Three

Can someone please tell me where the past 3 years went? Yesterday Francesco turned 3 but it feels like yesterday I was looking at the + sign on the pregnancy test.

I remember sitting in the rocking chair, in the nursery the night I went into labor. I saw stars every 2 mins on the way to the hospital and cried tears of joy the moment I saw his beautiful face.

Since that day there has not been one dull moment of my life, literally. Francesco is energetic and that energy is 24/7. Ask anyone who knows him and they will confirm that statement. I didn't not know that you can actually survive 3 years without getting a full night sleep (LOL)!

I remember the day he first smiled, I thought to myself, "is there anything better?" Why yes, yes there is...the first time they laugh. It was my husband who made him laugh and we spent the rest of the day trying to make him laugh just because it was cute. I also remember sitting at home with him on a day off from work when he first sat by himself, he was wearing a "I Love Mom" shirt and I took about 100 picture of him. Crawling came soon after and then the day my life really changed for good...walking. He walked on Father Day, 2007 and he never looked back or stopped moving.

Then came the issue of talking. He wasn't much of an early talker. He was a doer and he made his needs known without any words at all. Even as he moved into Nursery One at school I was worried because his verbal skills were lacking. I said a few prayers that he would talk soon and I got what I asked for and then some. What's that saying..."Careful what you wish for!" Let's just say, I am no longer worried about his verbal skills and at time I wish he would give his voice box a little rest.

Gross motor skills were never and issue and I foresee some extreme sports in our future. He is fearless when it comes to physical abilities and he loves to go fast. Fast on the big wheel, fast in the power wheels, fast down the slide. He climbs all over my furniture and creates a mosh-pit with the cushions of the couch. We have been fortunate we have only had one set of stitches so far.

He amazes me his memory and now that I know he can recall so much it makes the not listening even harder to take. I love when we read books for bed and I will stop before the last sentence or word on a page and he recites it for me. The first time I realized he had memorized a book we were reading a "Cars" book. The books states, "Nothing would stop McQueen,"...and he said, "not even Chick Hicks and his mean tricks!" I was astonished. Then I realized he had the whole book memorized.

He is very affectionate and knows how to use it. If he know he is in trouble or if he is STALLING he will ask for "a hug" or I get, "Mommy, you my friend?" It so hard to stay angry at him when he wants to know if I am his friend and then wants a hug. Watch out girls, he will probably use that again when he is older.

He love to help and I find that the more jobs I give him the better. It's his job to put the lunches in the refrigerators at school. That give me time to settle his brother. He also is getting much better at cracking eggs when he helps me bake or make breakfast. We only eat a few shells now. He will help me carry stuff into school, especially if the stuff is cupcakes or donuts. He love to push his brother in the stroller and really does a great job. He no longer runs him into the walls now that he is tall enough to hold the handles and see where he is going. He will also help me put the clothes from the washer to the dryer, and he has to keep telling me that the clothes are wet. He tells me like it's information that need to know (this is one of those...you got to be there things, I am not good at describing).

He's got a few quirky behaviors that I chalk up to his "personality". He does not like thing on his hands, he insist on a napkin instead of a plate to put his snack on, his blanket has to be laid out across the bed and up to his armpits and Cesco bear has to be a the head of the bed above the pillow. I'm thinking a little OCD, we shall see. He also has a lot of my "high strung" personality. When he asks for something he expects either an immediate action or immediate response. That I am certain he gets from me. My mother said enough "I hope to God you get one just like you!" that it actually happened. We butt heads the most because we are so much alike {which also means he incredibly smart :-)}

I think my friend Chelle said it best... "He is my greatest achievement. He created me as a mom, he is my first, he has captured my heart."

Happy Birthday Francesco, thank you for making me your Mom. I love you!

I didn't get much chance over the weekend to take pictures, being the hostess (with the mostess) take so much time that I fell short on my picture taking duties.