James turned 3!

James showing me how old he is.  He has to use 2 hands to make the number 3

My sweet boy

James blowing out the candles on his birthday cake

James got a woody doll

Playing with his fishing game

James wanted a fishing cake and mint ice cream

"putting fire" on the cake

can't believe this kid is 3!

Nate grilled us some fabulous food

Grandma Lynda and Grandpa Art were able to be there to celebrate

Grandma Joann and I (don't mind my hair, it was pouring rain)

Jame enjoying his birthday lunch

Well James, I can't believe you are 3 years old.  Here is what you've been up to lately:

• You are very observant and want to know what is happening at all times.  You soak up everything around you.  You are so smart, and I'm constantly amazed by you.  
• You can count to 20, say you ABCs, name colors and shapes, and recognize some letters.  We aren't doing preschool, but you get a lot of "school" stuff at daycare and at home with you mom and dad.  I know you will definitely be ready for kindergarten in 2 years.  (oh boy, I'm in denial that you will be in SCHOOL in 2 years!)
• You LOVE your brother.  You will come up to him daily and ask to give him hugs and kisses.  You love to go wake him up in the morning and help feed him his food.  You love to let him know how very cute he is.
• You sometimes take a nap, just depending on the day.  You usually wake up around 9 and go to bed around 9:30 at night.
• You are an incredibly picky eater.  Your favorite foods are mac and cheese with cold hot dogs, pancakes, waffles, and cheese of any  kind.  You also have quite the sweet tooth, and ask me if we can go get ice cream just about every day.
• You like to "take a Sippy" from mom's diet coke or dad's sprite
• You love your dad like crazy and ask me all day long where he is if he is not home.  You love to wrestle and play with him.  
• You love to swim. We go to the YMCA and go swimming for hours.  We just put a life jacket on you, and you go to town. You're a natural athlete and love to run, and throw balls, and any other sport like things.  You also enjoy watching basketball and football on TV with your mom and dad.  
• You are a little social butterfly.  You tell me all the time that you "love people."  You talk to anyone you see and love to play with kids (you don't care if you know them or not).  One day the delivery guy came to the door and you were furious with me that I didn't let you talk to him before he left.
• You are a very vocal and verbal kid.  You talk, and talk, and talk.  Every night before you fall asleep you talk in your room for a good 30-45 minutes.  Mainly just re-hashing the day and talking about what you're going to do tomorrow.
• You are OBSESSED with Curious George.  You will "watch monkey" every day while I'm putting Sam down for naps/bed.  You have a stuffed monkey that you sleep with (along with your small woody and buzz)
• You also still really like toy story, but haven't been as obsessed with watching the movies
• You love dogs.  
• You love to go to the zoo with your dad and Sam when I'm at work.  You love to feed the animals in the petting zoo.
• NO MORE PACIFIER!  Yeah!  One night I just didn't give it to you, and you didn't ask for it and we haven't looked back since.  
• We are close to being potty trained.  SO VERY CLOSE.
• I am so proud of what a sweet and well-behaved boy you are.  You usually listen very well and are very well mannered.  You will usually say please and thank-you.  You have become increasingly winy as you have reached the age of 3, but it is only really bad when you're tired. 
• I haven't weighed or measured you in a while, but you are around 36lbs.  You were size 3T or 4T tops and 2T or 3T bottoms.  You have a very long torso and LARGE head :)
• Your hair is crazy curly and is desperately needs to be cut.