October 2013: 37 months (3 years and 1 month)

Dear Patrick, 

• As I was talking into my phone in order to leave a text message for your father one afternoon, I said “question mark” at the end of my statement.  You asked loudly, “Who is Mark?  Who is Question Mark?”  I laughed so hard because I could not begin to explain the concept of punctuation to a three year old.
• You “helped” turn your crib into a big-boy bed, by which I mean, you jumped up and down with excitement and tried to hide the screws.  We converted the bed in the morning, so by nap time that afternoon it was ready for a test.  A big-boy bed is basically your old crib with one side missing so I although it was different, it was still familiar.  Even so, we watched you on the monitor hang your head over the open side and dangle a leg through the missing panel. At one point, you actually got up and roamed your room - probably just because you could, and then you tired of walking and put yourself back to bed.  It was all very funny to watch.  Twice you called out to us, and your dad and I took turns singing you an extra song.  And after that, it was sleep like normal. In what felt like a very easy transition, you became a big boy in a big-boy bed.  
• We made a trip to Hilton Head Island to visit with Omi and Pop for a long weekend at the beginning of the month (10/3 - 10/5) and stayed in the Carter's 3 bedroom condo off the boardwalk to the ocean.  The facility had multiple pools so we hopped from heated chlorine into freezing salt water and you loved every minute.  However, your favorite part of the weekend might have been going to the toy store with Aunt Harriette - she spoiled you!
• Mid month, I took you to Macon for a long weekend since I had 10/14 off from work.  Omi and I spent most of the weekend making Halloween costumes from “Where the Wild Things Are” with you as Max, and your father and I as the Wild Things.  And they were pretty good, if I do say so myself.  Pop took you to Barnes and Noble and you loved to play in the backyard fountain and feed the birds.
• You wore your Max costume to school and seemed happy, but I heard you ask your teacher as I left the classroom if you could switch costumes.  My poor boy - I’m so sorry.  Seeing you surrounded by race car drivers and superheroes, I vowed never again to make you a literary character.  Next year, your choice.   
• We attempted to go to “Boo in the Zoo” but the lines to park were 40 mins long.  The line to get inside the zoo would take days, so we defined "Boo" as basically getting a snow cone in the park and then immediately getting back in the car!  By the time the actual day of Halloween arrived, you were over it.  No promise of candy or costumes or even a snow cone excited you.  You opted to watch a Disney movie and relax after school.  Fine by us.
• “I’m so happy” you said to me out of the blue one Saturday morning when we were sitting on the couch together, my arms wrapped around you.  Me too.  Me always.
• Jono, Jen & Jack came into town 10/16 - 10/20 for a long weekend.  Jack is getting so big - he walks around the house, and you talk to him even though he can’t yet talk back to you.  From our point of view their visit was just wonderful, but given the fact that both Jono and Jen got an unexpected stomach bug, they may have a different opinion!  And then out of the blue (probably due to all the excitement) you threw up orange juice into the isle of the "Ross Dress for Less" store in Cherrydale.  Jen and I stood in shock for a moment, as you said with a bit of confusion on your face, “I frow up.”    
• When you give your toys a voice, it is always deeper in tone.  And in your toy's voice, you refer to your father and me by our first names.  For example, your jet said, “I’m flying in the sky - watch me, Megan.” Every toy calls us by our first names.  But when you are Patrick, you call me “Mama.”    
• We signed you up for 3 year old soccer last month and had to lie about your age (per the suggestion & approval of the coach) to get you into the class. The program continued into this month and you seemed to have mixed feelings about practice.  At the last game of the season, you refused to play or even change into your jersey. Not wanting you to feel negative about sports in general, your father and I encouraged you (with the help of a can of crunchies) to cheer for your team from the sidelines.  However, as soon as the coach announced that it was time for trophies, you took to the field with vigor and proudly held your trophy above your head for all to see and admire.
• I love in the mornings how you crawl in my lap for a cuddle/snuggle - your head under my chin resting on my chest and your legs pulled up into my lap so I can hold you tight.  And you just rest there.  Can we sit like this forever?
• I had to sign a report at school that stated a little boy hit you in the head with a truck (on accident).  I think the report was so I wouldn't sue.  And even though they don't tell you names - I know who it was.  I’m coming for you, Kid.  Watch out.
• Early one morning as I was straightening up the house before work, I opened the compartment of your motorcycle to find a sippy cup of milk.  The smell was undeniable.  It has been there a long time - long enough to curdle and separate and leak into the compartment.  Your father and I found ourselves on our hands and knees cleaning the floor and trying to breath out of our mouths.  So, this is parenthood.