He's 3!

Yeah, so apparently the Hiltpold family blog has turned into the twice a year birthday blog.  Whatev - lets just go with it.

So as you may have guessed - we have a birthday in the house...holla!  My baby is 3!  THREE I SAID!   Three means no more baby.  Three means a big boy bed.  Three means mommy is pondering where all the time went...

So, a few weeks ago, I went against my better judgement and personal preferences and enrolled you and your brother in a two day a week mother's day out "school" program.  Well, kind of.  Cade gets to go two days a week, but you only go one.  Kind of a calculated move on my part.  I didn't really want you in school at all, but I was pretty sure if Cade was going, you would be SURE you needed to go too.  But the truth is, being the second born, you have NEVER spent any time alone with me.  You two have always done EVERYTHING together.  Kinda cool, but everyone deserves some special Mommy time.  So Tuesday's are our days.  And I love Tuesdays.  But baby...YOU love Tuesdays more.  You start asking the night before...making sure you aren't going to school.  Making sure you are "staying home with Mommy".  And in the morning as we are getting ready, you will periodically make sure nothing has changed...that we are just taking Cade to school and then we will spend the day just you and me.  And we do.  And it's awesome.  We get errands done.  We have special treats (eh hem...starbucks pumpkin loaf).  We ride the carousel at the mall.  We live it up.  And you are so sweet and mostly agreeable and I just want to take in every minute with you.

One of the things I've grown to notice about you lately is your determination.  You started not wanting to go to school a few weeks ago.  Easy enough for me...I never really wanted you to go in the first place. ;).    Crap...wrong Mommy response.  I think I'm suppose to make you go or something.  OK, take 2.  So while it's OK to not go to school, I do actually believe that has to be a decision made by your Dad and me...not you.  Sorry dude.  So I explain and you cry and I eventually get you there and you muster up this brave determination that you're going to do what you have to do.  You head into the room - stone faced.  Turn back to me and run all out, tears in eyes, quivering chin...hug me around the neck and say "I love you Mommy", turn and run back into the room....NO TEARS.  Shoot - now I'm the one crying.  It's like you just decided and it was done.  Not easy.  Not what you would choose.  Just done.

And Friday night, you got your big boy bed.  After our experience with your brother, we knew it could be a hard transition from the crib to the bed, so we left it in your room so you could choose where you slept until your were comfortable.  Just as a reference point, it took Cade two weeks and much coaxing to transition to his bed.  But you - you determined little thing.  "Mommy, can I sleep in my big boy bed?"  You must have asked 5 times.  I of course said yes every time, knowing that you would, in the end, choose the crib.  Crap, I hate it when I'm wrong.  at bedtime you climbed right in.  didn't move a muscle all night.  I know.  I watched on the monitor until you fell asleep and then periodically throughout the night.  I could see in your eyes the slight feeling of "I'm not sure about this", but you made up your mind.  Done.  And the next night ...done.  You, my friend are determined.  Stubborn maybe - I guess my perspective depends on if you are being obedient or not.  But I love it.  And I love you.

Oh - and have I mentioned that you're hair is getting CURLIER?!??!?!  Oh my, I'm so in love with it.  You are cute as a bug with your chipped/crooked/adorable teeth, curly hair and killer smile.  I'm still just as smitten with you as ever.  And even though this is your last birthday blog as the baby of this family...remember - You will ALWAYS be my baby!!!

Happy birthday Colie - Pie!

Here we go again

So it's happened again.  Another year has passed and I find myself sitting at my computer thinking of you.  Your birth.  Your life.  All the things about you that are so amazing.  And maybe a couple that drive me crazy.  But mostly the amazing ones.

Cade-y Pie...as the clock strikes midnight tonight, your birthday officially begins.  Not that it really matters because we've been celebrating for two days straight...but in about 30 minutes I can no longer say I have a three year old son.  Nope...I have a 4 year old.  Wow.  Kind of blows me away.  4.  It's so...not a baby anymore.  Not even a toddler really.  4.  Really.  4.

So here we go...my annual list of the things I like MOST about you {currently} ;)

First I want you to know that your kind heart - and what appears to already be a heart for God is such a blessing to me.  When I explain to you hard to understand, biblically based concepts about why we should have a generous and compassionate heart, you seem to (mostly) get it and adjust your actions accordingly.  Of course we aren't 100% there, but it's amazing, really.  You seem to grasp things beyond your years and honestly, that's super helpful to me.  I'm not great at lowering expectations...I kind expect you to get it all right away and that's my fault.  But you really do get a lot.  and I love that.  And the fact that you told me you were willing to "stay 3" because I wanted you to stay my baby forever melts my heart.  You told me that you really wanted to turn 4, but you agreed to stay 3 for me.  If only I could make that reality...but then I would miss out on watching you turn into the man God has called you to be.  And I wouldn't dare miss that.

 I also super, super love that you are willing to try things...over and over...even though we already know you don't like them.  I call it the "pickles and tomato" theory.  Your brother (ie: your best friend) LOVES pickles and tomatoes.  Loves them.  You...not so much.  And I can totally deal with that as I have an aversion to tomatoes myself.  There's a great story to accompany that.  Ask YaYa.  I digress.  SO, the rule I've always had for you is that we have to try things...and if it goes in our mouth it doesn't come back out. You don't have to eat it again if you really don't like it, but we will try.  And we did.  Tomatoes.  Pickles. Negative on both.  I could easily recognize the strained look on your face as it went down.  I totally get it. But your try to put on a smile and say "mmm, good".  To which I reply "do you want more"?  But your response it a sweet "um...no thanks".  This is all very normal...cute, but expected.  What I didn't expect was all the subsequent times we would re-live this same encounter.  Because Cole likes them.  And for whatever reason, you feel like you should too.  So you try.  Again and again.  And every time, your eyes squint and the corners of your mouth turn down...and then your try to put on that smile.  Like you keep thinking 'maybe this time it will be better'.  Do you have any idea how awesome that is?  You didn't get that from me.  I'm a one and done kind girl.  If I don't like it the first time, I'm out.  But your way is so much better.  You just want to give it a fair shot...to make sure your not missing out on anything worthwhile.  It will server you well in life.  Pickles and tomatoes baby.

 I love that you are determined and capable.  When we talked about you going to school, I gave you a long list of things you needed to accomplish before you would be allowed to go.  I figured we had plenty of time, so I'd shoot for the stars.  Make your own bed (everyday), clean your room, feed the dog, and wipe your own bottom.  Yes, I actually wrote that.  So I showed you how to make your bed...the way mama like it.  And Mama likes neat ;).  It took a couple weeks, but man are you great at it.  And not only do you make your bed...you make it about 3 times a day.  When you wake up in the morning, before nap, and after nap.  Yes.  Before nap.  Because you totally buy into my thinking that a nicely made bed is more comfortable.  It is.  Don't let anyone tell your differently.  But the kicker is that I look at the monitor in the morning and you've already been up..clearly...because your bed is nicely made and you've slipped back in...neatly under the covers (as not to mess it up), where you wait quietly for me to come get you.  You make me laugh.  And you are totally MY kid.  You also made quick work of the other items on my "go to school" list.  Thanks for the bottom wiping too...way to help a mama out...but I'm pretty sure it's because you are a mini me.  You like order.  You like things clearly laid out.  I gave you set parameters and something to work towards.  When someone asks you to do something you get it done.  You got that from me too...just like your {dis}taste for tomatoes.

Cade, you are an amazing, energetic, enthusiastic, smart, talented, sweet, handsome boy.  My heart overflows with love for you.  Watching you (and your brother) grow is the biggest joy in my life.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE you so much...and more than that!
Mommy