You're Three, Vinny!

It's hard to believe that we have a 3 year old BOY!!!! Vinny is quite the character. He has really become his own person this last year, surprising us with a stubborn streak, resulting in many a time out, corner time and the like and letting me try to potty train him about 4 times in the last year and a half! However, he brings joy to us each day. He will talk your ear off. He's also pretty social with strangers and will tell them random things that happened to him earlier in the day -- most of the time they have no context for what he's saying -- but he's so smiley and confident when he talks that they go right along with it. He and Emily have really started bonding lately (Em-dee is the way her name sounds when he says it), and of course he loves to follow Ashley around and play along with her made up stories. He's still short for his age, but I don't think that will change any time soon! ;) It's great to hear him laugh & play. He seems to be good at dribbling soccer balls and whacking the t-ball. He sings and makes lots of silly noises throughout the day. We're slowly weaning him from his insistence at carrying some little toy in each hand for the whole day -- one of his signatures. He sleeps sideways in his bed, frog position, with no pillow or covers, sucking his thumb and puts his hand on the top of his hair. It's so cute. We're all entitled to a couple of idiosyncrasies, right? He also still loves to snuggle and will hold your hair and suck his thumb while you're holding him.

Here's a few memory pictures . . . .

2 months old

1 year old

2 years old

Anyway, enough about the birthday boy, let's get on with the birthday!

To celebrate his birthday, we had some celebratory frozen waffles with 3 candles in them the morning of. Then, we had lots of fun, friends, family & cake at a nearby playground a few days later. It was a little chilly at first, but it warmed up very nicely! We borrowed Nonna & Pop's camera for the official 0-3 celebration!

Nonna, Pop & Uncle Brian enjoying some Emily time.

Cousins Marge & Al were here visiting from Baltimore, so they had a little bonus activity to attend. ;) We surely enjoyed their visit.

And, Cousins Bob & Susan drove in from Stone Mountain to celebrate, too! Aunt Peggy & Uncle Jim weren't able to make it, but check out the article from the Georgia Bulletin about them -- along with lots of other couples celebrating their 50th and 60th anniversaries!

I looked over in the field at some point to see Auntie Amy & Vinny playing soccer off by themselves. I guess you can do what you want at your own party.

Blowing out the candles, with a little help.

This dump truck was one of his favorite new toys. :)

Here are all the kiddos lined up:Jonah, Jacob, Kristen, John Paul, Alayna, Grace, Mary, (where's Emma?), Vinny, Ashley, Olivia, Nathan, Will, Emily -- What a crew!

And, of course, where would we be without a group shot?!

Thank you for helping Vinny celebrate!