3 1/2 Years

My Sweet Aleck,

Where has the time gone?  I just want it to stand still sometimes so I can engrave each special moment in my memory.  I suppose that is really what blogging is all about, preserving special moments in time.  I was looking back at old blog posts last night and it made me smile, but at the same time made me a little sad that you are growing up so fast.

You moved to a new school in August, St. Vincent’s Cathedral School, a private school run by the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth.  You attend Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.  Mrs. Libby Jordan is your teacher and you adore her.  She runs a tight ship, but she does it with love and you are thriving in that environment.  You start each day at school with chapel.  Now if we forget to say the blessing before a meal, you remind us, “Mommy, we have to say the blessing.”  You are learning the alphabet using a program called Zoophonics and it is working.  Every Friday you have a show and tell.  So far, every Friday you take a different train.  You are still insanely into trains!

Although your television time is limited, your favorite show continues to be Caillou, and has been for at least a year.  There are times when you quote Caillou word for word in a normal conversation.

You are strong willed, but are following instructions so much better.  Daddy says you and I butt heads because we are so much alike and I think he is right.

You love Ella Bella.  You hug and “tiss” her before she goes to bed.  Before bedtime, we all sit on the couch and read a book or two before Ella goes to bed.  After Ella is in bed, we read a long story from your favorite book, Walt Disney’s Classic Storybook.  Some of your favorite stories are Dumbo and Cinderella.

You love to kick the soccer ball in the front yard with Daddy.  You also love hanging out in the garage with Daddy while he works on the electric train that he is building.  While Daddy is working on the electric train, you play with your wooden trains on the table.

  You love to ride your bike.  Daddy takes you out for a bike ride while he runs beside you.  If you are going downhill, sometimes you get away from Dad.  Last month, I started jogging with Ella in the jogging stroller and Daddy running beside you on your bike.  These are some great times and I need to get back to jogging.

You still to play with playdoh.  You mix all the colors together, which makes me a little crazy, but it is your playdoh so I don’t sweat the small stuff.  You love bath time.  You especially like when the tub is full and you lay on your back in the water and smile from ear to ear.

You weight 37 pounds and wear 4T shirts and pants.  The pants have to be adjustable waist because you are skinny but tall.  You have gone through a picky eater phase where you would have little to do with many vegetables.  You don’t like any food that has more than one or two visible ingredients.  Soups and casseroles are out.  You say, “Mom, I want some clean food.”

You continue to nap for 1 1/2 hours, right after lunch.  Lately, I have gotten in the habit of taking a nap with you in my bed.  I love that moment right before you fall asleep when you are turned towards me and you smile so sweetly at me then you close your eyes and drift off to sleep.

Aleck, your Mommy loves you more than words can say and you will always be my little boy.