Liam at 3 years

We had Liam's three year well check this week and he is doing great.  The doctor was pleased with his speech progress as well and he seemed on track with all of his other milestones.  He weighs 37lbs which is in the 90th percentile and is 38.5 inches tall which is in the 75th percentile.

The doctor was running a bit late, so we had plenty of time to watch the cars and trucks on the highway to pass the time.



Here is a bit about Liam at three:

• He's become quite the mommy's boy.  I'm not argueing, but I do feel a little bad when he won't let Scott get him out of bed because he wants me to do it. 
• He says 'I want you mommy'.  Melt my heart - this would be a good time to ask for a pony...or a car...
• He wants to do everything his big brother does, and when Ms. Paula asked him if Karsten was his best friend, he enthusiastically said 'YES!'
• He intentionally antagonizes his brother and loves every minute of it.  He'll make faces at Karsten or get in his space until Karsten tattles, then Liam will put on an innocent face and said "no meeee!"
• The other night at dinner, the boys were argueing over who got to say the prayer before dinner. We told them Karsten could go first, then Liam could go (Liam had said it the previous night).  While Karsten was saying his prayer, Liam was quietly saying his own prayer (Open close, open close...give clap).  When I looked at him and shook my head, he just smiled.  
• He tells us 'You the greatest, '
• He likes to say 'Play me '.  How could you resist this? 
• He's starting to assert his independence more in what he does and doesn't want to eat.  He's picked up some of Karsten's manerisms of saying 'BLEH' when he thinks he will not like something, but our rule is that you have to try one bite.  Often, after he takes a bite, he exclaims 'I LIKE IT!' Sigh - big kudos to you parents out there who have these picky eating battles every.single.meal.  
• He uses his left and right hand interchangably. It will be interesting to see how this changes as he continues to grow up.  
• He loves playing with an old Fisher Price Farm and House that were mine when I was a little girl.  The animals and little people provide endless fun for him - it's fun to see all of the creative scenarios that his imagination comes up with.  
• He likes to shake his booty and dance.  Just ask - he'll show you.  
• He likes to be carried upstairs to bed by his toes, but so does his brother, so they have to take turns. 
• Wakes up a happy little guy - he definetely inherited Scott's morning mood.  
• While is speech is doing much better, there are still some sounds missing.  We were talking about hair color in the car the other day and how mommy and Karsten have blond hair and Daddy and Liam have brown hair.  At dinner that night, Liam proudly announced 'Daddy, you have back hair." I almost choked on the bite of food in my mouth as I started to laugh. 
• He does not like milk or almond milk.  Even when I made a smoothie with almond milk, he'll take a drink then frown and say 'I no like this'.  He loves cottage cheese and string cheese, so we get his calcium in with those.  
• He is still a big fan of 'oh ho', aka Jake and the Neverland Pirates. 
• He is doing a great job drinking out of a 'big boy cup' at meals.  We have had a few spills, but that's all part of the process.  
• He's slowly getting more interested in potty training.  He'll go potty before he takes a shower and sometimes after his nap.  We need to start talking about it more and having a concerted effort.  
• He likes to draw while Karsten colors or does his 'homework'.  
• Can be a bit shy when he meets new people, but quickly warms up to them.  
• Has a silly voice that he likes to use to say things fast.  When we remind him to talk like Liam, he will say it in his normal voice.  
• Enjoys having special days with Grandma (and Papa) when Gail is closed (much to Karsten's chagrin).  
• Each day on our commute he watches for where the moon and sun are at.  When he couldn't see the sun the other evening, he asked where it went and I explained that it was going down but it was behind clouds.  He pretended to cry and said 'I miss the sun, I want him back'. One morning, I commented on how pretty the sunrise was and he said 'Sun did that. Sun painted sky'.  Why yes, yes it did.
• He enjoys taking Karsten to school each morning.  He marches into the school with Karsten and goes right in to see his friend Ms. Sharon to get a snack baggie with cereal.  Before we leave, he gives Karsten a hug and high five, then blows Ms Sharon a kiss.  He should be comfortable when it's turn to go there!