3 Years Old

Tag,

You turned 3 years old today. When you woke up, there were a lot of big balloons waiting for you in the living room and we watched one of your favorite movies called "UP" for breakfast.

You call this movie, "Mr. Fredrickson" after the old man in the movie.  The first time you asked to watch Mr. Fredrickson, it took me a while to figure out what you were talking about!  Now I call it the same thing. There are two lines in the movie that you always laugh at and want me to rewind.  One is when the little boy is looking around Mr. Fredrikson's house for the first time and he sees the photo of the old man as a boy wearing goggles, and he says, mostly to himself, "Hmmp.  Goggles."

The other line you like is when the little boy is telling Mr. Fredrikson how he got the house to South America using his GPS, and he makes funny sounds as he describes it to the old man.  He says, "The GPS tells me wherever we are on the planet, BE BO BOOP BA BE BE BEEP."

I love that you noticed these lines and have taught me to laugh at them too.

Watching "Mr. Fredrickson" with the boys

Then we had a blast jumping on trampolines at a little place in Provo. Some of your friends from Nursery were there, as well as some of your Kriser cousins.  But I was honored to find out you have the most fun hanging out with me.

Successful candle extermination, first attempt.

How old are you, Tagman?

Opening presents.

As I think back over your 2nd year, I am in awe of how much happiness my life has with you in it. When you were born I really didn't know if you were going to stay alive for even a day... But this ominous start to your life helped me understand how precious each day is and we really had fun this year.  I don't know if you'll remember all the fun we have had, but I will never forget it.

My consulting practice as an internet marketer allows me to be at home and around you and Doozie more than most Dads and we take full advantage of playing, pillow fights being our favorite.  About a month ago, I took a break from working and went upstairs to get a drink.  You noticed me and yelled, "Hey Dad!  What are you doing?"
Me:  I'm getting a drink.
You: And then you have to go work?
Me:  Yes, I have to go work.
You:  Sometimes Daddy's have to work?
Me: Yes
You:  But, sometimes little boys want Daddy's to play!

We went and had an epic pillow fight.

During your twos you mastered things quickly.  You have a great arm and can throw a spiral pass with a football right to me from across the room.  I showed you how to hold a baseball bat during the summer and pitched a few of the little practice baseballs we have to you and within about 5 swings, you were smashing them right back at me or over my head.  Papaw Spence was visiting and he saw you hitting some balls and he asked, "How long has he been doing that?"  When I told him it was your 2nd time, he shook his head in amazement and commented, "That's not normal."  There's no doubt that your hand-eye coordination is above average.

You also like to kick soccer balls to me.  We spread our legs and try and kick it across the room into the goal and you mostly beat me at this game.  You love any sport I present you with and quickly pick it up.  This gets me very excited about future adventures.

You have a fun and unique personality.  You are mostly outgoing and often walk up to kids your age in restaurants and say, "Hi!, What's your name?"  When adults who know you or wish they knew you come up and say hello, you sometimes are shy, but you are quick to give a high five or "bones". Momsie Spence runs the nursery in our church and she often comments how you instinctively know when another child needs some love and you are quick to give them a hug or a smile.  This is unique for a 2 year old and I really admire this quality in you.

You and a cute girl you met at the airport and took her away for a chat,
causing much grief for us and her parents until you were found

You are a real talker and have a much more developed vocabulary than other kids your age.  You ask me so many questions while we drive, that sometimes I lose my patience and tell you, "No more questions!" -- To which you reply, "Dad, not even one more question?" -- Or you say, "Dad, are you frustrated with me?"  This makes me laugh and I just have to remember to respect your curious mind.

At least 5 times a day, you stop what you are doing and you turn to me, put your arms around me and say "Daddy, I love you."  We are very close and I hope this friendship will continue.

You share a love for Halloween with me, and I really love that about you.  This year, you really knocked trick-or-treating out of the park.

You LOVE to try on scary masks

More fun at the costume store

Scary SkeleTag

Since Halloween, when I pretended there might be monsters in the dark corners of the basement, you are constantly wondering about "monsters" and you often ask me if there are monsters in the trees or downstairs.  Even though I reassure you that there are no monsters, and we sometime pretend there might be some, I can tell you wonder about this. Just recently you decided you didn't want to sleep in your tent, and you switched to the regular bed with only a few small episodes of waking and crying in the middle of the night.  I hope it has nothing to do with monsters.

Love - Hate relationship with the Ghost I hung up

You have a tender heart and sometimes I wonder how I can teach you to be tough in a world that requires this trait.  I taught you a little trick when you get hurt that helps you sometimes.  When you fall and get hurt, you raise your arms above your head and pull them down really fast at the elbow like you are doing an imaginary pull-up, and you make a loud grunting noise.  It's a good reminder to be tough with physical pain.  I wonder how I am going to teach you about emotional pain and how to handle those situations.

Last week we took you to see Santa and it was classic.  You know who Santa is and that he has something to do with Christmas, but you aren't yet aware of Santa's magic powers and his ability to grant your wishes.  So, when you sat on his lap and he asked you what you wanted for Christmas, you quietly replied, "I want a candy cane."  Santa said he could probably grant that wish.  As we walked away, you looked at me with a sincere face and asked, "Dad, how come Santa didn't give me a candy cane?"

You love your little brother and you often give him hugs and tell me how you are going to teach him to throw or kick or run.  A few times, you have pushed him down for no reason, but mostly you share with him and love to have him around.  I feel the same way.  I will reserve my observation about Doozie for another post.  When you and I are having a pillow fight or doing any playing at all, it only takes about 10 seconds for The Dooz to crawl his way into the room and scream at me to lift him up right in the middle of the action.  You are mostly always accommodating and welcome him into the game.  I really like that about you.

Hangin' on Santa's couch

You and The Doozie

You do this often to The Dooz

You love to sit close to me and watch Bugs Bunny or other fun things.  You love Yosemite Sam and Tweety Bird but not so much the Coyote vs. Roadrunner cartoons.  I feel the exact same way.  Oftentimes, a cartoon will come on and you'll say, "Dad, this is a dumb one."  And you are always correct.

You used to only want to watch Toy Story, but this year you switched to E.T., UP, Wallace & Gromit, Ice Age, and your favorite, Curious George.  You are much like Curious George, who is curious and happy, with no guile.  Oftentimes, I see you on the other couch watching Curious George and laughing to yourself with his antics and adventures.  I love that.

You are a Broncos fan

I've heard about the "Terrible Two's", but you really haven't had those.  Yeah, when you are tired you can be a little stubborn, but mostly Joann and I marvel at your happiness and ability to make friends.

You, dive-bombing a pizza

Ellie VanTassel.  She's 6, but one of your good friends

Most of all, you have taught me how much love Heavenly Father and the Savior have for me.  I love you so much and my life is so much happier with you in it.  If you ask me for something with your sincere, happy little heart, I find myself excited to give it to you and hope you will continue to ask me for more help or even just a lollipop because it lets me know you believe in me and that I can and will give it to you.  Whatever the desire, it doesn't matter.  I just want to give it to you.  Isn't this how God is to me?  The answer is yes.  Each time I have remembered to ask him for help, surrendering my pride and ridiculous notion that everything I want is up to me, He answers my prayer and helps me in ways that only a father can deliver.  I hope I can teach you this important principle as you grow up.

Happy Birthday, Tagman.