The Treadway Chronicles: Connor turns 3 years old!

Connor turned 3 on June 19th. What a big boy.

At his three year doctor appointment, Connor continued to be on the tall and big side. At 40 pounds 3 ounces, he was over the 95th percentile and at 39 inches tall he was at the 90th percentile. Since he's always been big, my doctor didn't see any cause for alarm and she said he looked very healthy and proportionate. He really is just a stocky kid.

Although it sounds kind of weird to say, I thought this doctor's appointment was kind of cool and fun. I don't normally describe going to the pediatrician as fun, but it was the first time Connor was weighed, measured, and tested like a big boy. For example, he actually had to pee in a cup and take a urine sample like a big boy. No more little apparatus they stick to him in his diaper. Also, he stood on a real scale (not laying down on one) and he had to stand against a measuring stick, versus getting his height measured on the exam table parchment paper stuff. He also got a vision screen where he had to identify pictures he could see from a distance. They said he has 20/30 vision, which is average for his age. He also got a hearing test and passed in both ears. It was also fun to see him do the agility tests that the Dr. had him do like jumping and doing different things with his arms. She thought he was a really sweet boy and usually he is. :)

Oh and he didn't get a single shot, but he did get a finger prick and wouldn't you know it, my tough boy didn't even cry. The nurse told him it was like a mosquito bite and when she pricked him he looked kind of startled but didn't cry and then when she started pushing out the blood for the test strip, he started smiling in a "wow, that's cool" sort of way. He said, "Look at the paint." I mean, to be honest, I still think finger pricks hurt, so I was very impressed with his toughness. She gave him a Captain America sticker afterwards, so all was right with the world.

As far as Connor in a nutshell, I think he is a pretty typical 3 year old. He is definitely trying to assert his independence and likes to be a little director (as in telling us what to do all the time). He likes to go first and try to do everything himself. Unfortunately though, he can get frustrated easily and fly off the handle. That's not fun. He can also be pretty winy, but Jeff and I try our best not to give in to his appeals.

Ok, so with that said, he can also be a bundle of cuteness and sweetness. He can be the most jolly little boy I've ever seen. He can also be the sweetest. For example, last night at dinner, he said "This food is yummy. Thank you Mommy." Jeff and I just looked at each other and I almost died. So sweet. Also, when he is having fun with a friend or with me and just laughing and smiling, it's contagious and adorable. He can just be so silly and full of life.

His language skills are such a big help these days. Of course some of his words are used to say, "No" or "Stop that," a majority of the time they really help him communicate with us effectively. He also has a lot more fun phrases like, "how bout that", "back in the game", "I've got an idea," "Wow," "Are you serious?", "No thanks," "Pretty cool," "Here's an idea," and many more that I can't think of right now. It's just cool that he can carry on full conversations and of course he still has a baby dialect that Jeff and I can understand best (yellow is "yayo"), but I am still pretty impressed by his language skills.

Since Jeff has been getting home later from work and our dinner time is now closer to 7pm, Connor's bed time has been pushed back to about 8:30 most nights. We start the bedtime process for both kids around 8pm. It is good, but it seems like our evenings are so short now, because sometimes Avery doesn't get settled to bed until almost 9:30 pm. Oh well, hopefully that will fade with time. Connor usually gets up around 7:30am and if we're lucky naps from about 2pm to 5pm. He has been fighting his nap or not taking a nap at all lately and it's a real challenge, especially when I expected him to nap and I planned on getting something done and he doesn't nap. I know it's pretty common at this age, but I just wish he'd nap more consistently.

Connor is still a pretty picky eater and each night we make him a separate meal from what Jeff and I are eating. Sometimes he eats like a champ and other nights he won't eat at all. It's frustrating, but we are trying not to push him too hard, because they say that just makes it worse. It's easier said than done, but we keep offering him vegetables and always try to get him to take bites of what we have, but he is still very picky. We're not giving up yet.

He has been in underwear since March I think and is still doing well. He continues to have accidents, but for the most part he is staying dry throughout the day. It is still a struggle to get him to go potty though, which is really frustrating, because it just doesn't make sense why he fights it so much. It takes 2 minutes and then you're done. For some reason, it just always seems like this huge imposition in his busy day. Granted, sometimes he tells me he has to go or he is very willing to go, but most times it's like pulling teeth, especially right when he gets up or after naps.

He is still very interested in sports and right now I honestly don't think he has a favorite sport. He likes them all and seems to excel at them all. He can throw a football clear across the room and punt it too. He can hit a golf ball straight and far. He can shoot a basketball in the hoop. He can hit a pitched ball and when he makes contact it goes really far. He can also serve a tennis ball. He's pretty well rounded and he seems to enjoy them all. He also sometimes just likes to run. We play a game where he toots his recorder horn and we run races from the living room to the front door and back again. He loves it. Let's just say, he's all boy. Of course he likes trucks and is just starting to show an interest in dinosaurs, but sports are his main interest for sure.

As is common with this age, he is also getting a lot more into imaginary play. He likes to have his stuffed animals play games with us or he'll make up scenarios in our games. We also play with our toy food from time to time and make meals and feed his toys.

Connor still really loves singing the Michigan fight song and he will sometimes put different words to the Michigan Fight Song tune. For example he'll sing, "Hail to the Mommy Mommy" or not use any of the actual words at all, just the tune. Or sometimes he'll be singing a different song and then it magically transitions into the Michigan Fight Song. It's kind of funny. He likes the Aggie War Hymn too, but it always comes back to the Michigan Fight Song for some reason.

This past weekend we had Connor's third birthday party at Iron Cross Gymnastics, where he takes a weekly gymnastics class. There were about 10 of his friends who attended and they all had a blast. At first they did a one hour gymnastics class. Afterwards we went upstairs and had food and cake. Upstairs we had a pirate theme, because Connor loved Pirate Day at school and to hear him say, "Argh Matey" is really adorable. I think the birthday boy had a blast. Enjoy the photos! I can't believe our baby boy is three.

On Connor's actual birthday, I just bought individual slices of cake from the grocery store so we could sing to him. Here he is patiently awaiting his birthday cake. I have a video of us singing and him showing you how he says he's three with his fingers. It's pretty funny. It's not how you normally show three, but hey, he's unique.

Opening presents from Mommy and Daddy and his grandparents.

He got a mini trampoline and loved it.

Before the guests arrived we took some pictures of the pirate party. Connor was very excited to check it all out.

Pirate party favors.

Pirate birthday cake. It was so hot that day, the cake melted a little in the car. Oh well. It was still really tasty.

I added some iron on's to his pirate shirt. Now it's official. He's three.

Our big three year old ready to party.

Enjoying the trampoline at his party.

Stretching with his friends and one of the coaches.

What balance.

Swinging across on the rope.

Now doing some jumping on the long narrow trampoline into a foam pit.

Balloon and parachute time.

Can you tell how happy Connor is?! My goodness.

After the class the kids ate food and cake. Connor got a special pirate hat and the kids got hats made of paper. I brought a face paint marker and decorated the kids faces too. Connor loved being a pirate.