I can't believe that you are a whole year older today, sweet boy! Three. Years. Old. THREE! It seems like yesterday that you were born and we were bringing you home from the hospital. You've been lighting up our lives and reminding us of hope since the second we found out you were growing inside of me, and watching you grow and learn and become so mature so quickly has been one of your daddy and my greatest joys.
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This past year has been a whirlwind for our family, and you have embraced so much change so gracefully. The highlights of this year for you were getting potty trained, going to the dentist for the first and second times, moving to a big boy bed, vacationing to Table Rock State Park, Great Wolf Lodge, and Myrtle Beach with your best bud, Maddox, seeing Sesame Street Live and Paw Patrol Live, hiking up to the top of Table Rock on my back (one of my proudest moments, by the way), plenty of other hiking, dressing up like Catboy for Halloween (alongside Gekko and Owlette, of course), and more. You've been even more adventurous this year than the last, and that's what we want for you always -- an increasing sense of adventure and thrill. Even in the simple, mundane moments.
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The biggest thing that happened this year, though, was that you became a big brother! And, buddy, you are the BEST big brother ever. You looked forward to welcoming your little sister for most of the year, and you've been showering her with kisses and love and hugs and more kisses since she came home. You're so patient and kind to her, which we would knew you would be, and we get so tickled when you talk to her. Your favorite phrase to say to her is, "You're so precious, Befany. Yes, you are!" It makes your daddy and I smile so big to watch you two love on each other. We hope you'll always think she hung the moon.
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You never stop talking or running or eating. Yep, those are your three favorite things. The first thing you say to me in the morning is, "Mommyyyy, I need something to eeeeeat." Usually, there is whining involved, too, but they say that's just part of your age (ha). As soon as you get some food in your belly, though, you're good to go. You would eat all day long if you could. And I don't mean snack all day -- I mean EAT. Yep, you definitely got your daddy's appetite.
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You pray for us at every meal, and hearing you sing your prayers melts my heart. You always wait to eat until we're all at the table with you, something that you've learned from watching your daddy and me, and it makes us so proud. Sometimes we tell you to go ahead and eat without us, and you usually insist on waiting -- unless you're really hungry. We hope that one day your wife will appreciate those good table manners (wink wink).
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We've got lots of celebrating planned in your honor today, and we're getting started as soon as you wake up. Then, after we've celebrated all day, we'll have the grand finale at Pump It Up with your friends! We have a feeling that this will be your most fun party yet, because you'll be jumping and running and playing and eating cupcakes with your best buddies. You are so loved, little dude, and your daddy and I will be beaming with pride as we watch you be the center of attention for a little while. You picked out your own birthday cake for the first time this year, and we'll go pick it up today before the party starts. As soon as you saw the picture of it, you screamed with joy and pointed and exclaimed, "This one! This one!" Yep, this will totally be your best birthday ever.
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Our prayer for you this year is that you continue to learn self-control. You are so sweet with a dash (maybe more) of strong-willed, and I know that one day you're going to do great things -- especially when you learn to control those impulses you have. You are wide open 99% of the time, which has been quite a doozy for me since your sister came home, but I love it. I really, really do. The last thing your daddy and I want to do is crush your spirit, especially when we're frustrated in the heat of the moment. And as you grow in self-control, our prayer for ourselves is that we continue to develop patience.
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As you embark on other year, we are so proud to go with you. To walk with you. To encourage you. To help you up when you stumble and fall. To have dance parties with you. To run and play outside with you. To teach you new things. To show you new places. To help you face your fears. To love you. And oh, how we love you.
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Happy birthday to you, Braxton Michael Bargeron! You've been making our lives better for three years now, and I am proud as can be to be your Mommy. Keep smiling that handsome smile, cool dude! Always, always, always keep smiling that smile.
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