3 Years Old!

Over a month ago, our big guy turned 3! Needless to say, I'm behind in writing down all of his developments. At the end of December, he was 38 inches tall and weighed 34.25 pounds. I didn't pay attention to what percentiles those measurements were in, because I was too busy trying to hold him still for his physical exam. As much as he likes to pretend to be a doctor or patient, he didn't really enjoy being there.

The past few six months have been a whirlwind, so it's been hard for me to sit down and reflect on what Joel is like at this point. All I could come up with was loud, energetic, and talkative (because that's how I perceive him some ... okay ... most days). We are a lot alike, and honestly, that has made the twos and early threes difficult for me. With that said, I don't always take time to sit and enjoy the unique things about him.  Anyway, Adam was quick to come up with a more accurate description of Joel. Here are a couple of things that he shared.

• Joel is resourceful and imaginative. He can play with anything and turn it in to a grand adventure.
• He is a storyteller, and he often lives his life out through story. "This is like the time when .... You pretend that you're such-and-such, and I'll be the other character."
• He has a good sense of direction. He often asks what town he's in and where we are in relation to places that he's familiar with.
• Joel genuinely cares about his baby brother. He frequently attempts to make him laugh. He loves to wrestle, snuggle, tickle, and kiss him. He is very good about helping out with him, too.
• He like to help in the kitchen. He enjoys mixing, cutting/chopping (with help), throwing things away, washing, wiping, and taste-testing! He also likes getting to use his step stool to do those things.
• Joel seems to be musically inclined. He can carry a tune and stay on beat when banging on pretend instruments, marching, or dancing. I'm personally excited to see how this one plays out in the future!

Once Adam got the list going, I was able to come up with a really long list of things that I've noticed about Joel lately. Here are several.

• He's been saying, "I love you," without being prompted. Melts my heart!
• He can dress himself, at least most of the time.
• He can take himself to the potty and yell when he needs to be wiped.
• His memory is insane. He remembers things from 1.5 - 2 years ago. "Remember that time when ...."
• Joel enjoys going to the library to pick out books. I think the real reason he likes to go is because he gets to paint on the computer, though.
• He is detail-oriented, especially when telling Bible stories. He will test us on those details, too. "Mom ... who saw the Holy Spirit come? John or Joel?" (That one was easy.) "Mom, where was Jonah going when he got on the boat? [Me: thinking] Tarshish!" The next one was tough! I had no idea what he was talking about. "Who was David's son that got his hair stuck in the tree? [Me: Huh?] Absolam!"
• He's started recognizing numerals, but still has a difficult time counting objects on a page (past 6 or 7). He definitely does better counting when objects are in his hands.
• He seems to be geometrically-minded. He likes patterns and puzzles. Then again, it may just be that he's detail-oriented. He's recently been in to picture finds and puzzles that ask you to find differences or things that look out of place.
• He can write his name unassisted, but it definitely looks better when traced.
• He is very independent. He does not like to be talked into anything. I've especially seen this with reading. If I try to get him to sound out a word, he gets frustrated. If it's his idea, he'll attempt and ask you lots of questions about it. "Well, what if I add this letter? What's it say now?" [Sidenote: He did this on Skype the other day with my brother and sister-in-law and spelled "A-N-U-S".] I've backed off of the whole reading thing lately. I was trying to pursue it because he seemed interested, but it needs to be fun and totally his idea. We'll just stick to me reading and him retelling for now.
• Joel's started to draw stick figures. They currently consist of a body and head with two eyes. Usually, the figures are named David and Goliath. Surprise, surprise!
• Joel likes opening doors (especially electronic ones). He can also carry light bags and packages. I am excited that we're getting to the point where Joel can help carry in the groceries!
• Joel is getting to the point where he can do small chores. He's pretty good about putting his dirty dishes in the sink, and he likes helping with the dishwasher. One of his newest chores is putting away the clean silverware. 

I'm sure there are other things that I should be remembering to write down, but that's all I have time for now. Writing these things has been good for me. I know that I know this, but I need to act on the fact that I sometimes only have 15-30 minutes a day with just Joel. I need to be making the most of that time and enjoying what is unique about him!