Happy Birthday, Joey!

Highlights from Joey's Third Year:

• Climbing and jumping. He's always on our kitchen table (a no-no) and is constantly trying out "big jumps" from various heights. He climbs onto Tommy's 14-inch bike that is way too big for him and rides for hours.


• Emptying everything. Closets, drawers, storage, spice collections, toiletries... You name it, he's emptied it. He fights boredom with excavation.


• Hugs and kisses. Joey is still sweet and cuddly. He still carries around his fuzzy yellow blankey, and even still does his "sucky baby face" (sucking on his inner lip or tongue for comfort--it's really cute.)


• Fear of dogs, even cute little puppies. He's afraid they'll eat him.


• Trains, cars, garbage trucks, construction, etc. He's a true boy, and he loves all of it. He also likes balls (he's got a strong arm!), legos, blocks, books, playing the piano, and most of all, digging in the sand.


• Swimming at the YMCA. Joey's fearless, even in the water. He likes to walk until it gets so deep that his feet float out from under him. He barrels through the water blowing bubbles. And he loves the water slides, sprinklers, and fountains.


• Favorite expressions: At dinner: "That's lucky, mom." (i.e., yucky). 50 times a day: "Did you know that?" At prayer: "Fold two arms, Tommy!"

We adore Joey. He's so much fun, and he loves to be at the center of attention, preferably making you laugh. He's a comic. He's strong-willed, independent, determined, and hillarious. As you can imagine, this made for some "terrible twos," and I'm sure the threes will be a challenge too. But we know that for each challenge, there is a reason to be grateful. Sometimes its like he's saying, "You against me, Mom? I'm going to win!" And that's frustrating. But then he also says, "You against me, bike that's way too big for me (or difficult toy or other obstacle)? I'm going to win!" And he does. We're so proud of him.