Payton -
Three and a half...really!?!?!? I can't adequately express what I think about you being 3 1/2 years old - it is exciting and earth shattering within the same breath. Three is still so young....but when I think back to the tiny baby we brought home in March of 2008, three is so BIG! You will be starting kindergarten soon enough...too soon for me! I'm starting to think of homeschooling (kidding...really kidding, but I'm NOT ready for the thought of school!). You are a big boy and you are definitely not a baby anymore. Nothing about you says baby. All your baby features are gone and you are my big boy - a "pre-schooler." If we're being honest, you're Daddy's big boy - you are 100% a Daddy's boy. You always have been and I've adapted. That hasn't changed at all. You have good reason to be a Daddy's boy - he is a pretty awesome dad - he's funny, he makes the BEST chocolate milk, he makes you laugh, he tells you super silly jokes, he plays along with your jokes, he reads the best bedtime stories, he plays with you...lots, he loves sports and he tells you all about the games he is watching...and even gives you updates if you have to go to bed before the end of the game, and most of all he loves you even more than you love him which is pretty amazing! You still love Mommy too and when I'm your only option, you're okay with it! Recently, you had a "boo-boo." Mommy had to fix it and Mommy got the credit - so, even if thats all I'm good at - I'll take it! The truth is, I love you just as much as Daddy too and when you kiss me good night, I know you love me just as much as you love him...you just think he's cooler than me...and he just might be!
So, what are you doing these days.....this would be shorter if I listed what you are not doing or not capable of doing.
You are still going to the same daycare - you are in the Seagulls class and you love it. Every day you ask if you are going to school. Your teachers ROCK - they are the best of the best and they teach you the most amazing things and they do a great job teaching you. You are learning so much and you're excited about learning. You are even learning to write. You have learned the letters L, F, E, T, I and next week you're moving on to the letter F.
You took your first bus ride and went on your first field trip - this past Wednesday your class took a field trip to the Boone Hall pumpkin patch. Unfortunately, Mommy can't get off work on Wednesday's and Daddy was out of town. We missed all the excitement but you seemed to have a blast! You brought home the most perfect pumpkin!
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| Payton is 2nd in from the left in his Fireman raincoat and boots. |
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| Payton's class - he is 2nd row in a black shirt looking down. |
You are playing soccer (a separate post to come!). This is your first organized sporting activity and it has taught all of us a lot! First, never "expect" any thing out of your child. Second, its just a game....take a deep breath and give positive support! You are having fun and I'm happy we are able to let you have this experience.
You still love all sports - football, soccer, basketball, baseball, golf, tennis. 90% of the time you are playing some form of one of these sports. You are already planning to play baseball in the spring. You wear your baseball batting gloves around the house most of the time....they double as receiving gloves when paired with your football helmet. You have your first over-the-door goal in your room and you love shooting every night before bed.
You still LOVE the Tarheels and you are very excited that basketball season is just around the corner. You still talk about the Tarheels and the players all the time. You're favorite players are John Henson, Harrison Barnes, and Tyler Zeller. You still pretend to be some of your favorite players and you still remember all of their numbers.
You are also a fan of the CofC Cougars and even the Clemson Tigers.....you will not pull for the Tigers against the Heels....but, all of our Tiger friends (and most of all Ms. Sarah) have rubbed off on you. I'm okay with that. If we live here forever, you will be able to discuss games with your friends....I can assure you they will not be happy to discuss the Heels with you (especially if we keep out basketball home winning streak alive....afterall, there isn't much to discuss).
You love going to church...and I love that about you! You know that we go to church every Sunday. You love reading your bible. You love the music at church. You talk about Sunday school a lot and for the past few weeks you have been going into big church with us. Mrs. Brooke and Mrs. Charlotte are doing a great job as your Sunday School teachers this year. They tell Mommy you do a great job for them....I hope they are telling the truth! You do a pretty good job in the church service. An hour is a looonnnnnngggg time for you to sit still....a long time for any kid....but you are especially active so one hour of sitting still and being quiet is a lot to ask but I'm so proud that you want to be in there and I hope we are both picking up a little something while we're in there together! You also love church on Wednesday nights. Most recently, you've been asking me about Heaven and you're starting to pick up on the concept of Heaven. You understand that Grandpa Joe lives in Heaven now - last week you asked me who else lived there. You are a little confused because you think everyone is asleep forever in Heaven....its tough to explain everlasting life to a 3 year old (especially when Daddy was out of town!!) but I did my best. The hardest to explain to you was why we can't go visit Heaven when we are in NC....you think we should be able to stop by for a visit in Heaven, just like how we visit in SF or in EB. My dear Payton, if I could go visit Heaven for a day I most certainly would....there are quite a few people up there I would love to see! But, try explaining that to a 3 year old! One day, you will understand and we will laugh together over me trying to tell you in "three year old language!"
You are so smart - of course, I think you're smart - and I don't necessarily mean you are smarter than the average three year old - I'm just constantly amazed at all you know and all you understand. I guess I still picture you as my little baby so it is even more difficult to believe that you could know all that you know. I give LOTS of credit to your school....they do a great job teaching you! I certainly can't list all of these examples - but, one example, is that you learned from Ms. Sarah and Ms. Rachel that bats are nocturnal - which means they sleep in they day and hunt for food in the night (you did tell Ms. Sarah that they use a flashlight to find food at night, but that is not the point!). Its little facts like this that you pull out all the time that amaze me! I am constantly amazed at all the info in your little brain. You know all your letters, you can count to 20 and you're beginning to do a great job with letter sounds and forming very small words (ie: at, bat, cat, fat, hat....).
Your memory is truly amazing. You remember things that even I have forgotten - 5 examples - 1) You remember specific things about our trip to Fripp Island last year - one entire year ago - and you're correct. 2) You remember a very specific day in Chapel Hill last fall when we were tailgating with friends, playing corn hole and went to visit Aunt Moe and Uncle Alf who were also in town for the game....you pulled that out of nowhere the last time we were in Chapel Hill because you were hoping Uncle Alf would be there that day too. 3) You remember Uncle Kade's "old" house...which you haven't been to in over a year 4) You remember the UNC v. Dook game from last spring ----- specifically that Leslie and CJ were there, they Heels cut down the nets and we ate pizza at Jenny's house.....seriously.....details!! All correct and from a 9 pm tip off in March of 2011! and 5) Just the other day, as we were turning into daycare, you asked me if I remembered the day we went "that way"(which is opposite from the way we usually go) from daycare and went to meet Mrs. Lindsey, Ella and Alex - and they drove their car and we went to a place and jumped on "those big blow up things" inside. Well, yes buddy, I remember....but, Alex wasn't there....because Mrs. Linsdsey was STILL pregnant with her...which means you remembered something from over 20 months ago.......SERIOUSLY!!! Your memory is amazing and I hope it continues to grow and grow!
You are very independent. You always have been, and I know this won't be changing! If you can do it yourself...no matter how much longer it might take...you will do it alone. You are able to get your clothes, socks and shoes on with very little help. You have learned to spit after brushing your teeth and you love using toothpaste and fluoride rinse.
You breezed right through another dentist visit. You are always such a big boy at doctor's visits.
We are in the process of deciding if you need your tonsils removed. You and Daddy had to spend an entire night at MUSC for a sleep study - and you handled all the cords and electrodes like a champ!
Ready for your sleep study....when Daddy sent me these pictures I was SO worried you were freaking out but you actually did great! Even the technician commented on how well you had done for someone your age!
You do enjoy watching your share of TV shows or movies - but, if you aren't watching you are ACTIVE - so I'm okay with your daily TV fix. Usually you watch Disney in the mornings while we are getting ready and you enjoy an episode of Dora or Diego after school which usually falls while I'm getting dinner ready. I think you are so tired when you come home from school that you need that time to "rest" before continuing on with the night. Diego is probably your favorite and you amaze me with how interactive you are with the show. Once, you told us we needed a telescope to see something - we asked where you learned about a telescope (thinking it was a school) and you told us Diego had taught you. Your favorite movies are still Cars and Toy Story. You've already asked for Cars 2 for Christmas. We still don't own very many movies and you usually only watch a full movie while we're on a road trip.
You aren't always good - you spend a fair amount of time in time-out - which is usually effective for us. You bad behavior ranges from knocking your brother down, telling us "No," not listening to directions the first time, or just flat out doing something wrong. We've had to reinforce that you must not push, hit, tackle or otherwise knock down your little brother. Most of the time, you do one of these things in relation the sport you are "playing" but sometimes he's just in your way....and you tell us that! We've been working really hard on that lately.
You are a really good kid but very active - sometimes, I think your high energy comes across as bad behavior and I probably worry about this more than I need! "Boys will be boys!" I understand...but, loud, active boys make me anxious! I hope we are doing our best to keep your energy and your behavior in a good balance!
You are a sweet, sweet boy and you love your baby brother. You love to teach him things too - not just bad habits either! You are often telling him what objects are called or repeating to him how to say a word. If he is crying, you tell him it's okay and try to comfort him. You are so ready for him to be able to play with you.
You also love your family - every single member - grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins - and you ask about them often. You wish you could see KK play basketball, Carson play soccer, and Moses, Noah and Connor play football....and I wish you could too! You don't quite realize the impact of our four hour separation from most of them. You would love to see them every day....but you also love living in Mt P with all of your friends. One day you'll be old enough to understand this a little better!
Lots of love little "P,"
Mommy
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