Today, Charlie turned three. Even as I type the words, I can't believe it is actually true. How has it already been three whole years since Charlie came into our lives? Three years since my name changed to Mommy...three years since my house has truly been clean...three years since the dog has had a propper walk...three years since I taught in a classroom...three years since Nick and I began the greatest adventure of ours lives...Three. Whole. Years!
The craziest part is just how much Charlie has changed in the last three years. He has gone from a tiny mush ball and grown into such a little man, full of knowledge, opinions, ideas, and emotions. Charlie constantly amazes us with the things that come out of his mouth. I wish I was better about jotting them down, because he really is hilarious. This year will forever be remembered as the year that Charlie started to talk...and never stopped. I remember fretting over his late speech, and friends would tell me not to worry, because once he started to talk, I would wish for it to stop. It's not that I want him to stop talking, but man, there are some days that having a converstation with him feels like a workout. The kid has more questions than anyone, and it is exhausting trying to find age appropriate answers to the things that he wants to know more about. I lovingly refer to Charlie as "Mr. Why" because he asks that question a hundred times a day. As a former teacher, I know that it is a good thing that he doesn't just settle for any old answer. He wants to know more, and I am happy to explain. It's just that when we get into a round of 20 questions about why a squirel is called a squirel, it gets a bit tiring for this old momma. It's crazy what he remembers. Nick and I will explain something to him, and often we think it is over his head or too much to comprehend. It never fails that weeks, even months, later he will refer back to that same something the we had talked about and show that he fully understood. When people refer to toddlers as little sponges, they really aren't kidding. Charlie takes it all in, and he is so aware of everything that surrounds him. Not only is he aware of his physical environment and whether or not I moved the vaccum, but he is also very aware of people's emotions. Recently, he has started to ask me all the time if I am happy. Typically, he asks me this after he has done something that would not please me or if Jack is fussy. I let him know if I am upset and why, and he is very quick to give me a hug or make a silly face to get me to smile. Then he quickly asks, "You happy now, Mommy?" Sweet boy.
This year will also be remembered as the Terrible Twos. Charlie and I butted heads a lot this year, and it has left me feeling a bit defeated. I definitely have a strong willed child who has a mind of his own and is not going to be told what to do. Nick said it best tonight, when he asked me, "Do you ever notice that when you praise Charlie for doing something good, he immediatly starts doing something bad?" Ummmm, YES! Praise, praise, praise...children are supposed to thrive off of praise, and yes, Charlie does eat it up. But, it does not encourage him to keep on the straight and narrow. Another discipline techinique that has failed us is giving choices. We always offer two choices and try to spin them into the most wonderful, perfect options for Charlie to choose from. But, if we say choose from A or B, Charlie will often say, "I have an idea." and offer his own thoughts. When directed back to choices A or B, a meltdown soon entails. Speaking of meltdowns, Charlie sure does know how to have one. He screams, spits, hits, throws, and does just about anything and everything to let you know how displeased his is at the time. I have had to put him in his room for time outs during a few episodes lately. Time outs have become laughable lately because he does everything in his power to get Jack's attention so that he will come over and play with him. Jack, of course, loves that fact that Charlie is paying attention to him and heads straight to him almost as soon as I get him in time out. If I can get him to sit and keep Jack distracted, Charlie will often sing at the top of his lungs or spit on the floor while serving his time. Really, I thought I was a patient person, but Charlie is truly testing my limits. There is nothing like having a nice heart-to-heart with your child only to slip in a pile of his slobber a few minutes later...ahhhh!
I could seriously go on and on describing Charlie at age three. My mom often says that they broke the mold when they made Charlie Shaw, and I could not agree more. Here are some of the highlights of Charlie at this age:
-Loves to help with household chores. Ask him to dust or help mop, and the kid is on it. He still loves to pretend to vacuum, but if you even mention that you have to really turn the vacuum on, and he begins to fret.
-Elephants are his favorite animal. He loves books that have elephants in them, and knows exactly where he can find pictures of elephants in all of his favorite books. He wants to ride an elephant some day, but you can tell he is nervous about the idea of being on something so large. He also has a love/hate relationship with dinosaurs. Charlie is so interested in them, and loves to learn about them, but at the same time they terrify him.
-Charlie continues to be a picky eater...sigh. He likes noodles with butter, cream cheese toast, raspberries, and anything sweet. He refuses to eat vegetables even though I always make him try at least one bite. Typically, if he does not like a new food, it comes out in a million pieces on my table or in his hand. This is a nasty habit that is getting very old.
-The child who used to be obsessed with brushing his teeth now fights it each and every time. I have to hold him down some mornings just to get him to do it.
-Charlie loves to watch TV - Max and Ruby, The Wiggles, Sesame Street, Dino Dan...just to name a few. He would sit in front of the television all day if I let him. It is one of the first things he asks for in the morning, and he even trys to get us to let him watch a little bit before bed. For a mom who planned on limiting TV to 30 minutes a day, this is a crushing blow. What's worse, is that I let him watch TV a lot than I care to admit. It is really the only time I can turn the child "off" when he is totally out fo control. And, as I mentioned earlier, that has been a lot this year. Judge me if you will, but the TV has saved both of us from many knock down, drag out battles.
-Music, music, music. He got a harmonica and a keyboard for his birthday this year. Really, he would love a guitar and a set of drums. Every time we are in Walmart, he asks to go into the music store to look at these instruments. Maybe next year sweet boy.
-Charlie has started to come out of his shell a little bit recently. He will talk to people out in public, and seems more comfortable around children his age. He still hates new situtations but appears to be adjusting better than in the past. We are hopeful that when he starts preschool, his socializations skills will improve even more.
-Charlie has some pretty funny one liners these days. Some of which include: "I have an idea." "
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