Dax's Journal

On Being Three

We've been getting Babycenter updates for the baby which I frequently post in his journal but you may not know that we still get updates for Dax as well. And according to them......

What your child may be doing now:
• Enjoying playing house.
• Helping with chores, such as sweeping or putting books and toys away.
• Separating from you fairly easily, saying good-bye without too much fuss.
• Adjusting to new situations, especially a preschool routine.
• Understanding and following spoken instructions, such as "It's time to put away the puzzles and wash your hands before lunch.

He definitely enjoys helping with chores. He can often be found pushing the dust mop all about the kitchen or attempting to unload the dishwasher. Today he wanted to help daddy get the Yakima rack on the new car (entry on that coming soon). When told it was dirty and dangerous work, he just wanted to help more so I tempted him back inside the house with the promise of getting a new rub-on tattoo.

Separating from us varies each time. I can't speak for Cat but sometimes it is a bit difficult when I'm trying to extricate myself from his presence. Today, for example, when I was going to leave him at home while I went shopping? He sobbed and chased me to the door with his shoes in hand begging to go with me.

He doesn't (and hasn't ever) have trouble adjusting to new situations. He seems to really enjoy change. He started a new music class at preschool and he is extremely excited about it, claiming that "The Bye Bye Song" that they sing at the end is his new favorite.

He definitely understands spoken instructions like, "Please go potty and then wash your hands" or "Please put away your Diego Counting Game before you get out your sticker book" or "Please don't stand on the arm of daddy's recliner or you may fall backwards and split your tiny head asunder". Now, whether or not he will actually follow those instructions depends on his mood and/or which direction the wind is blowing.

He had his Three Year appointment with his new doctor this past week. His growth is on track and he's healthy. He weighs a tiny bit over 31 pounds and he's just over 3 feet tall. This appointment was so different from every one prior because it was the first time he was treated like a kid instead of like a baby. He was weighed on the "big boy" scale and got measured standing against the wall. They even took his blood pressure with the weensiest arm cuff I've ever seen. And when we got to the examination room, they gave him a little gown to put on.

How cute is that? So cute, right? But not nearly as cute as the back view because you know how those gowns are.

Yep, those ARE Buzz Lighyear underpants you spy. He's been wearing underpants for two weeks now and has only had a handful of accidents. He still won't poo in the potty but this weekend he finally started warning us ahead of time and asking for a pullup instead of going in his nifty undies.

Guess he understands the spoken instructions, "EW! Please stop pooping in your underpants."

Shoppin' with Dad

So Dax and I ended up at Wal-Mart this past weekend to check out game consoles. While I checked out the XBox Halo Edition, Dax kept himself busy by playing a tennis game:

Ch-ch-changes

Tonight as I was tucking Dax into bed, he looked at me with a giant grin and said, "I'm sooo three."

He is. He is sooooooo three. That means he is a constant source of amusement and consternation. He is also as unpredictable as can be. He vacillates between being Little Mister Independent and clinging to me like a baby marmoset. The one consistent thing is that he is deliciously adorable. Good thing, too, as sometimes he can be downright vexing.

After months of attempting to potty train the boy, he decided himself last weekend that he now wants to wear "big boy underpants". He's been doing very well with the peeing but still refuses to poo on the potty. That has resulted in some rather unpleasant moments but I still take this as a huge step forward.

All his favorites seem to be changing as well. After months of being crazy about Little Einsteins he now refuses to watch it. He would much rather watch Blue's Clues now. Even his favorite nighttime companion, his plush Rocket, seems to be slowly getting edged to the side of the bed by his teddy bear (whom he quite predictably named "Bear"). Of course, all of this will have changed again by the time I finish typing this.

He's also been so incredibly loving lately. Sometimes he holds onto my sleeve as he cuddles against me as if I'm some sort of security blanket. He often proclaims that he loves me "sooooooo much". He is free with his hugs and kisses and often pats me or holds my hand while gazing at me. It is absolutely, fantastically, amazing.

And we love him sooooo much, too.

Natural Progression Part 2

Dax continues to love jumping off of the couch onto the "jump-o-line". But instead of just jumping straight off like he used to, he's now mixing it up a bit by spinning in the air. He started off with some simple 180's, but that proved to be a bit too easy for him.

Here he is about three quarters into a 360 degree jump:

3 year portraits

We took Dax to Kiddie Kandids yesterday to have his three year portraits done. They did an amazing job. Not only did they get him to stay still, they actually got him to pose.

I can't believe how grown up he looks in this one.

By the way? I did attempt to do something with that hair of his before we went but he was far less cooperative for me than he was for the photographer.

And here's Cat's favorite. I also like this one very much (and not just for the "hair camouflaging" benefit).

Elephant + Trampoline = Happy Dax

Dax and I found this video on You Tube and it is making him insanely happy.

The Big Bash

We went BIG for Dax's third birthday and had a party for him yesterday at My Gym. Ten of his little friends came to help him celebrate along with their parents and siblings) and I think I can honestly qualify it as one of his happiest days in his short little life.

Here he is ready to blow out the candles on the awesome Little Einsteins cake that Caren made for him.

Cat and I had a great time, too. We took a ton of pictures (which I won't post here because they include other people's children) and we are continuing to have a great time playing with all the fabulous gifts he was given. This is on top of the load o' treasure he already pulled in from his own family members.

The kid has a racket going, here.

Behave

This morning after a particularly loud and shrill screaming fit Dax asked if he could watch tv.

"No way," I said. "Not after that fit you just threw. If you want to watch tv you have to BEHAVE."

He responded with, "But mommy, I AM being have."