Happy Birthday Eddie!

 Happy Birthday Eddie-man!!!!!!

{huge smile? marker on the face drawing a goatee like daddy? this is pretty much your standard every day}

You are three years old today, and I can hardly believe it. You seem so small and so big all at the same time....but, well, instead of small I suppose I should say young, because buddy? You're not small. You're quite a few inches taller than every kid in your preschool class and just built differently - while their arms and legs just seem so little and frail, yours are just.....sturdy. Its the best word I can come up with to describe your build....one day you are going to grow up to be quite the guy. A protector of your friends, just like your daddy.

You love anything that is construction, firemen or sports. Your daddy and I laugh that we go through all of the sports in a day...your favorites right now are golf (ugh, please stop with the fascination of watching golf on TV!) and baseball. But you don't descriminate and also love to watch swimming and diving with Momma (and you're great and taking your mark on the ottoman and diving on to the couch) and even gymnastics. You are going to love the 2012 Olympics.

This month you became a big brother, and you are so amazing. Your daddy and I were just talking about how we are so happy that we are able to see you as a big brother...it is just another peice of you that is so amazing and I feel so blessed to be a part of. This picture of you holding Finn is a pretty good representation of you on a daily basis. You're such a happy fellow, except when you aren't and then? Holy crap, buddy. You can throw a fit. Also? You shirts are stained within 2 minutes of putting them on, always. You're pretty messy.

You got a big boy bike for your birthday! And oh man, you were so excited. In fact, you threw quite the massive tantrum when it was time to go to preschool orientation because you wanted to stay and ride your bike. Thank God for your love of Dunkin  Donuts, because that was the only way we could get you out of the house! You're also currently trying your best to convince me that your bike should be an inside toy. And even though you're stubborn, you got that from someone, honey. And I will always be more stubborn than you.

We went to your favorite restaurant - Mr. Samaurai - for your birthday dinner and you loved it, of course. You still love to watch people cook, even on TV (your favorite it the Barefoot Contessa), and this time you were chatting up the chef the whole time. Every item he put on the cooktop you said you loved it. And even though it was true, you do love brocolli (still your favorite veggie) and shrimp and steak and mushrooms and zuchinni (you say zuppini, and we have some growing in the garden that you are in charge of picking. You love finding new zuppinis and always jump up and down yelling), it was funny to watch you.

Also? I love that picture of you and your daddy. I can't see how people say that you look anything like me....you are a total clone of your daddy. Check out the lips, cheeks, eyebrows...even your ears are mini replicas of your daddy's! The only thing you got from me are your teeth (yay for future orthodontic bills!) and your eye color.

You are very independent and will now only hold my hand crossing the street. We even went to the outlet mall and you did such a good job opening the door for me to push the stroller thru and staying close(ish) while we looked around. You love to help and we can convince you to do pretty much anything if we sell it as you being the BIGGEST! HELPER!! EVER!!!! Actually, we can pretty much sell anything to you if we use enough exclamation points. You are very, very smart though, and your memory surprises me every day. You can recall the smallest details about a trip or person and can memorize things so quickly. You can tell us the town and street you live on and you now are obsessed with knowing what town people live or work in.

 I once bribbed you to say your ABC's for a marshmallow and you still expect one when you say them. You still love Saddie and are skeptical of Jack-Jack, but overall Sydney and Daisy are your favorite dogs. Your best buddy is still Velia, your little wife-to-be. You love to talk to anyone and we can often find you sneaking into the backyard to talk to the neighbors.....the adults, not the kids :)

I love you so much little man and can't wait to see what three brings us. You amaze me every day, every hour and every minute...in good ways and in bad (ha!). 2 year old you was pretty awesome and I know 3 will be just as great!