Vincent's 3 Year Old Update

Vincent turned three almost two months ago.  I would love to capture in this bloggy space just a glimpse of the delight he is to our family on this his 3rd year of life...

In the last year we have delighted in milestones reached.  Vincent was potty trained in March and we've enjoyed a diaper-free household (if only for a time).  Vincent was easily potty trained, possibly a second child phenomonan?  Right around the same time he was potty trained he began to insist on being called, "big boy."  Lullabies were no longer to be sung with the word, "baby."  "Momma!  Say 'big boy!'"  "Sweet little Vincent Laws, mommy's baby boy," turned overnight into "Sweet little Vincent Laws, mommy's big boy."  In case we questioned his transition to "big boy" status, he would proudly stand up in his dining room chair and reach for the sky.  "Look Momma.  I'm a big boy.  I eat my chicken.  I will grow big!"

We tell Vincent often that he is a big, strong, brave boy.  He seems to take these admonitions to heart as he dons his Storm Trooper mask and light saber to take on the evil Darth Vader, who happens to arrive around 6:00 each evening wearing scrubs and Dansko surgery shoes.  An arsenal of swords and light sabers clutter Vincent's bookshelves, along with a slew of Thomas Trains, MegaBlocks, puzzles, and MatchBox cars.  Just recently Vincent has taken to arranging our couch pillows around the living room.  He then positions himself in a perfect fencing stance, lifts high his light saber and stabs the pillows declaring, "I kill you!  I got you!"  What is he imagining in his boyish mind's eye?  Legions of Storm Troopers?  Bears?  Snakes?  Or maybe cockroaches?  The latter he defended his sister and I against when it crawled out from under the couch.  We squeled and he raced for his light saber pushing it back under the couch with its red tip, all the while declaring, "I save you!"  No matter the foe, he meets his adversaries with a scowl and determination. 

{The scowl with a makeshift sword and his buddy Judah}

Vincent's physicality has exploded in the last 3 months.  I hover with uncertainty as he wrestles his friend James.  They grab eachother's shirt collars and swing eachother around until someone falls on the ground.  They push eachother and stand deadlocked until the other gets tired and falls, all the while laughing deep belly laughs of delight.  Occassionally, Vincent will try the same moves on his older sister, knocking her over unexpectedly, or jumping on her back while she colors.  She plays along for a short time before rising in righteous indignation at his rough play.  Needless to say, when Tony gets home the coffee table is moved to the corner of the living room, the red rug serving as the perfect wrestling ring for father and son.  Glad my extra X chromosome excuses me from such shenagagins. 

{Vincent with our friends, the Sampsons.  James is his wrestling buddy.}

Besides wrestling play Vincent enjoys "time in his bed," where he does jigsaw puzzles and plays with his Thomas trains.  We have seen a decrease in requests for "time in his bed," as the backyard has become his refuge for solidarity.  He enjoys playing in the sand box.  He likes to take his "big boy tools" up on Morlandt mountain where he beats the dead tree stump with his mallet.  The "big boy tools" were a gift from his Grandpa and Ms. Leslie.  They are authentic tools including wrenches, screwdrivers, mallets, a measuring tape, safety goggles, and a slew of other tools I do not have the vocabulary to name.  Each tool was ground down so as to reduce the risk of pinching or cutting oneself or one's sisters.  They are all encased in a genuine, red tool box complete with stickers of the electrical trade.  It pays to have a Master Electrician as a grandfather!  Vincent treasures his tool box and can be found lugging it's heavy contents around the house to fix his sister's doll chair or anything else that looks broken. 

Vincent's imaginative play is developing early.  Having an older sibling helps, I think.  For a few days this summer Vincent and Sophia spent each afternoon perfecting a "medicine soup" of dirt, leaves, and sidewalk chalk to nurse King Louis, who lives in the branches of the Magnolia tree at the top of Morlandt mountain, back to health.  The soup was concocted in the back of a yellow Tonka dump truck using a selection of some of my favorite kitchen spoons.  Weeks later I am still collecting spoons from the backyard.  Vincent likes to dig all the soil out of the large, empty flower pot.  I watch from the kitchen window and reassure myself that although they do not have access to miles of country land, like I did, Vincent and Sophia's backyard serves as their kingdom for wild imaginations and explorations.  As I stand in the sunny window my heart is filled with gratitude for the opportunity to observe them unaware in their creative play. 

{Mornings outside}

{Playing doctor}

{Excavator and dump truck work at our favorite park - Triangle Park!}

Other favorites include Scooby Doo, Diego, and Star Wars.  Vincent would live on chips and french fries if allowed.  His favorite phrase is, "Hey!  I need to tell you something!," said frequently and with great intensity to friends and strangers alike.  Vincent adores his sister, most of the time, and at the park last week he said, "My sissy is the best.  I love her in my heart."  We have heard Vincent refer to Sophia as "Sophia," only a handful of times.  It's always "sissy," and it warms my heart to hear her referred to as such.  He loves all of us in his heart and will frequently end the day, after his daddy has tucked him in with, "Daddy, I love you in my heart.

Vincent continues to be a tender heart.  He is easily corrected for the most part but exhibits the strong will that seems to characterize our little family.

{Where strong willed children end up}

Vincent has been prone to ear infections over the last two years.  When the stomach virus has darkened our door step, Vincent takes weeks to recover.  Most recently he was plagued with hand, foot, and mouth virus - a truly unfortunate and painful virus.  These illnesses worry a mother's heart but are merely milestones of a strenthening immune system.  We are truly thankful for his overall health this last year!

Vincent, you are full of personality and expression.  You keep your Italian heritage alive with passionate storytelling, complete with animated gesticulating and facial expressions.  You make us smile everyday.  Your personality is a fantastic, delightful story unfolding right before our eyes.  How blessed we are to be your parents!

{Personality in motion}