Look who's three

We just had a birthday at our house, our big boy turned three on April 26!

As his parents, we feel Liam is perfect in every way. So no surprise that he was absolutely perfect at being a "terrible two." In the last year we learned all about toddler tantrums and sleep training in the big bed and testing boundaries and picking our battles.

And we did lose a lot of battles. You want to sleep in your shoes tonight? You want to wear your pajamas to school? You refuse to get into the bath tub? No wait, you refuse to get out of the bath tub? You will only eat peanut butter? Oh, you hate peanut butter? O.K.! 

Some things aren't worth fighting over. We got the hitting, biting and throwing under control and let the other things slide to save our sanity.

We went through the phase of the emphatic and constant "no!" Then there was the "no, mommy!" which meant he only wanted me to do everything for him. Then there was the "go away!" Don't know where he learned that one but it usually meant, "I need some attention." 

In the months before and after Graham was born we had some trying times. Total melt downs over things as benign as the color of a water glass or getting out of the car when we arrive home. His teachers at school said he definitely has a stubborn streak.

So I am not sorry to see two go, even though he's had some awesome milestones in the last year. He's grown tall and thin as a rail. He is talking non stop and loves to jump and run and climb. 

He is really good at playing by himself for long stretches. I think he might be an engineer or mechanic or truck driver when he grows up - he loves things that go. Trucks, trains, planes, construction machines, helicopters, boats and cars, he plays with them nonstop. 

Lately we've noticed some major improvements in his behavior. He communicates so well, we finally are able to reason with him on some things. He's suddenly into the alphabet and counting and putting together puzzles. He is also now a complete angel at the grocery store - he patiently rides around with me and helps fill the basket.

And he is still usually the best behaved kid in the room when we take him anywhere. He's a sweet, sweet boy most of the time and completely adorable. And now he is perfectly three!