So, my son is three.  And he is a stubborn little thing (gets it from his father, of course.)

The other night Eph was wearing snap up pj's.  You know, the one piece jobbies that snap up the front.  Totally fine.  He needs a bit of help to go pee with them on, but he still loves them.

Ja was putting him to bed and had the genius thought of teaching our illustrious son how to do up snaps!  That's all fine and good, teaches him, lets him try a few, tucked in, nighty night, right?

When Ja and I went up to bed after ten, our son was still sitting on the side of the bed.  Doing up his snaps, and then undoing them.  Doing up his snaps and then undoing them.  Doing up... well, you get the picture.

He practiced doing up his snaps for two hours.

I had to change him into snapless pj's to get him to go to sleep.

Then I had to have a little chat with Ja about how it's great to teach our kids new things and all, but maybe hold off til morning, and not do it right before bed!

Good thing Ja didn't teach Eph Algebra or Calculus before bed... the poor kid would probably still be awake.

Ephraim, my gorgeous little dutch boy, today you are three years old.  Three years ago today, you decided it was time to wreak all the havoc you could on the world from the outside... 


And wreak havoc you do.  You have this impish little grin, and these twinkly blue eyes that make me want to hug you instead of putting you into the multiple time outs that you seem to get in one day.


You are a vibrating little bundle of energy.  You want to go and go and go... and you don't give up going until you're forced to.  You insist on being a big boy, and yet you are still soft and need the love of a little boy... as long as it is on your terms.


Eph, your entire short life up to this point seems to be based on how you can get your own way, do things your own way, be your own way.  While at the same time you want to do everything that your sister does... especially if it ruins her fun.

You are all boy.  Your favourite pastime is throwing rocks into the water... any rocks... in any water.  A treat for you is going down to the creek with your daddy and tossing rocks in to your heart's content. 


You are a stubborn little thing too.  It's amazing how hard it is to get a little thirty pound boy to do what you want him to do when he has the will of a four hundred pound man.  You will do the exact opposite of what we tell you to do, just to see what will happen.  You get angry when it's the wrong shoes, the toast is cut the wrong way, it's a different cup than you had in your head...  Unfortunately for you, your daddy and I are just as stubborn.  Is there a manual that you read on what are the exact buttons to push to drive us batty??


Ephraim, you have become such a little man over the past year.  Learning how to spell your name out loud... counting, as fast as you can up to ten, or higher.  Usually mostly in order.  You love singing songs in the bathtub with me.  You adore super heroes... Larry Boy, Veggie tales, but mostly you adore your daddy. 

I think in your mind, your daddy is the ultimate super hero, and that is how it should be.  He can throw the super ball mega high, he can lift you up and play airplane, and he takes you to throw rocks in the creek.  I love how much you love and adore your daddy.  You are so adorable when you "help" him by taking all the drill bits out of his case.  Your eyes light up and you get very serious when you see your daddy getting out the tools.


Ephraim, the age of two brought us so many things.  Toilet training, learning how to spell your name, talking about mighty machines at every possible instance.  I'm sad to see the baby in you go, but I am so excited to see what the world of three is going to bring us.


Your daddy and I so ache for you to become a man after God's own heart.  I hope and pray for you every day.  You are a joy in our lives, and you make us smile with your antics...  Keep your humour, big boy, keep your energy...


Happy Birthday,

love,
Momma