My Mini-Me Turns 3

This guy has personality oozing out of every orifice! He is wild! He is stubborn, independent, challenging, persistent, strong, daring, and out of control. I have asked him on more than one occasion recently if he is 4 yet. Unfortunately, he is not, and there are no guarantees 4 will be calmer or more obedient than 2 or 3.

Thank the Lord He gives us small victories that melt me and encourage me to keep him. Tonight, after a long day of Isaiah being jealous it was Paul's birthday and me being ~1 million months pregnant, the boys were fighting over rainbow stickers. We made sure to get a package that had 2 rainbow stickers so they could each have one for their Valentine's box, but one of them was bigger than the other, so obviously they both had to have that one. We were really struggling to find a solution, Paulie even suggested the Biblical approach of cutting the beloved sticker in half, but I think Isaiah returned with offering to cut Paulie in half. Then as Isaiah fussed and spiraled further into a depression, Paul just casually gave it to him. He can be so kind. So, I'll keep him another day.

Even his Sunday School teachers who he has duped into thinking he's a fabulous helper and all around sweet kid, call him things like "The One and Only Paul." They barely even see the cheesy grin we are blessed with constantly, but something about him captures their hearts.

It is no coincidence that Paul's birthday fell on Taco Tuesday, God knows how to give His children good gifts. I heard once of a parent who had to call everything "Frosting" to get her toddler to eat it. Spaghetti Sauce is "Noodle Frosting," Ranch Dressing is "Salad Frosting," etc. We have implemented the same strategy with Paul using Tacos. One night of the week we have Tacos, another night we have Taco Noodles, another night we have Taco Soup or Taco Nachos, he's obsessed.

He is our first I-Do-It-Myself kid, although, he says "Ma" (a mix of me and I.) "Ma do it myself." "Ma got it." "Ma can do it." And he's often right, or at least you better let him prove to himself that he needs help, or you're in for a long battle. 

Someday, he will speak clearly and possibly act reasonably, and I will miss these crazy days when the word "No" means nothing to him, well maybe I won't miss that part specifically. But I do recognize that I'll long for the time when his world revolved around me. At least till Baby Sissy comes, he is still a Mama's Boy, and if you tell him you love him, he may very well answer with "Me Wuv Mama!"

Now, I think I'll go smother him in kisses while I'm feeling fondly toward him before he wakes up and starts driving me up the wall with his shenanigans again. 

One thing is pretty clear, he is going to change the world! Now to shepherd him in such a way that he does it for Christ.

Here are some of the pictures of him that I hope to remember from this year for the rest of my life: