Mason - three months ago you turned three years old. I am a little late getting your birthday journal done because these past few months have included selling the home we brought you home from the hospital to getting you a home in California closer to family. You continue to grow in body and mind, it is truly astounding. I still have moments where I look at you and think, "Wow, that is my son." It's hard to even believe that not so long ago, you were in my tummy and now I can hardly wrangle the little boy that you have become!
You still have your mommy's looks; the blue eyes, the lighter hair. We have the same crazy laugh and we often do it for no reason except to make each other smile. You have your Daddy's brain. You are brilliant and often outsmart us. You use your wit to your advantage and it can sometimes get you into trouble. You have most of your books on your shelf memorized - and there are about 50 of them. No joke. You are so smart, my little man.
You surprise us daily. Either with your endless amounts of energy, or your ability to use a $20 word like 'insufferable' correctly. We have no idea where you even heard that word. You dance with so much enthusiasm that I couldn't replicate it if I wanted to. We somehow need to learn how to take some of your energy, bottle it, sell it, and become millionaires - no one can keep up with you.
You like to sing. You sing songs from school to yourself or even make up songs all on your own. I have listened to you on your baby monitor singing while you lay in bed. Sometimes you do it for more than 20 minutes.
You can eat like a full grown man. It makes me afraid of what our grocery bill will look like when you actually are one. Some mornings, you'll scarf down 8 mini muffins and 3 pancakes. I have to assure people that you really do eat because you are so lean. You still aren't a fan of meat but you love your carbs. You eat the mushrooms out of your pasta first and would dump parmesan cheese on everything if we let you. You drink orange juice like you haven't had fluids in weeks.
You like to help. I assign you the 'table captain' every night so that you can set the table. You are meticulous and things have to be done in the order that you want. Every napkin has to be folded a certain way and no one is allowed to help you - those are your rules, not ours. When I cook, you want to pour the ingredients. When I do laundry, you want to add the detergent and clean the lint trap. I hope that you always have a helpful heart.
You are affectionate. If we leave the room, you'll come running after us because, "I just have to give you a hug!" I take advantage of every opportunity that you want to cuddle, or hug, or give me a kiss. I know that you'll one day be too old for all of that mushy stuff and it'll be a day that comes too soon.
Mason - I look at you with such joy, such love, that I can't even contain myself sometimes. Mommy and Daddy love you.
