3.

Mason has been so excited for his birthday. He has been waiting and waiting for "March eight" so he can turn "free years old". Every time I have asked him what he wants for his birthday he has said, "a strawberry, chocolate chip birthday cake." So last night after he had gone to bed I made him a strawberry, chocolate chip birthday cake while Nic decorated the house with streamers and balloons. I told him he could have a hot dog for lunch today (we bought them special just for him yesterday), and this morning when he came in my room he immediately said, "Mommy its my birthday. Lets have a hot dog for breakfast!"

I can't believe three years have gone by since I became a mom. Since I became his mom. Last night while he was in the tub I commented to him about this being his last night as a two year old. I got a bit teary. Nic then, ever so sensitively (but really just joking), said, "Mason, tell mommy to get over it!" So Mason said to me: "Mason says, 'Mommy get over it'. Then mommy says (and his voice goes up 4 octives into a a squeaky whine) 'I don't want to!'" Yes. Three years old and he is already mimicing me. Nic was on the floor laughing.

Mason is funny, smart, sweet and a bit quirky. Here is a run down of Mason as a freshly turned three year old:

• He has quite an active imagination. He loves to hide under the covers of the bed (usually right after its made) to hide from the giants. He yells, "Hide everyone! Mommy, hide Sagie!" That is just one of the many games that we play. All day long.
• He can count up to 29 and recognizes numbers to 20. He loves numbers.
• He knows all his letters and is starting to recognize words (like stop, tree, and Mason).
• He likes meat. Especially if its spicy.
• He has been potty trained since mid-November. There have been a few accidents since then, but pretty much once he decided he wanted to do it, he did.
• He loves to read and has most of his favorite books memorized. Its funny to hear him "read" them using the same voice inflection that I use when I read them.
• He jumps off of everything. I have bargain with him to get him to only jump off half the staircase instead of the whole thing. He also climbs on everything. Everything.
• For all his imagination he does not like to draw or color. He'll do a few squiggly lines and I'll ask him what he drew and he'll say, "um...some squiggly lines."
• He is so sweet with his sister. He talks to her in a high pitch, squeaky voice and whenever she cries he says, "Its okay Sagie. I'm here."
• Every night he asks Nic to NOT go to work the next day. He loves his daddy.
• His favorite foods are: eggs, pizza, "meat", cheese, apples, applesauce, strawberries, spicy chili., chocolate.
• His favorite songs are: the "temple song", Jesus wants me for a sunbeam, Popcorn Popping, Twinkle Twinkle, ABCs, and pretty much anything else he's into for the day.
• He still loves airplanes, helicopters, trains, etc., but has broadened his horizons a bit to include pirates and treasure. He often informs me that "X marks the spot mommy."

Today in celebration we went to the library and then Nic came home early and we went to the Gateway Discovery Children's Museum. He loves it there. After the museum Nic and Mason rode the train home (another great love of this boy). We then had pizza, opened presents, and ate cake. Overall I think he had a pretty special day.

Birthday boy first thing this morning.

The weather outside. (We had a big snow storm last night).

Nic's decorations.

Birthday boys get to blow bubbles in their milk.

At the museum:

We got Mason a tool bench. He was thoroughly spoiled by his grandparents and pseudo grandparents. This is one loved little boy.

We love you darling boy.