Jasper's Big Three

jasper turned three years old yesterday at 6:26am. it really does seem like just one second ago he was crawling and cooing and now he's a walking, talking 3-year-old. amazing. he has accomplished much in this past year: he's mastered the art of babble and darn near everything that comes out of his mouth is clear and comprehensible; he is diaper-free - marking it the first time in almost 5 years that we will be a diaper-free household - and except for a small hang-up with the #2 end of things, he gets it; though we haven't enforced it, we have been able to get him to try a few bites of new foods simply because he's old enough now to negotiate. (he doesn't realize it yet, but his days of chicken nuggets are seriously numbered...like down to single digits).

anyway, our little boy is growing up and growing fast. he's sprouted to within about 1 inch of his sister's height and folks are often shocked that he's only two - well, three - because he's as tall as most of the pre-k'ers in annie's class.

and so yesterday was the big day. and jasper knew it. ask him what day it was and he'd say, "MY BIRTHDAY!" ask him how old he was and he'd show you his fingers and say, "FREE!" he was incredibly patient with presents. we let him open a couple in the morning and then we made him wait until party time. annie and jasper both helped me make the cupcakes and annie set the table up for the party all by herself. the cousins came over and mama lola and papa jack and we opened some more presents and had some cupcakes and ice cream and lemonade and then went outside and had a monster water balloon fight.

and as testament to how big annie is getting, she not once asked if there were any presents for her - fully understanding it was jasper's day. she was a good sister and a great sport and it paid off because jasper's biggest present was really a present for both of them - their own Gator!

you should see the comraderie between the two. jasper loves to drive but he can't steer very well, so annie mans the reverse shift and when jasper gets too close to a tree or something, she throws it in to reverse and tells him to go. if it's a real tricky jam, annie gets out and takes over driving and then once their clear gives the control back to jasper. without a fight. it's weird. but sweet. i really did think they'd throw down over it though, but nope, both are equally happy driving and riding along. annie thinks we need to pack the gator in the car next time we go to the farm so she and jasper can help mama with the chores.

jasper must have thought it was a pretty good day because, when he woke up this morning the first thing he said to me was, "It my birthday again?"