A Letter To My Three Year Old

***This is mostly a post that I wrote for Dominick (and myself to have)...I don't expect most people to read this. Fair warning - it's rather lengthy so don't say I didn't warn you.!***

Dear Dominick,

I just cannot get over the fact that you're turning THREE. How is it possible that three years ago I gave birth to you, the most perfect and beautiful boy for me? I've been a momma for three years and that in itself doesn't seem possible. I can barely remember life before you. What did I do with my days? I'm not sure what I ever did to deserve you, but I'm so thankful for that. I never knew how incomplete I was until I met you three years ago. 

Nobody can make me as happy as you make me, nobody can make me smile and laugh like you can. You're so funny and LOVE to make others laugh. You have the craziest personality. You're seriously SWEET AS PIE, but that doesn't mean you don't have a little temper at times too, because you TOTALLY DO! I got to spend the majority of my days with you this past year. Ever since our PCS I have been a stay at home mom and I feel so lucky to have spent so much time with you. I'm glad that we finally got to do it. The days are long, but the years are quick. There were many days I didn't know how we were even going to make it to bedtime and then there were days that we had nonstop fun. I'm thankful for both. I'm going to be heading back into the working outside of the home world and you're going to head to preschool. I'm so excited for you and so sad for me. This past year I learned patience, understanding, how to forgive quickly and that when all else fails to just show love.You are the most incredible human being I've ever met.

This past year I learned how resilient you are. You stayed with Papa and Gigi for three weeks while your daddy and I moved from California to Ohio, you and I stayed in Michigan for three and a half months and then when we cam back to Ohio you did it flawlessly. You were happy no matter what and for that I'm so extremely thankful.

There have been many nights recently that I have just cried and cried. I cannot believe you're three. I'm totally not ready for that. Every day you change, learn and grow and while it's so, so, so exciting and rewarding it's also so bittersweet knowing that you're growing up. You often tell me that you're able to do something yourself, to stay where I am or that you don't want my help, but then there are times where you want me to hold you like a baby, carry you up the stairs every night and panic when you can't see or find me. 

You're INCREDIBLY independent. I always have people tell me how independent you are, especially being an only child. You love being around other kids and will always try to play or talk to them and when they don't always play back you're totally okay with that and go on to a new child or play by yourself. You call all kids friends even if you have never met them in your life. You ask to play with friends constantly so I have no doubt you're going to make lots of new little friends at "school". You're CONFIDENT and rarely scared of anything.You're ALL BOY ALL THE TIME! I get a lot of compliments on how well behaved you are and for the most part you really are. You challenge us every day and many times we feel like we're failing you, but those compliments can be really reassuring. You have an opinion of your own and you will tell us. When you're getting in trouble or after you've got in trouble you always request a hug. It's hard to turn you down while you're getting scolded or sitting in time out, but we are always there with open arms afterwards. You are incredibly inquisitive and always wonder how things work, how to fix things, what things are, etc.You are by far the SLOWEST and pickiest eater in all the land. We've started making you try everything that we eat and sometimes you do really good and other nights we sit at the table for over an hour. You have a huge heart and will ask us if we're okay or what's wrong, etc. if we cough, sneeze or see us upset/sad. You are hard headed and stubborn, but you are a super happy child and pretty easy to please. You have the most contagious smile and laugh and it's easy to do with you.

This year we didn't take as many adventures as we normally have, but we did make a lot of memories. We went to San Diego, Disneyland, you had your first trip to Pentwater and many, many day trips. I know you won't remember it all, but I hope it was a fun year for you.

Right now you still love anything that goes, but you're still a HUGE fan of trains. You also love dinosaurs which is kind of funny to me. You love baseball, playing catch with a football and shooting hoops. You're a water baby and love to go swimming, play at the splash pads and in your water table. You don't mind to play in the snow, but you really aren't a winter fan and you hate the rain (minus the one time I let you run, jump and play in the puddles/rain).You love your doggies and they're more than patient enough with you. You love to ride your balance bike and your tricycle (he has a tricycle to teach him to pedal, but we will be taking off the back wheels soon to teach him to ride a big kid bike). You LOVE being outside. You are obsessed with your Papa and Gigi and always ask to see them or when you can go to their house.

You are SO smart! You know colors like it's your job, your alphabet (visually and by saying/singing them) and you can count to 15. You know more animals than I can think of and their sounds, your left and your right, how to put your shoes on (the right foot 95% of the time) and you're 98% daytime potty trained. Recently we've been working on writing our letters, but have only made it to letter "B" so far. You know the pledge of allegiance by heart and you know Sunday-Tuesday and Friday-Saturday for the days of the week. You can read at least two books, The Very Hungry Caterpillar and The Big Green Monster (from memory). You say many words in Spanish, some words in Korean, can still sign the words we taught you as a baby and obviously your first language is English. You are constantly pointing things out to us that you know when we are out or driving and it's so fun. Seeing the world through your eyes has changed my life.

I pray for you every single day. I pray for your heart and that it still remains happy and full. I pray for your future; that you're successful in all aspects of life - love, happiness, educationally and professionally. I pray for your future wife; that she is able to be your better half and that you're able to have a wonderful, HAPPY life together and the family that you create together. I pray for your health and everything that comes with it. I pray for your friends and that you are able to be a leader rather than a follower and that you're able to pick good friends...lasting friendships, real friends. I pray that you live life to the fullest, take advantage of opportunities given to you or that come your way, that you live life gracefully and appreciatively. I pray that you continue to be strong, to never give up on something you want or believe in and that you never turn your back to the ones you love. I pray that you don't give into temptation and that you're able to see the good in others, things and the world that surrounds you. I pray that you're always resilient, confident and appreciative. I pray that you continue to be loving, that you continue to thrive, for the adventures you go on and for the man that you're one day going to be. 

Brown bear, I love you more than ever. I cannot thank God enough that he trusted ME to be your mom. I'm the luckiest mom in the world that you are mine and I'm yours. You make all of my days happier and brighter. These days are going by so quickly that I wish I could bottle the Dominick you are right now up. I hope I never forget your chubby feet and hands and the pitter patter through the house, the way you call for me in the middle of the night or in the morning/after nap, I hope I never forget what it feels like to cuddle you at this age. I hope I always remember your squeals of excitement, your cries when you're in need, your laugh and most of all your innocence. I hope you know that I never take you or our time together for granted, that you never question our love for you and that you always know you're perfect just the way you are. The tantrums and your stubbornness are tough, but I'm so proud of the little boy you are becoming. I'm so grateful for you.

Love,

Momma