Dear Tristan - 3 Years Old!

Dear Tristan,

For your birthday this year, we got you something that you've never had before. Your very own birthday party. We felt like you were starting to get jipped, being the second child and all, so this year when you turned three years old. It was all about you. And you were all about that. You had your very own Iron Man balloon and your very own cake. Best of all, you got some of your very own presents. Presents that you were encouraged, but not forced to share with your brother.

For us, three is worst than the terrible twos. Or at least it was with your brother. I have no doubt that three is going to be worse for us with you than two was. This is because the day you turned three you started whining and you have not stopped yet. So much that even last night in your sleep you were whining.

Your present from us for your birthday was a big boy bed. No more sleeping on your converted crib on that hard old crib mattress for you. Now you have a comfy, cozy, bed complete with memory foam pad on top. Cush. Except you'd still rather sleep in your chair. I've considered removing the chair from your room, but that would be like taking away your blanket. I mean, I guess eventually you won't fit in your chair anymore, right? RIGHT?

You've started your second year of preschool at a brand new school. You cried the first two days that I dropped you off. You protested so loudly, in fact, that I could hear you screaming in the parking lot while standing next to my car. It was hard to drive away, but I'm glad that I did, because by the third drop off you went barreling into the class and throwing your arms around (one of) your teachers legs. Now... you love it. Except for the one time that teacher was out sick and you went running into the classroom and then froze like a deer in the headlights when you saw the sub. You saw your other teacher that is usually there, (you have two in the classroom), but weren't having any of that. There was some screaming that day too... but only for a little while.

I can't believe how charismatic you are. Maybe you whine a little bit, (HA!, a little bit...) but you sure know how to schmooze. I'm glad of this characteristic even more than your vocabulary, which is a match for any 5 year old on the playground... because because charismatic will serve you well, especially when you are drop dead gorgeous.
I love you like crazy,
Mommy