Three Years Old

Dear Levi,

Where in the world has the time gone?  I cannot believe that you are THREE years old!

In the past year, we have watched you go from a toddler into a rough and tumble little boy!  You talk all the time, you remember every word we say and every thing we do, and you are curious about everything!

Some of your favorite things right now:
- Any car, truck or train
- Curious George
- Cherry tomatoes, avocado, and any fruit- especially "bamanas" and applesauce.  You also love pretzels and chips- really any "snack" item!
- Making noises and singing songs
- Running everywhere you go- When I pick you up from bible class on Wednesday night, you walk out of your classroom saying "I wanna run!" and usually you do (which makes things difficult on your very pregnant momma!)
- Dr. Seuss books- these are Daddy's favorite too!
- "Why?"- you always ask this question with a very distinct tone
- You love to watch TV (and would probably watch it all day long if we let you)
- Playing games on our phones and the iPad (something else you'd do all day long if we let you!)

I love watching you play with your cars and trucks.  You have such a good imagination and make the best "car" noises!  You have acquired quite a collection of vehicles, and you are usually very specific with which ones you want to play with at different times.

You love to read (and not just at bedtime when you're stalling!)  You love Dr. Seuss, Curious George, and Brown Bear, Brown Bear.  You have this book memorized.  I love listening to you flip through the pages reading it on your own, but you love for us to read Brown Bear together (and I do too!).  I read the first part, and you read the second part.

You can be quite a stinker sometimes.  You definitely have a mind of your own, and you aren't afraid to say what you think!  You love to tell us no, and sometimes you'll say uh-uh or shake your head just so you don't get in trouble for actually using the word 'no'.  If you don't like what we're saying, you'll bury your head or pretend to ignore us.  Lately when we've told you no or gotten on to you, you run to your bean bag, bury your head and scream "oh not again!"

You love bath time.  It's your time with Dad.  They seem to relax you, and sometimes you'll request them before naps or when you're really tired or worked up.  Dad quizzes you on your numbers and letters, sings you silly songs, and races boats with you.  After bath time you love to run around the house naked.  You run laps giggling and screaming "Nah Nah you can't catch me!"  We don't try- we usually just let you burn off a little more energy before bed while we watch and laugh.

You keep us laughing with the things you say!  You pick up on everything we say and you never forget things.  Somethings you will bring things up (that happened months ago), and it takes us a while to figure out exactly what you're talking about- but you know just what you want to say!

On your birthday morning, Daddy and I woke you up early and sang to you.  You sat up quickly, stopped us, and said, "No!  I'm not 3 yet!"  When we told you that you were 3 and that today was your birthday you said, "Ok.  Keep singing!"

Levi, you are such a joy and you bring so much happiness and laughter to our lives.  You are a curious, determined little boy, and we love you to pieces!

Love,
Mommy and Daddy

Birthday Party

We decided to celebrate Levi's birthday a few weeks early in hopes that we wouldn't be too close to Baby Brother's birthday!  I went to the doctor the day before the party, and she said she didn't think I'd make it through the weekend.  My goal was to make it through the party...Here I am a week later...still pregnant.   :)  I am very thankful to have been able to enjoy a special day for Levi though!

We had his party at the park this year, and I think it worked out great!  We had a cold front come through the day before, so it was much chillier than I had expected, but it didn't stop us from celebrating!  The kids decorated pumpkins and spent time running and playing.  We had sandwiches, cupcakes, and Levi's favorite- applesauce!  

Leading up to the party, Levi was so excited about having his friends come to the park and sing Happy Birthday to him.  In typical 3-year old fashion, he was also very excited about the presents!  He has spent lots of time playing with his new toys and has loved each and every one of them!

Levi has been learning about the calendar at Misty's house and knows that his birthday is October 16th.  After the party, we tied his big golden "3" balloon to his chair, but he has been very concerned about it.  Every night he tells me, "I'm not 3 yet!  Take the balloon down!"  

We were so thankful to have lots of family and friends there to help us celebrate with us!

September

September was kind of a blur.  Between getting back into our school routine, getting the house ready for Baby, and just being plain exhausted, we've been kind of boring.  Here are a few pictures from my phone: 

Levi the ghost

 Playing in the garden at Daddy's favorite restaurant

 Lots of coloring and indoor activities (so Mommy can sit on the couch!)

 Our very own (blurry) Superhero!

 Climbing "mountains"  He got up there and said, "Mommy!  I can barely see you!  You're so far away I think I need my binoculars!" 

Surviving Back to School

This school year is off to a great start, but by the time I get home, I'm exhausted! I've been able to manage dinner, but once that's done so am I!

This is what my living room looks like most nights when Mat gets home:

Purdy

Levi has a new friend- Purdy.  Purdy is a blue, yellow, and orange bird (sometimes specifically a duck or an owl) that lives in the bird houses on our entertainment center.  Sometimes Purdy travels in Levi's pocket or eats dinner with us.  Purdy really likes meatloaf and requested more the other night!  Purdy even traveled with us on our recent trip to Maryland- apparently Purdy likes to fly beside the airplanes.  (Luckily he didn't get sucked into our engine!)

Last night, I overheard Levi telling Mat that Purdy is now Harold the Monster...

Machines

Levi has always been fascinated with how things work.  Last year at the sculpture garden in Minnesota, he spent most of the time trying to figure out how the lights worked.  This past Christmas he got a set of magnetic gears that he loves, and he still loves to inspect machines and cords.  

Lately he's been excited about creating his own machines.  The other day he used play dough, a rolling pin and some cookie cutters to build a machine that made butter.  He is always very specific when he describes his machines and talks about the levers, gears, and buttons.  

Here he is describing his latest creation:

(Every time we watch this, he corrects me when I say "It makes jelly!"  He says, "No Mommy, the jelly just comes out!)

Happy Birthday Uncle Clayton!

This year we celebrated Uncle Clayton's 30th birthday with a trip to Maryland.  We were all excited, but Levi had been talking about flying on a plane again for a while.  He would tell anyone who would listen that he was going on "bacation to Maryland."  Mat had to spend the first part of the week working, so Levi and I headed out with the rest of the family.

A view of our house from the beach

I was worried- we had just barely gotten the hang of the whole potty training thing, I was 29 weeks pregnant (and tired!), and Levi was having some very "two year old" moments- but we survived and had a great time.  Levi did great on the plane ride there.  Gran was impressed with Mommy's bag of tricks, and Levi enjoyed the new books, toys, and lots and lots of snacks.

We spent most of the day Monday in Annapolis at the Naval Academy.   I loved Annapolis.  It was so quaint, and it looked like it was straight out of a history book.  The academy was absolutely beautiful.  We saw lots of boats, enjoyed the beautiful buildings, toured the beautiful chapels, and even watched lunch formation which was impressive.

Tuesday we headed to the National Aquarium.  We had heard great things about it, and I thought Levi would love it.  His two favorite things from the day were the escalators and the large pictures of fish they had hanging throughout the building.  If you ask him about it now, he talks about all of the things he loved seeing- the sting rays, giant turtle, alligator, the little blue fish he chased- so I know he enjoyed it on some level.  :)  After the aquarium we ate lunch at Phillips (thanks to a recommendation from a friend) and all enjoyed it!  Poor Mat missed out (and he heard about it for the rest of the week...)

Wednesday we headed into Washington D.C.  This was one of the things I was most looking forward to, but it was a tough day.  It was hot...really hot...especially for the toddler and the pregnant lady!  We walked through the mall and saw lots of memorials and monuments.  While they were all impressive, I think my favorites were the WWII memorial and the Lincoln memorial.  Levi liked the Lincoln memorial as well and wanted me to read every word of the Gettysburg Address to him  (I paraphrased...)  On our way back to the car, Levi had a heat-induced melt down about a stick he had dropped.  He was so upset he made himself sick.  Mommy was stressed, Levi was S-C-R-E-A-M-I-N-G (and I was worried he might be on the verge of holding his breath until he passed out), and we were all unsure about just what to do and how to help him.  Gran and Grandad came to the rescue with a fruit popsicle, and once Levi had some cold sugar pumped into his little body he calmed down.

WWII Memorial

Lincoln Monument

Happy Levi (after his popsicle!)

After lunch we headed to Arlington National Cemetery.  It was still hot...and all uphill but absolutely beautiful and very moving.   We walked through the cemetery and up towards the Kennedys grave sites.  Along the way we saw several funeral processions and watched a 21 gun salute.  Levi impressed me throughout the trip, but particularly this afternoon.  While we stopped to watch, Levi sat (for the most part) and whispered quietly.  Our next stop was the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier for the changing of the guard, but after walking a little ways uphill towards the tomb, I decided Levi and I probably wouldn't make it.  I needed a cool spot to sit down, and I was pretty sure we had seen our moments of quiet reverence from Levi already.  Although I was disappointed to miss it, the cool air in the lobby and water were a welcome relief for both of us!

Mat flew in Wednesday night.  We were all glad to see him!  I was glad for him to finally have a few days off and glad to have his help.  :)  Thursday was a busy day, but I think most of us would agree that it was one of our favorite days!  One of the things Uncle Clayton really wanted to do was to spend some time out on a sailboat.  He arranged for us to go out with Captain Phil on his sailboat for the morning, and it was so much fun!  He took us around the harbor in Baltimore and had lots of interesting tid bits about sailboats and the city.  Levi had a good time except for the fact that he had constant hand holding from one of the 6 adults.  He was not a fan but he survived.  :)

After our morning on the water we had time for a quick nap and then we headed back to D.C. for a baseball game.  No Kelso Family Vacation is complete without a baseball game!  We had great seats, the Nationals won, and Levi did GREAT!  He stayed in his seat (well...our row of seats...) the entire time and enjoyed eating, playing with the chairs, and more eating.  It was a great night!

Friday morning was a relaxed morning (and one of my favorites).  Our house was right on the water.  We had a private beach as well as two kayaks and a canoe to use.  Levi loved playing in the sand and splashing in the water.  We took turns going out on the boats, and Levi even had has first trip out on a kayak.  When he and Mat came back in, Levi was helping paddle.  I asked him if he had fun, and he said, "Yes, but I'm a little disappointed because I got in trouble!"  Apparently Daddy was a little worried that Levi's desire to help might actually tip them over!

 Working hard on his sand castle

Saturday we spent the day in Delaware (with the rest of the eastern coast apparently!)  We spent a few hours exploring the area, and then headed to the beach.  It was packed!!!  I'm not sure I've ever been to a beach that was that crowded.  We didn't stay for very long, but Levi enjoyed digging a large hole in the sand with Daddy, making a sand castle and running from the waves.  He would venture out into the water, and then as soon as a wave would start to come in, he'd turn around and run yelling, "Get away!!  It's coming!!"

We had a wonderful week!  We are so thankful to be able to make such fun memories with our family.