Po! You turned three!! I didn't know if we'd make it through you being two, but somehow we did it! I'm happy (and relieved!) but sad about that at the same time.
Joey, you aren't my baby anymore! It breaks my heart a bit...you're my last one. And you were such a special baby, coming to our family to heal us. And let's be honest...you were such a good baby! Our delicious little muffin who just smiled and giggled and slept and made us all so happy all of the time. Now? Well, now you are a whirling dervish of destruction a good portion of the time and a stubborn, naughty little boy for a decent portion of what time is left. Seriously Po, you are something else entirely! You seem to crave mischief and mayhem! I can't keep up with you!! But even when you're being naughty, that smile of yours gets you out of a lot of trouble. I can't help it, that smile and those twinkling eyes of yours kind of own me!
Even though you are by far our most difficult toddler, you are also our brightest! Thanks to (I'm a little ashamed to say it) educational programs and KidsTube, you know all your colors and most of your numbers by sight. You can count to ten and higher, and you love to count everything you can. Your favorite color is purple, and you kind of freak out if you can't have your purple plate and purple cup at meal times. You know so many animals and the sounds they make. You are one bright little boy!
You still love BYU and football, but you have also come to love baseball, basketball, and soccer. I think you mostly like anything that has a ball involved. :) You have also developed a love of "guys"... specifically your Star Wars and Marvel action figures. Your favorite thing to do is line up all your guys and simulate battles. It's beyond cute. You still like to work on things like blocks, Legos (especially if you're destroying something the older kids have built), stacking cups, and puzzles.
This year has been the year you've made friends. You love your nursery friends so much! Benson and Logan are your favorite friends, but you talk about Laney too. I've been doing more playdates for you and your friends, and you've gotten to where you barely even say goodbye to me before you march right in Benson's house! You love your friends so much, and for the most part you play better with them than with anyone else. But your best best friend is your cousin Michael. Michael lived here with Grandma Call for a month or so, and you two because instant buds. It was really hard on you both when it was time for Michael to go back to Texas!
For as much as you love your friends, you still love your siblings best. You miss them so much when they are at school, and promptly start pestering them and picking fights as soon as they get home! You and Johnny are like fire and ice. You are either playing awesome together or making each other miserable. And you are both culprits in picking fights! In some ways, it blows my mind that with a six year difference between you, you two can still find so much to fight about! But then in other ways, it makes me so happy to see you being brothers. Sophie is still your best bud around the house, as she is still the most patient and interested in you! And you know you can depend on Claire if you need help with anything. I said it last year, and it's still true. You are the center of our family life, in every good way.
Your Dad and I love you so much, Po! You make us crazy, but you are a living testimony to how much our Heavenly Father loves us and wants what is best for us. You fill our hearts and our arms with so much joy! I know that you and Luke are tied together in more ways than I can understand. You recognize him in any picture you see, and I'm excited to see how your relationship with him will grow. You love your Savior Jesus Christ. Your favorite song to sing at bedtime is "Jesus Christ!", which is "I Belong to the Church of Jesus Christ". You know who the prophet is by name, and you love pointing out temples and chapels when you see them...which are also temples. :)
You are such a special boy, Joseph. There is such a big spirit inside of you, and I know you have a very special mission on this earth. I treasure the special relationship we have. The time we spend in the morning cuddling in my bed and when you ask for your baby song before falling asleep. I'm excited to see what this next year brings for you! Happy Birthday, my beautiful boy...I love you more than all the words could say.
Love,
Mom
