This past year has been a whirlwind for this whole family. I remember announcing our pregnancy with Nathan at Caleb’s second birthday party. Now, a year later, That little blonde hair boy who spoke a lot but could barely be understood is now a doting big brother who has the most infectious laugh. He loves any and all sports, especially when they are played with his daddy. He looks forward to curling up in the reading chair or snuggling in bed with a book of his choosing. He has recently discovered music. He now sings every new song he hears and often makes up his own:

He is very routine and thrives on the predictable. He has his favorite stores we go to on a weekly basis, and because of his charm, he has made friends of the employees at each of these places.

At his 3 year check, he was quite the character and entertained the pediatrician with a robust round of the ABC’s complete with dramatic high notes. As far as measurements, He weighs 30 pounds (34%) and is 37 3/4 inches tall (59%).

I am beginning to see so much of myself in him. He is artistic, but has trouble organizing his thoughts. He lives within his mind so much that I feel as if I’m constantly refocusing his attention. This was exactly how I was as a child; too caught up in my own imagination to really notice what was going on around me. He is also a very emotional creature like I am, but he has a difficult time verbalizing his feelings. They will often surface in other forms such as outbursts or unexplained moodiness. Because I’ve been there, at least I know how to both foster and temper these personality traits.

We celebrated his birthday last Saturday with our family. The festivities included Pin the Tail on the Donkey and the infamous piñata bashing:

I asked everyone to bring a book instead of gifting toys since he will be overrun with toys come Christmas, and also because 50% of his books are still board books for infants. So after he got this pile of books:

I moved the baby books to Nathan’s room and made room for these older story books. We read half of them that night and have been diving into a new one every day since. He loves stories, even silly made up ones, and those are often his favorites.

Since his actual birthday was a dreary rainy Tuesday, I took Caleb to Jump Street to jump around with his cousin Kaiden. The kids AND adults all had a blast on the trampolines and bounce houses.

I’m stealing an idea I got from someone else. Every year on his birthday, Caleb will be interviewed on the same questions. It will be interesting to see how some things change and some things stay the same. I can already see  his personality shining through this year’s interview:

1. What is your favorite color? I like blue and orange

2. What is your favorite toy? The vacuum

3. What is your favorite fruit? Apples

4. What is your favorite TV show? House Hunters

5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Chick-fil-a

6. What is your favorite outfit? My pjs

7. What is your favorite game? Zelda

8. What is your favorite snack? Bunny crackers

9. What is your favorite animal? Rabbit

10. What is your favorite song? Daddy’s Jesus song (Jesus Loves Me)

11. What is your favorite book? The Pout Pout Fish

12. Who is your best friend? Mommy

13. What is your favorite cereal? Grape Nuts like Daddy

14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Rake

15. What is your favorite drink? Apple juice

16. What is your favorite holiday? Halloween

17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? My teddy bear and fuzzy blanket

18. What id your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Whipped cream and pancakes.

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Chick-fil-a

20 What do you want to be when you grow up? Married

Even though our family is larger, Caleb will always have a special place in my heart. He will always be my little sidekick. He is gentle, caring and timid but at the same time silly, fun-loving and dramatic. He is our parenting guinea pig and has come out pretty resilient against all odds. He may have inherited my eyes and his dad’s sense of humor, but he is a special little boy who is growing into his own unique person. We love this kid so much. Happy birthday Caleb!