Matthew's Journal

March 17, 2012

We have been blessed with an amazingly warm winter. All through January and February I kept waiting for winter to “kick in” and it never really did. Most days were at least 40 and we have had very little snow. Now that it's March, the skies are blue, the temps are in the 60s-70s and the grass is turning green! It's been awesome (though I wonder what this means our summer will be like?). You are the first of my children to be happy going outside by yourself. You will ride your tricycle around and around the patio or mix up some mudpies in the “mud pie kitchen”.

Mud pies are an interesting conundrum for you though. You love mixing and making but hate being dirty. It's to the point that this morning you didn't even want syrup on your waffle because it would make you sticky. And if you get even a little bit of water on you then you want to change clothes. Except that you only have about two pairs of clothes that you like – your “running clothes”. Jeans are generally a no go because of the buttons. “Finicky” definitely describes you right now.

You turned three last month. It is hard to believe you are so big! We gave you a Superman costume (which you were convinced you HAD to get) and a Handy Manny construction toy. The good thing about you is that almost any toy will engage you, so it's fun to pick presents for you because I know you'll love what I pick! It's fun to watch you build your little plastic building with Handy Manny's crane and load the pick up truck with concrete blocks and carry on little conversations between the plastic figures. We had a big party for you and Beckham and all the family one day. Your mutual friend Conner came, and you invited your friend Gideon from church. Then on your actual birthday we had strawberries and brownies dipped in chocolate fondue (your idea!) and a couple more presents. You kept asking, “Am I still 3?” As a three-year-old at our house, you get to chew gum now. But after I finally convinced you not to swallow it, you're still not quite sure what to do with it. You chew it for about 20 seconds then come looking for me and spit it in my hand!

Since the big kids do swimming lessons and gymnastics, you wanted so badly to be able to do it too. So against my better judgment I signed you up. You went to about three weeks of gymnastics classes before throwing a huge fit and refusing to go again. Swimming lessons we weren't so lucky. The first time, you fell off the wall, and even though your teacher quickly rescued you, that was enough to make you refuse to try again. And you aren't one to be talked into something.

Daddy's been in Europe for the past ten days. The second day, in Amsterdam, he was accosted by a man with a knife who demanded his money. Instead of agreeing, Daddy knocked the man over, ran and got away. We were very thankful that God protected him. The first weekend he was gone we took an overnight trip to Brookings with Grammie and the Slacks to see Uncle Andrew, stay in a hotel (with pool!) and go to the Children's Museum. You loved the area that was set up like a miniature car service shop. You unscrewed bolts and changed tires and added oil – you were so enthralled!

Every day you ask me “Are we staying home today?” If you were Isaac, you'd be hoping for a no. But you're Matthew and you'd rather stay home where things are safe and controlled and you have all your special things and Mommy's always available to solve your many crises. I'm glad I can do it for you, but I'm constantly struggling to know when to fix things for you and when to (try to) make you tough up!