3

Garett celebrated his final birthday as an only child this weekend, but today marks the actual day. As of 7:42pm tonight, he will be three years old.

Garett update:

Garett has a huge personality. He is quite the comedian, and loves to make people laugh. He can adapt his behaviour to reflect the people he is surrounded by (can play with babies or older kids, or be in the company of adults). He is an amazing eater, and will eat just about any type of food we put in front of him (unless he is too busy--normally when there are lots of people around or too many other fun things to do).

He is very active, and really agile. He will excel in sports (Patenaude genes lol). He has taken a bit of interest in music (plays on his guitar, piano and sings in his microphone. He also loves his harmonica and drums). His favourite band is Toto (daddy's genes), and loves to sing along to "Rosanna" and "Hold the Line". He also loves to sing along to certain theme songs for his shows, but doesn't really care about the radio other than to dance along in his car seat (mommy's genes).

He is very smart, and has an advanced vocabulary for his age. He loves to learn new things and is in the "why, mommy?" stage. "But WHY is the sky blue? WHY do we have to brush our teeth? WHY do cats have fur and I don't?" He teaches me something new everyday, having to figure out the answers for him! He loves specifically to talk about space. He pulled this one out of midair one day and said "we live in the milky way! THAT'S a galaxy!" So now we often look at pictures from the Hubble site, and learn about galaxy names, and he loves to talk stars, and the moon going down when the sun is up, and the sun going down when the moon is out. Inquisitive mind!

He is an excellent sleeper, still sleeping about 10-11 hours a night, going to bed between 8:30 and 9:15 pm, and waking in the morning around 7 or 8. On occasion he wakes at 6:30 right before I leave for work, and I get some cuddles in :). He still naps everyday around 11:30-12:15 start, and sleeps between 1.5 and 4 hours (most often around 2.5 hours).

He wears 2T clothes comfortably still, but he is growing right now I think, and some of the 2T pants are getting a little short, so we are phasing in the 3T stuff, though some brands he is absolutely swimming in still for 3T.

He wears size 8 shoes (except winter boots which are a 7 and still big--winter boot sizing is so silly!).

His snowsuit is a 2T and still large on him as well (snowsuit sizing is also silly).

His favourite activity is playing outside, or painting. He has also lately taken a real shining to puzzles (real or on the ipad).

He likes to tell everyone he is THREE now, and that he's going to school soon (let's hope this eagerness keeps up when he really has to go so it's easier on me to say good bye on that first day :) )

Favourite fruit: Strawberries or watermelon

Favourite Veggie: Broccoli, carrots or cucumber

Favourite snack: hummus and veggies or cheese and crackers

Favourite Meal: Any type of casserole or noodle dish.

Favourite drink: The "real fruit" purees I buy and water down. He loves them because they're thick and taste like fruit. I had to figure something out that had no sugar added or he would drink himself into diabetes with fruit juices.

Favourite TV show: Donald Duck or Garfield right now.

Favourite toy:currently his new tractor, or playing "doctor" with his medical gear

Favourite saying: "oh my gosh!!!"

He loves going out on excursions to the store, or other places we bring him, and is very cooperative when we have to go to numerous places and he is in and out of the car. He makes eyes at everyone and has admirers everywhere he goes.

He has had his glasses for a little over a year now, and gets his new glasses this week (they're ready to pick up, so hopefully Ty can grab them today!. They are still miraflex, but they are a different colour and shape. I think they look more mature, until he can safely get the real glasses that aren't indestructible. He certainly is proud of his glasses and loves when he sees someone else that wears glasses too! He loves his eye doctor, and talks his ear off everytime we go in there, explaining to the Doctor how he uses his own tools, lol. Dr.B is definitely a fan of G's.

No matter what room he is in, he can make everyone smile. He is really a ray of sunshine!

He is working hard on his sharing skills, and has quite good at it, having to constantly share at daycare, though he still always hides one toy when he leaves so the other little boy can't find it, lol. He lets other children help him open presents, and watching our babysitters son read his birthday cards to him out loud before ripping open gifts was very sweet. He is still only three, so sometimes faulters on this, but that's to be expected. But often brings toys to smaller children to play with, and sits and watches them play with the toy lovingly.

He is potty trained during the day (still struggles a bit with #2--he doesn't like going in the potty or toilet), but only wears diapers at night when he's at home. We send his training underwear to daycare, but if we go out and about and he doesn't know where the toilet it, we put him in a diaper still.

He knows his ABC's, how to count to 15, how to clean up his toys, how to dress himself, and goes to the washroom all by himself without prompting, or us having to go with him.

HOW did my boy get so big and independent?
I LOVE YOU, Garett.

Happy birthday, sweet boy. Love of my life, the reason my heart continues to beat, my reason for everything. May this year be the best yet for you!