You are funny, energetic, creative, ornery, stubborn, imaginative, an early riser, you play hard and love harder, mostly easy going and adapt well to change. You would spend all day playing outside if we let you, yet also can zonk out to a good kid movie or show from time to time.
You are a great brother to Reid, constantly tending to him when he cries reassuring him 'It's okay, baby, it's okay...' and no one can make him laugh as hard as you can. Whether you are trying or not-he finds you super funny be it you dancing in the car to Mickey Mouse music, chasing after you (with our help at this point), or just yesterday you had him giving the best laughs and all you were doing was standing outside throwing a nurf toy at the door while he stood inside and watched.
You love to watch Octonauts, Dinotrucks, Cars, Monsters, Inc, Land Before Time, Curious George-you don't scare easy when it comes to kid shows. Any kid show you've watched that has scary moments hasn't seemed to phase you one bit.
You love to wrestle. I'll give you one glane, and a people elbow sign and it's on. We can act like t-rex or triceratops and 'rawr' and wrestle or just let you pull out your crazy arm swinging/peoples elbow, as long as we are tossing you around and tickling you, you have a blast. It's fun, but sometimes hard to get you to tone it down a bit and stop climbing all over us in wrestle mode.
Your love language is definitely quality time. You thrive on that. It's been harder to balance that at times now not being the only child, but we do our best. You can also tell when Reids been more needy than not because you start to act out more as our focus usually isn't shared very well during those moments and times. That being said, you also do decent enough just hanging out if we are busy with Reid, especially if one of your shows is on.
You are protective and caring. We put a gate up at the hallway entrance when we leave to block off that area from the dogs, but we just lean it up and on day I crossed over to grab something and as I crossed back I caught my foot on it and tripped over it, bringing it crashing down with me. You were so attentive and came to my side immediately asking what happened and if I was okay. After telling you I tripped over the gate you went over to it and gave it a few good revenge punches--coming to my defense and showing that gate who's boss. It was so sweet and funny.
You still suck your thumb. Additionally, you still hold up a socked foot to your nose at the same time and wiggle your little toes back and forth at the bottom of your nose. You almost half heartedly suck your thumb, too, because you always have a nice pool of drool on your shirt and down your arm. It's just adorable....wait, no, it's actually one of the main things that takes me back in remembrance that you are still a little boy even though you show teenager traits sometimes.
You are defiant, but also compliant. You are struggling with stopping when we say stop, and continue to test that at this time hitting once or twice more after we directly tell you to stop. Today, in fact, as we were in a quiet Christian bookstore you proceeded to not listen and continued to pull on me from the cart after telling you to stop. Looking back, I should have turned around and told you more directly, but I didn't, and you unsurprisingly continued to do what I told you not to which led to you flipping over the cart crashing it to the ground. Luckily Reid was in his carseat and strapped in, and I somehow caught him mid-way, but you-as karma would have it-took the fall with the cart. You both were fine but upset, only causing an embarrassing loud and unfortunate moment. Hopefully a learning point, but kind of doubtful-you soak up so much and have caught on to so many new things but at the same time we can be sitting there explaining something as simply as we can and you are just giving us glossed over eyes and it's going in one ear, out the other. You look as if you are taking it in, but the next minute do the exact opposite. Oy vey, my child, oy vey.
You have helped me grow in my patience and always help me to see the simplicity in the daily things of life. Not always, my adult eyes and mindset are hard to overcome sometimes but it is refreshing to see life through your eyes and get in on the excitement that you are able to have over the little things.
You love the zoo, feeding the fish is one of your favorite things to do, and love going to Exploration Place or the park. You make new friends on many of our outings and love playing with other kids. You will start a Kids Day Inn program at church in a few weeks, one day a week from 9-1 and I think you will really have fun.
You love to help, especially in the kitchen. Takes more time, patience, and we really can't take our eyes off your or leave you alone in there because you rarely listen through to our warnings or instructions--your curiosity gets the best of you I'm afraid-but overall it is fun to have you learn and help beside us.
You are at such a fun age. You say the funniest things, and you are a parrot right now and always full of questions. You're a backseat driver at it's finest. Always telling us when to go, stop, slow down, go this way not that way. It's humorous, but more so when I'm not driving and definitely not after a long day. Momma can only take so much.
You love to play hard and get dirty. You love bathes. You love books and puzzles. You have the biggest sweet tooth and would divulge in sweets all day if we allowed it, one of your absolute favorites is ice cream. Also shown in the picture is the fact that you'd much rather just wear underpants around and we have to make your wear pants. You don't argue much, but you almost always try to protest a little.
You also have a great habit of being polite. You do well at saying thank you, nank you as you pronounce it. You say please and sorry-sometimes in the wrong moments but still, glad you are learning to be kind and have good manners, even if we have to stop and remind you-it's usually not something you fight us one and will be quick to correct yourself and ask politely instead of just demanding something or being rude. You're just a kid, speak your voice and let us know your opinions-not much is in your control and this stage in life, but hopefully we're able to teach you how to do so in a respectful manner.
The past three years has come and gone so fast. Your dad and I are so proud of you and could not be more thankful that God has allowed us to be your parents. We are trying our best to show you love and patience, we pray for guidance in our parenting that God may help us teach you and your brother His love, kindess and pray that you grow to know God's love and will for you as you get older.
You are an amazing boy, Caden. We cannot begin to describe how deep and strong our love is for you. Thanks for bringing smiles to our faces when we've needed it the most, giving the best hugs, and being willing to forgive and learn along side of us.
Thank you for three years that have been absolutely priceless to your father and I. We have learned a lot the past three years, and trust me, we continue to learn and grow right along side you on a daily basis--we wouldn't have it any other way. The good, the bad, the ugly--you're stuck with us, pal, for better or worse. (That's exciting and promising to hear, right?)
We love the heck out of you, Caden. Nothing will ever, ever change that. Happy 3rd Birthday, buddy.
xoxoxo
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