James Younger is proving himself to be the most wonderful, fun, stubborn, smart!, strong-willed, curious, playful, creative, silly 3 year old there ever was. I like every single ounce of him (which is not very many ounces, weighing in less than his baby brother, but we do like him a lot!).
How do you summarize all the things about your 3 year old? He loves watermelon, his baby brother Samuel, coloring, playing with cars and trucks and trains, BOOKS!, watching shows (ugh), working in the garden, playing with other kids (lots of imaginative and pretend play happening!), "helping" do anything - cook dinner, mow the lawn, help daddy grill, sort laundry... He hates bedtime, being told what to do, and most foods other than watermelon :)
After looking through the recent pictures below, I realized that James loves routine and "traditions" - the regular patterns that we've established over the last few years. Late afternoon stroller rides. Saturday morning Farmer's Market. He is sentimental like his daddy, and I love that about him!
This is the most common type of photo I can get of James - half out of the frame and blurry. Always on the move, busy doing or building or creating something.
Favorite place for a meal: outside, any picnic will do (here, with his cousins Canaan and L, and brother Sam)
Play frequently includes pretending to do adult activities like weedeating, mowing or using the blower.
A favorite outing (of many): the museum! Lots of fun things to do there...
Love this photo because it shows James snuggling up in his brother's hair, which is what he does to comfort himself (and sucking his thumb, still). Anyone's hair will do :)
Most requested snack: apple. But don't you dare cut it into slices (unless he asks, then you better...)
Most requested family activity: "movie night"
Coloring, always with skinny markers (though we got some new fat markers yesterday and he wanted to use those because they were new... but back to the skinny ones about 5 minutes later)
He is a people-watcher, which makes it relatively easy to go out in the evenings with him... Above we were at MotorCo with some of Stu's work friends, and James happily sat and snacked and watched people quietly for an hour!
Playing in the mud at Heather's wedding... typical :)
Hiking at Eno River - this is a new activity that we tried recently (I used to go run or hike here all the time in undergrad but had not been back since we moved from AR), but James LOVED IT. So, we'll be going back again soon.
Lunch date at Foster's - most requested lunch spot. Cheesy grin :)
Digging and trucks
Doesn't know his own exhaustion :) Starting to refuse naps a couple of times a week, but he always struggles in the evening if he hasn't had a nap (though, who doesn't!?). He still sleeps in a crib at home (and has never tried to climb out), so we will continue to at least do "quiet time" whenever he gives up napping altogether.
Favorite daily spot - after naptime we go on a stroller ride (exercise for mama!) every single day (unless raining...) and we always stop here at the lake/playground. He pretends to go fishing for pinecones that he throws in.
Saturday morning breakfast picnic
Best friend: Ezra Reagan (and daddy!)
Busy in the backyard
Has a love/hate relationship with bathtime these days - always protests when I tell him to go get in the bathtub, but then has a ball playing and doesn't want to get out (the protests are likely related to him knowing that bath comes before bedtime!)
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