Our guy is THREE!!?? How can that be?? Seriously, this birthday hit me like a truck!.... Which is fitting since trucks are basically part of a 3-year-olds DNA. But sloooowwww doowwnnnn!!!
Ford Ryan, you are just the sweetest. You already have such a servant heart, always thinking about others first, anticipating needs, and making sure the ladies in your life are well taken care of. You hold my hand when we cross the street so I won't be scared or get hurt, and will kill pretty much any bug for me. One of your favorite sayings is "It's for you, Mommy!". You tell us "I love you too" at least 10 times a day. You always grab 2 snacks just in case sissy wants one too. And just last week you made sure your sweet little friend Aspen had a glass of water before you even sat down to your meal... and that's saying a LOT because food is LIFE! Speaking of food, you haven't met a 'snacky' you don't like, but BOY are you messy! Luckily, you're a little OCD like mom so you (usually) clean up after yourself.
Just last year we called you our "sour patch kid" because while you were oh so sweet, the claws would come out if you even thought you were in trouble... which you often were. There was a little stent at school where I was sure we were going to be expelled. You were a little trouble maker, rough and tumble, a "happy tornado" as your SAINT of a teacher lovingly called you, you screamed at nap time, instigated your little friends, and was not afraid to stand up to even the adults. Your teacher would send notes home when you were GOOD and shared that you made her work harder than any other child in her 10 year career. Yet, she never gave up on you. We are SO lucky to have Ms. Jami. But just like every season, that has passed and we're all stronger because of it. You've learned to control your reactions. You still hate to be in trouble, but your reaction now is to cower a little and do everything you can to be in our good graces again. Just so you know, we love you no matter what! Even when you pee on the rug because you were "coloring and had to go potty", or let yourself out the front door (with snacks) while mommy showers, or empties an entire bottle of goo-gone on every surface of your room... or a bottle of hand sanitizer on your FACE! I'm sure I'm missing some. Our daily prayer is just to keep you alive.
You LOVE your sissy and follow every move she makes, although you are really starting to show us just how wildly independent you are! You think Viv is the coolest cat and oh so hilarious! But let me just tell ya, you are pretty funny yourself. You have the silliest and most daring little personality. You are a little jokester and are constantly making us laugh. You have a comment, noise or power stance for pretty much every situation. You are fearless, yet timid, and approach people with caution but objects with no restraint. You make us laugh everyday and I could just listen to your long southern draw all day long... "Agaaaain". You have taught us what having a boy really means... dirt is an accessory, all things are climbable, and bugs are the COOLEST.
You've had a busy year! You've been potty trained, moved up to the big kid class at school, and even willingly allowed a tarantula to crawl on your face. We can't wait to see what the next year brings as we continue to watch you fearlessly grow into the person God created you to be!
Just Ford:
-29lbs 36in and has "super muscles!"
-He is wearing 3T clothes
-Sleep is great! Sleeping 7pm to 7am, with 1 2-3 hour nap/day. We cut out the pacifiers last December and haven't looked back... He still has to sleep with the stuffed animal portion of the pacifiers (he had 'wubbanubs'- pacifiers with animals attached). He calls them his "babies" along with a "mommy" and a few other stuffed toys he can't sleep without. The stuffed toys obsession started at about 2 and a half. There was also a short period where he had to kiss every.single.door before going to bed.-He is still at the Montessori school 5 days/week 8:30-4 and he's thriving in his new primary (big boy) classroom! His teacher is Ms. Sally Sue and she's wonderful! She describes Ford as eager to learn, inquisitive, precise, focused and a "joy".
-He LOVES food. The boy NEVER.STOPS.EATING! Ever.
Milestones
-Speaking in full, coherent sentences. He stuttered for about 6 months and still gets a little hung up when he's excited, but for the most part he has grown out of stuttering.
-Ford talk: "hoppiter" (helicopter), "Era tops" (triceratops), "climber" (ladder), "ting tong" (doorbell), "plugger" (anything that plugs in), "hole hole" (paper towel roll), "tv show" (remote), "shooter" (gun), "swimming pools" (swimsuit), "cinderella" (umbrella). "Jasman and Jasgirl" (Aladdin and Jasmine)... Can you tell he has an older sister?? "yours (insert object here)" (instead of your), "makes me so so hot" (anything that burns), "you came back!!" (anytime we come home)
Aaannnnnddddd my favorite quote: "Only mommy can touch daddy's wood"... he told his teacher this after I told him not to mess with a pile of lumber in the garage.
-Counts to 11 or 12
-He has been potty trained since April. MUCH easier than sister! But in typical boy fashion, he always asks for "privacy" so he can sit on the pot for a minimum of 20 minutes...
-Dresses himself. He was SO excited the first time he made his hands go all the way through his shirt sleeve! He used to always put his pants on backwards, and I was pretty sad when he figured out the correct way to do it
-He has a good arm- he can throw like a boss!
Likes
-He LOVES his "sissy", or "ViviAN", and is always concerned about her. She can make him laugh and smile like no one else. Warms this mamas heart! What does NOT warm this mamas heart is when he copies and repeats his sister- Lord, give me strength!
-Sticks and rocks
-Cars, trucks, planes
-Books
-Dinosaur and buzz lightyear "nap clothes"
-Buzz Lightyear
-Spiderman
-BALLOONS!!
-Basketball, soccer, baseball
-Jumping! and climbing
-Killing bugs with his "shooter"
-Swimming/water
-Foods: waffles (sometimes still frozen), peanut butter, chicken, cheese, apples, oranges, smoothies, pizza, yogurt, "special treats"
Dislikes
-Not getting his way
-When he thinks he's in trouble. He lives to make everyone happy!
-Loud noises!
-Swim lessons
-Wearing any article of clothing EXCEPT his "nap clothes" ie pajamas
Look how I've grown!
3rd Birthday
Family
Our Lola girl
Friends
Shenanigans.... Always up to something!
Just Ford
