Drew is 3!!!

My Drew turned 3 years old today! I cannot fathom how 3 years have passed since I first held this precious boy...
At 3 years old...

* Drew is 40.75 inches tall and weighs 38 pounds (according to my measurements today). He wears 4T shirts and 3T pants. He wears a size 9 1/2 shoe.

* We spend a lot of time in the car these days, and Drew is such a good rider. He just talks and sings the whole time. He is getting to that stage where his imagination is in overdrive. When we are in the car, he is always pretending that we are in a race. He'll say, "Mommy, we're winning the race!" or "Mommy, that white truck is first and we are second." He ranks all of the cars around us. It cracks me up!

* I'm not quite sure how it started, but Drew thinks that he can change the stoplights and make them turn green. He'll say, "Mommy, I will change the light to green in just a minute." When the light eventually changes, he says, "See! See! I did it!" I always say thank you, to which he replies, "My pleasure." Funny boy. :)

* Drew loves the song "I Will Follow" by Chris Tomlin. He asks for me to play it every time that we are in the car. He sings along and it is just precious. I tear up every time that he sings, "If 'dis life I lose, I will follow you." Those words coming out of his little mouth with his little lisp - it gets me every single time.

* I printed off some letter flash cards at the beginning of the school year. Drew has loved to practice with them! We work on them while Clayton is doing his school work, and I think that it makes Drew feel big to have "school work" also. :) He has gotten really good at recognizing his letters. He consistently gets all of the letters except for Aa, Ii, Jj (he always says, "'dat letter looks like a candy cane!"), Kk (he always says "X"), Qq, and Vv. I think that is really good for a brand new 3 year old!

* Drew's favorite color is green. He would eat at McDonald's for every meal if we allowed him to do so (chicken nuggets and apples). His favorite TV show is Rescue Heroes on Qubo, and he LOVES to color with markers.
* Drew has the cutest little way of saying things. I'm sure that they are pretty typical, but I need to make a list so that I don't forget. :) If you ask his age, he will say, "I'm free!" He says, "'Sanks!" instead of "Thanks." He tries to sound big on the phone and says, "Whatcha doin'?" but he drags the phrase out and it sounds funny. He says his brother's names are "Cwayton and Owen." When we pick Clayton up from school, he always asks, "Hey Cwayton! How your day at school? You keep all your tickets?" He has figured out that those are always my first questions and tries to beat me to the punch. :)

* Clayton was really particular about his bedtime routine at 3, and Drew is definitely following suite. We always sing the same four songs in the same order - "He's Got the Whole World In His Hands," "Jesus Loves the Little Children," "Deep & Wide," and "I am a Promise." He will correct us (kindly, of course) if we go out of order. :)
* He always requests a "huggy, kissy, nosey" before bed (hug, kiss, and Eskimo kiss). :)

* If you ask Drew his full name, he will respond, "Andrew Scooby Doo Carp'der." Ha!
* He has been brainwashed by my T-sip husband and flashes the hook 'em horns sign pretty often. Ugh - where did I go wrong???
* Drew LOVES his brothers! He really looks up to Clayton and tries to copy anything that his big brother does - that is a blessing and a curse at times. ;) He also loves Owen and is so sweet and nurturing to his baby brother. It is so neat to watch him step into the big brother role as well.
Drewy Drewster,

I seriously don't think that I have ever been around a happier child! You have your moments, of course, but you spend the vast majority of the day laughing and playing like you don't have a care in the world. You squeeze every last drop of fun out of life, and I love that about you! I hope that you always have that joyful attitude.

I absolutely despise the term "middle child." I feel like people have this preconceived idea of that place in birth order. I refuse to use those words to describe you. I call you my "Little-Big Boy" or my "Happy Medium." I try to tell you how special you are because you are the only one of our sons that has both a big brother and a little brother. Isn't that cool?!?! I hope that you always feel like your spot in our family is crucial and important. You are the magic link that holds our family together. I don't ever want to imagine what our family would be like without you. We all benefit so much from you!

You, Dear Child, have personality with a capital P! You are so much fun to be around! You have the greatest laugh. I don't even know how to describe it. It's just so pure and uninhibited. If I could bottle that up, the world would be a much better place.

Three years ago today, you changed me. You have made me more relaxed. I don't take myself or life as serious. I have more fun. I love harder. I am a better version of myself because of you. Your joy is infectious, and I am glad that you share it freely with me. You have such a special place in my heart, Drew Carpenter. Don't you ever forget what a treasure you are!

I love you to the moon and back!
Mommy