Birthday boy season

As usual, we went one day to the next from Christmas season to birthday season. Kevin turned 34 on Saturday and DJ turned 3 on Sunday! Unfortunately, I have no pictures of Kevin on his birthday, but here's a future classic shot of Eddie trying to wrestle Grandma Linda's beer from her.

Three-year-old boys are decidedly fun. Following in the footsteps of his eldest sister, DJ has a silly, boisterous personality. He's energetic and appreciates a good joke. But boys are...different. For example, he never stops climbing on me or otherwise showing aggressive affection. Case in point, Christmas morning while I was passing out gifts:

DJ loves lots of new things, like superheroes and sport of all kinds, but especially football and baseball. He puts on a cowboy hat (?) and pretends to play "football guys." Another favorite is playing "fighting guys" with Kevin. He loves fire trucks and garbage trucks, though he's working on that "tr" sound so there's a lot of the f-word around here. When we go to Meijer, DJ pretends he's a garbage man and insists on riding on the side of the cart, or "on the truck wheel," as the case may be.

He's a little obsessed with the iPad, and he is not fond of cold weather. He melts down at the drop of a hat (or the drop of a sippy cup, or a single Cheerio, or a crayon). DJ does not love sharing with Otto. But we're working on those things. Every day with DJ brings a new skill, a new trick, a new word, a new adventure. These are fun days!

DJ, let me take your birthday picture. [Hides under blanket.]

DJ, what kind of face is that? DJ: A happy birthday face.

Gotham City Jail

The asked-for football cake

DJ, age 3

How do you feel about being three?  

Birthday, and presents, and Santa!

What kinds of things do three-year-olds do?   
Happy birthday! [Jumps up and pumps fist.] Say hi to Santa. I mean, say "ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas."

What are you most excited about for the next year?
Presents. Presents! All the presents! All presents! All!

Who is your best friend?    
You [Mom] and Annie.

Who are your favorite people to play with?
Annie and Nellie. Because they are my favorite sisters!

What kinds of things are you good at?

Playing trains, bringing juice upstairs. It's too, too heavy! Playing football, being a fireman! Fire f*$@! [Fire truck.]

What do you want to be when you grow up?
Cowboy. Horse.

Why do you want to be a cowboy or a horse?
Because I'm a cowboy when I grow up! [Starts nudging me in the face with his foot and saying "punch, punch. Hey Mommy! Punch, punch."

What’s your favorite song?   
OLD MCDONALD!

Favorite movie?   
Ariel. That baby one when her mom dies and they found all the treasure and the mom.

Favorite book?   

I like to read that Green Eggs and Ham!

Favorite color?   

Orange and green.

What are some things you like to play?   
Cowboys, horsie, Batman, Spiderman, jail [he got the Gotham City Jail for his birthday]. With you!

Is there anything else you want us to know about you?   
Chocolate chips. Pretzel hats. Don't put them in the oven when you're eating them at Grandma Linda's. [Is that your favorite food?] Uh-huh! And macaroni and cheese.

Eddie stats

A week before his 2-month check-up, we lost our health insurance and had to cancel Eddie's appointment. Little did I know how long it would take to get covered...anyway, we went back to the doctor at 6 months knowing our little guy isn't so little. Eddie is 29 inches long, 19 lbs and 12 ounces, and has a head circumference of 18.3 inches.

Interestingly, he is the same weight to the ounce as DJ was at the same age! So he might be a couple of years behind, but Eddie is on track.

He's still about the sweetest baby I've ever met, though I discovered that he makes a terrible patient when he had a cold last week, waking up crying every half hour and not going back to sleep without pacing and singing. He can sit up well, will bounce in the Jumparoo for a long time, and is quiet and observant. He LOVES his big brother and sisters and laughs primarily for them. Eddie has tried some foods, and seems to like peas the best! He loves music, and will calm down and go to sleep whenever Kevin sings to him. We're excited for his first Christmas--he's definitely been the highlight of our year!