Jase Update: 3 Years Old!

My sweet baby turned 3 years old on May 8th! I can’t think of a sweeter way to spend Mother’s Day than celebrating the sweetheart who made me a mama.

Every new phase becomes my favorite and it is so much fun seeing all the new things he is learning.

He can pretty much communicate anything and blows us away with some of the things he says. The other day he told me a stop sign is an octagon and spelled out “S-T-O-P.” They are paying attention even when you think they aren’t!

He has really impressive problem solving skills. He definitely gets that from his daddy.

He loves riding his tricycle when we are outside and his Big Wheel inside.

He is ALL boy.

Jase loooooves to run- and specifically to be chased. And now you know why this momma needs her Spark! He would run all day if he could and his favorite thing is to be chased. We run laps around our house.

He went fishing for the first time and caught his first fish!! He was so tickled!

He goes through phases where he picks a certain food he eats every day, Sometimes an apple, sometimes a bar. He’s not doing as great eating vegetables anymore, but he will drink green juice and smoothies, so he still gets them in. He’s a great little helper.

He likes to play on our bed and hide in all the pillows and build forts. He also likes to pretend he’s asleep and fake snore.

He is a little over 3’3” and 37 lbs. He is wearing 3T/4T clothes and size 10/10.5 shoe. He is a giant! He says “Mom I’m big and tall and strong.” I know everyone thinks he is older than he is. I do think he’s smart and mature for his age, but I still try to remind people of his age because everyone thinks he’s four or five.

He had a slightly infected ear at one of his appointments but I decided to not give him the antibiotic. I tried to completely cut sugar from his diet, took him to the chiropractor, and found an oil at a natural health food store and applied that for a couple weeks. It healed itself.

He really enjoys playing with his cars and trucks. There is no shortage of matchbox cars around here!

He pretends he is a monster truck, tractor, airplane, and firetruck. His imagination is AWESOME.

He has the cutest little voice! I hope it’s engrained in my memory forever because I never want to forget. It is the SWEETEST.

He got to feed a calf a bottle.

He ADORES his friends, cousins, grandparents, and aunts.

He is super tight with Daddy & I love that he’s his little shadow. He is learning from the BEST about how to be a MAN.

He picks a book he loves to read and obsesses over it. We have to read the same book before every nap and bedtime for WEEKS. A few of his faves have been a book about a little girl named Annie, a Dr. Suess book about a dinosaur, a book about Clifford at Thanksgiving, and an Usborne book about a squirrel. SAME book over and over. He’s got a few of them memorized.

We have also had a few episodes of him testing us. We are working on it. Still working on first time obedience too. Normal toddler stuff but we are trying to stay firm and consistent to nip it in the bud. I know being united, consistent, and firm are so important in training him up right now.

He stutters sometimes when he gets excited.

He has started asking WHY a million + times a day.

We have had an issue with him getting out of bed at naptime and bedtime. I think the issue is when he has to go to the bathroom, but when we leave his bathroom door open he goes out through brother’s room and comes downstairs. We recently put his little potty upstairs in his room and hope that does the trick. A few different times he has tried to “clean up his own poop” and it hasn’t ended well. 9 million baby wipes & some poop in the carpet later…ay yi yi.

He likes to sleep with his lamp on.

Some days (many days) he tries to fight nap time. He’ll tell me before we go upstairs, “Mom, I don’t want to go night night. Five more minutes, Mom. Wait till it’s 5:00.” We stay consistent and eventually he falls asleep and takes a great nap. He gets grumpy if he’s overly tired or hungry. (Don’t we all?)

He really likes to play outside. He got a new swing set from Pop & Jimmy for his birthday. Unfortunately he gets motion sick on the swing if he swings too much, so hopefully he’ll grow out of that. (He threw up the other day at the park after too much swinging. It was so pitiful and he said, “Mom, I’m so sorry I threw up mom. I’m so sorry.” Broke my heart.)

We try to keep him outside as much as possible because It’s crazy how addictive screens can be! If we’re in the car or at a restaurant, he wants to be watching something. We go out to eat 1-2 times a week (usually with our parents), and Jonathan lets him watch videos on his phone. I personally don’t like that but know I have to pick my battles. I’m trying to break him of it.

He helps me make lemonade, snacks, and put away dishes, but spends way more time helping daddy around the house. Jon has taught him how to use most tools and he even used a drill to put a screw in a piece of wood. He likes to help dig holes, water plants, etc. I love watching them work together and Jase LOVES to help!  Jon is so patient and great about letting him be a part of everything and learn.

He asks “May I be excused please?” when he’s done eating and we are working on taking his dishes to the trash/sink.

When he whines about something, he does not get it. He has to ask “May I have ____, please?”

He really enjoys playing in water. We are going to give swim lessons another go.

I think his hair is getting darker. Boo!

He is the sweetest big brother and is so precious with Kade. They have really started playing together now that Kade can crawl.  I LOVE watching them make each other laugh!! I pray they have a close relationship and tell them every day they’re best friends. Speak life, right?

We taught him how to catch a baseball with a glove and how to ride a bicycle with training wheels. At Wal-Mart. (Redneck, much?)

He loves to take a bath.

He calls us out if we have a bad attitude or tone. The other day he told Jonathan “Daddy, don’t talk like that. I love you too much.” I tell him I love him too much to let him act ugly, so he’s just repeating me.

He is always very concerned if someone gets a boo boo. He’s pretty tough & RARELY cries, but if he gets hurt he does like talk about it and get a band-aid.

He rode a camel for the first time!

He knows exactly what he wants. He is very independent.

Jase- Your smile lights up a room! You are such a sweet guy and I am so thankful I get to be your mom and watch you grow. You bring us so much joy. I feel like a broken record saying that, but it’s so very true. I have such excitement about watching you grow into the man God intends for you to become and I can’t wait to see how you change this world for the better. I tell you all the time that you are a leader and a champion and a child of God. I ask you if you know I love you and that I’m so proud to be your mom, and you always say yes. You are so very loved, my sweet boy.