Leland's 3rd Birthday

For Leland's birthday, we did the same type of celebration as last year. We had my parents and Dave's parents over for a small "party." We ordered pizza, and of course had cake and ice cream.

He had lots of fun opening presents.

He finally got the bus that he has been admiring at the Children's Museum forever. And a new t-shirt with a crane on it (totally Leland approved!).

Hanging out with Grandpa Skip, checking out his new presents.

From Mommy and Daddy, some new books.

Can't go wrong with truck stuff.

Teacher's kid...looking at books when there are more presents to open.

Do you think he liked his chain saw?

Alden had fun with the chain saw too.

For his birthday cake, I made a marble cake and decorated the top with construction vehicles. He loved it. He kept asking all day if he could eat his "happy birthday cake" so he could play with the trucks.

The trees are ice cream cones with green icing, the logs are tootsie rolls, and the dirt is crushed up Oreos.

He sang Happy Birthday with us.

And after cake, we got to  hang out some more with some of Leland's favorite people.

We have several reasons for doing birthday celebrations this way, instead of a big party, but one of the coolest things about it is that Leland gets complete, undivided attention from his grandparents. Leland adores all of his grandparents as children should. He talks about them all the time, and when we told him that they were coming over, he was so excited all day. It's nice for him (and Alden) to have that time with them.

Three

Dear Leland,

Today, you are three years old. It's amazing how much you have grown and changed in the last year. You are turning into a little boy, and no longer a toddler. Here's a little snapshot of what you're up to these days...

According to our scale at home, you weigh about 35-36 lbs. Your three year well check is tomorrow, so we'll know for sure then. I would guess you're just over 36" tall. You wear all 3T clothing - the pants are a little long and the shirts are getting a tad short, so it looks like you take after your daddy (long torso, average legs).

You still love tractors, just as you did at your second birthday. But now, you also love trucks, trains, plains, and pretty much anything that "goes." You know the names of all kinds of construction vehicles, and you're teaching them all to me and Alden.

It is so fun to see you get creative and use imaginative play. You like to pretend there are monsters in the house and we have to hide from them. You pretend every tow truck is Mater from the movie Cars, and every airplane is Skipper from Planes (two of your favorite movies currently, along with The Polar Express. You love to run and you could jump on your bed all day long. Thank goodness Grammy Patti and Grandpa Duck (that's what you call Grandpa Paul because he talks in a duck voice) are getting you a trampoline this year!

Speaking of jumping on your bed, you have a new big boy bed. Daddy built it for you and you've been using it for about a month. You are so proud of it. Whenever someone comes over, you have to show it off. You still love your blankie and sleep with a sippy cup of water. At night, you go to bed at 7:30 and on school days, I wake you up at 6:30 (but on weekends you sleep until 7:30ish). You still take a long afternoon nap, usually 2-2.5 hours.

A couple of months ago, you took swimming lessons at the Great Wolf Lodge. Lessons were twice a week for four weeks. You and I had so much fun on those nights. I really miss it, and I know you do too, because you still ask if we can visit the "splash park." You are a little fish and never tired of splashing in water or going down the water slides, and you even stood under the big bucket a few times.

You're not potty trained yet, but we're working on it. When you sit on the potty, you pretty much always go, but you often fight sitting on the potty. You like wearing underwear, but you don't keep them dry.

Your favorite food lately is peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. You ask for them all day long, but you're still a great eater and enjoy lots of different foods. You're getting a little more picky about veggies; sometimes you love them, while other times you won't touch them. You still love fruits though, and still dislike red meat.

Most of the time, you are a happy dude, but you definitely have your sassy moments and can throw a heck of a tantrum. You say some really sweet, funny things. Like every day this year, when you would admire our Christmas tree, you would tell me I did "a awesome great job" decorating it. You were so excited about Christmas and the idea of Santa. Then today, when you woke up and I told you Happy Birthday, you asked me if Santa came with your presents. I guess having a birthday right around Christmas time is a little confusing.

You have lots of good buddies and you make new friends easily. You're not shy most of the time. Your buddies at daycare are Sal, Sophie, Hope, Jaxon, and Emmett (and of course, Julie, Ian, Jordan, and Chelsea). You also like to play with Fischer, who we met at the park last summer. And you enjoy time with your cousins and talk about them at home a lot.

Sweet Leland, you're such a big boy and I have simply adored watching you grow up. I look forward to all the fun that is to come. But just remember, even though you're not a baby anymore, you will always be my baby. No matter how big you get. I love you to the moon and back, baby cakes.

Love, Mama

Christmas Day

Christmas Day started with a wonderful gift - both boys slept until 7:45! It's a big deal around here when mommy gets to stay in bed past 7:00 (heck, past 6:30 is pretty miraculous too!).

Leland didn't remember that it was Christmas and didn't even notice the presents under the tree for a bit. So that gave me some time to put breakfast in the oven (Paula Deen's baked praline french toast...YUM!).

Once I got that ready, it was present time!

Alden had no idea what was going on, so he helped Leland open his present and kind of scoped out the scene before taking his turn.

Leland has been asking for a semi truck for months. He finally got a great big one with a car hauler trailer. I think he likes it.

 

Alden took his turn...

He likes his doctor kit, but Leland has been playing with it more than Alden has.

And he also got a car hauler for their Little People Wheelies cars.

Then came the stockings with a few cars and bath toys.

The bath flutes have been a huge hit. Leland loves playing them, and Alden loves to hit me on the head with them. Both have caused me slight headaches.

He held this up and said, "The first gift of Christmas!"
(from The Polar Express)

This is about as good as I think I can get this year for a picture in front of the tree. These boys never stop moving.

{To see the rest of their gifts, check out this post.}

After presents, we had breakfast and just lounged around for a while. I wasn't feeling very well, so it was nice to have a lazy morning. Later, we went out for Chinese lunch with Dave's parents - a Christmas tradition for as long as I have been a part of the Nowak family (10+ years).

Leland hanging with Grammy

And then it was home for naps for everyone! Followed by more lounging/playing with new toys, and Christmas Eve leftovers for dinner. I went to bed early, still feeling pretty awful: aches, chills, nausea, etc. But by morning, I felt a lot better. A little nauseous, but that subsided as the day progressed.

I am always sad when Christmas is over. Weeks and weeks of excitement and anticipation and then it's suddenly over. I think that's why God gave me a December baby. The celebrations do not have to end right away. We party again in a couple of days, followed by the Nowak Christmas on January 1st.

Christmas Eve

Following our Christmas Eve tradition, the boys and I baked and decorated cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve morning. My mom came over and helped.

Leland insisted on the airplane cookie cutter. How could I deny him that?

Leland found himself a bracelet

He enjoyed the whole process.

Alden got in the action too. The rolling pin was his favorite.

I take that back. The tasting was his favorite.

Some of our finished masterpieces. I have it on good authority that Santa enjoyed them.

Then later, we enjoyed a delicious dinner. It was my first time cooking a turkey and preparing an entire holiday meal.

Turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and rolls with homemade butter. Basically, a Thanksgiving dinner for Christmas...because those are my faves. And we had apple crisp for dessert (Dave's request).

Aside from a couple of tired kids who had a few tantrums here and there, it was a pretty perfect day. Okay, even with the tantrums, it was perfect. That's real life and I wouldn't change a thing.

Bye Bye, Pump!

Big news for this mama! As of last week, I am no longer attached to this thing.

Yes, I was still pumping after 14 months. But now that Alden is only taking one bottle a day at daycare and not nursing so much at night, I don't need to pump anymore.

I'm still nursing before bed & nap, and once in the middle of the night usually. But no more pumping.

So...see ya later, pump. It's been real.

First Theater Experience

Yesterday, Leland enjoyed his first movie at the theaters.

The State Theatre downtown was showing The Polar Express for 25 cents. Since I know Leland loves the movie, I didn't think we could really go wrong. But I figured that if, for some reason, he hated the big screen, we would only be out 50 cents.

He was really confused when I told him we were going to see a movie on a big TV. He kept saying he didn't want to be up high. I don't know what he was thinking it was going to be.

Once he realized we were going to sit in seats on the floor, he was pretty excited. Then when he got popcorn, he was way excited.

He made it through just over an hour, and then said he wanted to go home. I think the theater was a little too loud for him. Really, though, he never watches the whole thing at home either. He just doesn't sit still that long.

Overall, Leland's first theater experience was great. I am thankful that we have these kinds of options in our town - a 25 cent movie at a beautifully restored old theater and a kid-friendly environment. Such a fun date - just my big boy and me.