you to take this step. You absolutely love going to nursery on Sunday, and you are such a good boy and listener there. So preschool will be a breeze for you!

starting swim lessons. Another big boy move for you!

so imaginative. It is your favorite thing ever when we talk to your stuffed animals and "friends" as though they are alive because they are very real to you! You love to play with your "friends," and you always make sure you bring them with you from room to room... in the car... to the table. You love your buddies. We have figured out that the best way to get through to you is to speak through your "jaguar cub." "Jaguar cub, could you please tell Peter that he needs to eat his dinner?" And you do! You are always inventing fun games to play and making the toys involved talk and play along. I love to play by your side, but it's also fun sometimes to sit back and listen to what you have going on.

 

easy to please. You are just so easy to please. Thank you, bud!

so creative. You love to paint and color. I love this about you! One of my favorite times in the day is when your sister is finishing her nap, and we sit at the table together painting or drawing. You've recently started drawing people. You call them "doctors," which is even more adorable. They look like jelly beans with straight-mouth faces and wide-set eyes with stick arms and legs popping out like spider limbs. It is so so cute!

a lover of Daniel Tiger and Curious George.

 

an expert biker! Scott and I are cursing winter (a first time ever for me... but then, Minnesota winter is nothing like perfect Utah winters) because we want to get you on a pedal bike right now, but it's not reasonable to do it until after winter passes. But you have mastered the strider. You did a while ago. You can go with your feet in the air for ever. And you can bike for miles! Literally! Our usual loop is around a 3-mile lake, and you do it no problem and could keep going for more. There is nothing cuter than following you on your little bike, watching you legs bounce around. You are a strong, athletic little kid. You were rocking it on skis at age 2! We can't wait to get you up again this year!

a loving big brother. You are so sweet to your little sister, and you love to teach her things. That is the best way for me to trick you guys into playing nicely. "Peter, can you teach Brooklyn how to do that puzzle? Can you teach Brooklyn how to drive that car?" You respond very well to how she is feeling and love her very much. You are still always the first to hear when she is up, and you love to be the first one she sees in the morning. 

your dad's mini-me. Every day, more and more, you are looking and acting like your dad. I love it!

a mama's boy. You adore your dad and can't wait to spend time with him, but you and I have a pretty special thing going on too. I'll take your cuddles as long as you'll give them! There is one thing, however, that you do with your dad that is adorable and gets me every time. Your dad loves to carry you up to bed and suggest that you lay your head on his shoulder while you walk. He says, "You can sleep here while I carry you up." You rest your head on his shoulder every time, and then your dad turns around and smiles at me every time. It's is favorite moment of the day, I can tell. You are just so loved. 

Thanks for being so awesome, Peter. You make "three" look cuter than ever!