PaPa and I fixed breakfast. I cracked the eggs and stirred them. I placed the biscuits on the baking sheet. I do enjoy helping cook.

A big big fish broke Papa's fishing net, so I went with him to Academy to get a new one.  We bought me a little soccer ball while we were there.  We also stopped at McDonald's for some chicken nuggets.

I found Mommy's old softball socks in my toy box and wanted them on my feet.  Funny looking cowboy.

Mommy left very early to work at an arts and crafts show.  Barbara thought she could go back to bed and then I woke up.  It was only 6:30am.  We laid on her bed for a few minutes talking about our day.  We decided to have pancakes for breakfast.  I wanted us to eat on the patio but found out it was raining.

We played pirate ship with my bed being the ship.  I like us to be huddled up in a small space playing.  I fished and caught several fish (balls) for us to eat.  A fun thing then happened: the electricity went out and it was semi-dark in the house.  I got my flashlight and we made an adventure out of that situation.  The electricity came back on in about 15 minutes.  I put my flashlight away so we will know where it is next time we need it.

 Up, Up, and Away is what I was saying.

I love my bath time.

I did not know it, but it was planned that Grandma would come get me this afternoon and take me to the lake so I could spend some time with PaPa before he leaves this coming week for his month in Nigeria.  When Barbara told me, I immediately saw a problem and asked, "Does she have a car seat for me?"  I knew she didn't but they had already planned for Grandma to drive to the lake in Barbara's car, which has a seat for me.  I am always thinking.

I fell asleep on the drive to Grandma's home and woke up at 4:30.  I was fine for a couple of minutes, then I decided I wanted to go home and I had a tantrum.  I wanted my mom and wanted to go home and nothing would make me forget it.... until Grandma suggested we wait for Mommy outside and blow some bubbles while we waited. 

Grandma got me to sit on the toilet with the lids down to practice how I will use it starting very soon when I am willing to give up diapers to poop.  Mommy put a step stool in front of me and I sat there reading the iPad.  I told them I could do this.

Grandma read me some books from her iPad.  I had Mommy tell me pirate stories.  PaPa fixed us spaghetti for dinner.  I watched a Calliou program and played pirates.

We watched a thrilling Texas - OSU football game.. until I fell asleep around 9pm.  I think I have been asleep before 9:30 every day this week.  That also means I am up early.

Barbara got up at 6:15am hoping that she could get a meatloaf made before I woke up..... think again, auntie.  I was up at 6:30!  The first words out of my mouth were tell me a story about Izzy!    Poor Barbara.  But you know what:  She loves me anyway. 

Mommy and I played while Barbara mix up the meatloaf and put in the the refrigerator to set up.  I continued to want Izzy stories until Mommy told me PaPa was coming sometime today to work and play with me.  That got my mind off pirates!

Barbara read that a successful day of childcare is if no one goes hungry or get hurt..... she is glad to know that is all it takes. 

Before PaPa got here I had on my cowboy hat and boots, but as soon as I knew he was almost here, I changed to tennis shoes so I could help him work.   PaPa and I worked in the yard and boy did I love that.  I did everything he did.  I did everything he asked me to do.  I love playing at being a man.   PaPa had fun too.  He wants me to come see him tomorrow and spend the night.  I told him I would ask Mommy if we could do that.

In this picture I was playing fireman, with my old and new firetrucks and the firestation.  See my new fireman's helmet on a nearby stool.

A cute thing I said: I was on the sofa pretending to be a cowboy waking up.  I stretched and said "Ah, this is so much better than waking up with the cows."  I crack everybody up when I come up with things like that.

It is too complicated to explain how I have wanted to hear stories about Izzy, a good pirate.  But I have been a challenge for the past two days with my interest in hearing those stories.  It's too hard to explain.  Barbara hopes it is a very short lived interest of mine.  I guess she just makes up such interesting stories I want to hear them over and over, again and again............................

Hudson, Harper, Landry, and Beckett helped Derek ask Lily to marry him.  I saw the picture on Facebook and knew who all the people were.

GGM Lil is in ICU and she is in our prayers.

Getting dressed for school we discovered that my size 3T Halloween shirt was a bit big, so Barbara and I made a quick stop at Wal-Mart and bought a size 24 months.  It would look much better in my school picture which were taken today.  Everyone hoped I will allow them to take my picture.   If I decided I did not want my picture taken it would not happen.... end of discussion.

All my classmates had on Halloween shirts.  What fun.  I did let the photographer take my picture, but I would not sit in the chair.

I fell asleep on the drive home and Barbara managed to carry me to the sofa without waking me up.  I slept for two hours, a short nap for me.

Here I was doing one of my favorite things: reading.  But lately I have wanted to be "told" stories, not read them from books.  I fell asleep around 9pm, so that means I had almost six hours to ask Barbara to tell me stories about Jake and the Neverland Pirates.  She is very very tired of telling those stories.  A funny thing, if I don't like the direction the story is going I insist she change it.

I slept from 9pm to 7am this morning.  My right eye was still a bit red and swollen so I was given another dose of Allegra.  My nose was a little runny from my allergies.
It was a rough morning for Barbara and me.  I was still constipated and was hurting often.  I did not play but did want to hear stories.  I would not sit down, only stand or kneel.  Finally, either from the allergy medicine or from being tired, I fell asleep at 10am for a couple of hours.

Soon after waking up, my constipation problem was over and I was a different boy.  I was happy, runing, and playing.  I came to life!  Barbara was exhaused from worrying about me.  I had been given a couple of doses of Merilax and they help but they just take too long to work.

Today is my three-year-old well baby doctor's appointment.  I had a quick bath, got dressed for the appointment, and Barbara treated me to McDonalds, only the second time she has taken be there.  She was still stressed from this mornings problem and wanted something to keep me entertained while we waited for time to drive to the doctors office.

Of course, I have to get up on this high seat...

A funny thing:  While I was sitting up here, I asked Barbara why a baby did not have on shoes and socks.  She told me the baby would not be putting her feet on the ground, her mother would carry her.  The mother heard this and said she had shoes for the baby, should she put them on her?  I said, "Yes."  The mother put the shoes on the baby and asked me if that was better.  I shook my head yes.

I put up a fight about taking off my boots to be weighed.  I weighed 33 pounds   (64.5 percentile).
I measured 38 1/2 inches tall   (69 percentile).  I will probably be at least 6 feet tall.  Jennifer, my nurse took my temperature and my blood pressure.  They were normal.

 Sleeping Puppy was the patient and I was the doctor while we waited for Dr. Lacour.

Dr. Lacour listened to my heart and lungs.

He checked my reflexes.  He checked all the regular things and I was in excellent shape.
My ears were clear.  My pinkish and swollen eye were an allergy problem, not pink eye.
A new thing Dr. Lacour did was ask me to push my feet, my legs, and my hands against his hand. 

 

My teeth were good.  I need to brush them every day.  An electric toothbrush for children is good.  When the batteries die, it will be time for a new brush, so buy an entire new brush.

 

I was given a flu mist in both nostrils.  I blew in when Jennifer told me to. 

 

Dr. Lacour said it is a common problem for kiddies to want to have BM in their diaper.  He suggested getting me to sit in a little chair with my feet on the ground with diaper on to poop.   Then have a diaper with cut out area that I can use on the potty still wearing diaper.  After that it is easy to say you don't need that old diaper.  Mainly he said be patient with me.  I will get past this.

Miralax helps with constipation and it is not habit forming and I will not be depending on it when it is not needed.   Dr. Lacour said it can be used several ways.  One way is only when a problem is noticed, but it does take time to be effective.  Or when it is suspected that I might need some help.   He said giving a small amount (like a teaspoon every three days or so).

 My next well-baby appointment is age four.  I will get FOUR shots.

GGM Lil fell and is in the hospital with a badly broken femur.  She is in our prayers.

Daddy came over to play with me for a bit.   Barbara tried to get me to show off.  Other than kicking a big ball, I would not comply. 

I am good at saying the first part of my prayer before my meals:   "Bless us, Oh Lord."

My school thought I might have pink eye because my right eye was red and swollen. 

Barbara and I stopped by Mimz after school so she would give her knowledgeable opinion.  She said it looks like allergies to her.    (And as we found out, she was right.)

I received birthday card from Bridget and Bubba and Grammie.  Mommy is putting the money into my college fund.

Barbara read me a couple of books from her iPad, but mainly I wanted to be "told" stories. She told me the same three or four stories over and over and over. She said her voice was getting sore and it was harder to tell stories than it was to read them. She hoped I change back to wanting to read books soon.

My socks were stinky, but I got to keep them on to avoid a possible tantrum. I was having another problem that had a higher priority.

Starting around 2pm I was constipated and that is hard on both Barbara and me. I was not grumpy, but I was not happy either. 

Fishing in the backyard.

Playing accident, which involves fire trucks, an ambulance, and doctor at hospital.

I was so tired I sort of climbed onto a hassock and fell asleep instantly.
When I did wake up I had a quick bath and fell asleep again by 9pm.  I still had not had a BM.

This was a busy morning.  Daddy's truck was sick, so we drove to the mechanic's car repair shop.  I got to tour the shop and loved seeing the cars on the lift.  I got to look under the hood of a truck and see its engine.  I am interested in everything.  Mimz came to the shop to get us. 

I played nicely all morning at Mimz' home.  I sprayed water in the garden and made mud.  I walked through it getting my boots muddy.  I told Mimz that was okay, that that is what farmers do.  They walk in the muddy fields and say, "Hi pig."   That made Mimz smile.

After lunch, Mimz took me to Barbara so she could go check  on GGM Lil.  It was nice outside, so Barbara and I played tag until she got tired.  Inside we read a book on our new iPad.  I already know how to use an iPad.  Mimz, Morgan, and Grandma all have them.

We played pretend all day and evening.  We had car wrecks and I was injured and needed an ambulance, hospital, and doctor.  Only once did I let Barbara be the injured person and I was the caregiver.

I decide Barbara would be Santa Claus.  I asked what Santa Claus was doing and was told she was cleaning her glasses.  I said, "No, Santa Claus is a man."  I don't forget what characters we are playing.

A big part of the evening I was Izzy, a good pirate. I spend time playing pirates more than anything else...... now.... that may change next month or even next week.

I love to be read to. Today Barbara read three books to me using our iPad. But I have now discovered that I really like to be told made-up stories about people I know. I like the stories about my school friends: Hannah, Sophia, and Trent. Also stories about Izzy, the pirate. I want to hear those stories over and over.

 It was the end of the day and time for the boots to come off...

.... No wonder I have stinky feet!

Remember those really bad tantrums I had last week?  Well, it has been a few days since I have acted that way.  Barbara told me today I was a perfectly behaved child.  I was happy and co-operative all day.  I did not take a nap and did not go to sleep until 9:15pm but even still I was never cranky.

I know it is going to be a good morning when Daddy says, "Let's go have some of Mimz' pancakes for breakfast."

Mimz has started teaching me this prayer to say before our meals: "Bless us Oh Lord and these Thy gifts which we are about to receive from Thy bounty through Christ Our Lord. Amen." Mommy and Barbara have it posted on their refrigerator so they can help teach it to me also.

Daddy and I met Mommy at McDonalds for some chicken nuggets and to watch the last of the Texans football game.  I had on my cowboy hat and boots.  A couple of people talked to me saying things like "Howdy, Partner." 

 We went to the park so I could run around and use up some energy.

  Two young girls came to my playground on their bikes.  I told them to be careful on the slides and to sit down when they stood on something they should be sitting on.  I crossed my arms across my chest like I was in charge.  My parents told me to let the girls alone.  They were big girls and could take care of themselves. 

Today is another day of celebrating my third birthday.  I am one lucky boy.  My family birthday party was scheduled for 4pm at Mimz' home.

I was awake very early and Mimz told me it was too early to get up, but I assured her I wanted to stay up.  She gave me some milk.  I wanted to sit on her lap in Pops' chair so we did.  In just a few minutes, I was asleep.  Daddy was here when I woke up at 9am.

Daddy did a lot of the work getting ready for my party.  The decorations theme was Cars, the movie, including tablecloth, plates, napkins, and cake.   Daddy grilled hamburgers and sausage.  Mimz fixed salad, finger foods, chips and dip.  Aunt Jill and Grandma each brought a dish.  We had plenty of good food to eat.

One of my gifts was a fireman.  I named him Fireman Sam.

I received a pirate ship and a pirate treasure chest filled with pirate things.  Some more things I received were three long-sleeved shirts, a Halloween t-shirt, toothbrushes and toothpaste, bubble bath, bath markers, glow in the dark ceiling stars.  Mimz gave me my glider bike a couple of weeks early so I could start practicing riding it. Grandma and Grandpa are going to pay for swimming lessons for me.

  Uncle Scott, Aunt Jill, and Morgan gave me a big garage.  Uncle Scott had to put it together for me.

There is Aunt Jill working in the kitchen.

 Morgan played with me and my pirate ship.

 Morgan is my only first cousin.

 The adults were busy watching volleyball, football, grilling outside, and visiting...

Morgan and I entertained each other.

One of my favorite things to be is a cowboy.

Outside shooting something with my water bottle.

 I was ready to blow out the candles before they were lit.  Uncle Scott helped Mimz get four candles lit.... one extra one to grow on.

I was embarrassed when everyone started singing to me...

Video of everyone singing Happy Birthday to me.

 Before the cake is cut Daddy and I sample the frosting.

There is a Tow Mater truck and a Lightening McQueen car decorating my cake that I will get to play with.   Oh My Goodness!  I did something I have never done before....

 A piece of cake was put in front of me.  I wrapped my two hands around it...

 and stuffed my mouth with icing and cake! 

Oh, what a mess and oh did everyone laugh wondering how I came up with that idea.

Video of Mimz helping me clean my hands and face.

 The party broke up around 6:45.  Here I am thanking PaPa and Grandma for coming to my party.

Daddy helped me move Barbara's car. 

 

 Mimz gave me some Allegra because my eyes were getting puffy caused by some allergy.  Daddy and I left for his apartment around 7:30pm, leaving Mimz to relax and read.  Thank you to everyone for making my third birthday a very special time for me. 

 I know I am one very lucky boy.

Today is my third HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
In my sleep my mom heard me say "fireman" and helmet."  I must have been dreaming about being a fireman.
This was the second morning in a row that I have remained dry all night.  And the third nap in a row.  I have been saying that I will start pooping in the pottie when I turn three.  Well, I guess it is time for me to start sitting down like big boy.

Mommy was excited about it being my birthday.  She wanted it to be a very special day for me and it was.

Mommy thought I would enjoy going to the park to play, so Barbara and I took our breakfast and we drove to the big playground to eat in the park and play. We have a little neighborhood playground, but I really like the big one better.

Look, Ma, no hands!

I found this tree frond....

...all of a sudden it became a monster chasing Barbara!

I love this big piece of playground equipment.

I'm not afraid at all of going up by myself.

It has four big slides, but lately I have just been able to slide down the covered one because the others are wet from the morning dew or rain.

This is a fun little ride.

In this short video my name was Pirate Jake.

In this video I was talking to dogs passing by...
We had to leave the park because workmen were coming into the park area to mow and edge.  I will return,,,

I spent most of the day pretending to be Pirate Jake, a good pirate.  In this picture I had my ship playing in a bubble bath in the sink.

Boy, I made a mess.  Barbara kept wipe up the water as I slung it around.  Boy, I had fun.

 I laid down several time but would not fall asleep.  Barbara would tell me stories hoping I would relax and take a nap.  It did not work.   At some point I started pretending to be Izzy, another pirate.  And if Barbara would call me Mason, I never forgot my character and reminded her what my name was.

I did not have any tantrums or Time Outs today.  We all hope to keep it that way for a long time.

After Mimz took GGM Lil to the eye doctor, she came to get me.  I was ready to go with her knowing that soon I would get to see my daddy.  Mimz took me to McDonald's and I ate all of my chicken nuggets.  I had been eating barbecued roasted chicken and cornbread not an hour before.  Everyone likes it when I am eating well.

Connected to the McDonald's is a convenience store.  I call it the Proud Candy store, which is what I call all convenience stores, because Mommy has bought me Proud Candy at them before.  I showed Mimz where the chocolate donuts were and she bought me some.  I told the clerk I was getting them because it was my birthday.  She asked me how old I was and I told her.  Mimz was so proud of me for talking to her.   Of course, I fell asleep on the trip to Mimz home.

I was riding my glider bike (an early birthday present from Mimz) when Daddy got here after work.  He played with me before leaving me with Mimz for the night.  Daddy will be back early in the morning to help get us get ready for my birthday party.

I was perfectly behaved all day!

Barbara got an iPad today.  I consider that to be a birthday present to me, since I will get to read books on it.  I can play my games on it instead of on her tiny phone.