There’s one thing about our youngest little one’s birthday that brings a couple of swirl of reflective feelings. Has it actually been three years since I’ve held a new child in my arms? Are we actually three years faraway from the infant days? Is my child actually not a child anymore!? All the above solutions are true however, on the identical time, my infants will at all times be my infants.
As a toddler and as I grew up, my dad would at all times say to me, “You’ll at all times be my little lady.” The sentiment behind these phrases felt stronger to me than I feel he realized. Now, as an grownup, I really feel a brand new sense of depth behind his phrases. Whereas on the floor they appear like a father assuring his daughter she’ll at all times have her dad, now that I’m a mom, I really feel the depth of what he could have been attempting to convey. I really feel it fiercely for my sons. They’ll at all times be my infants. They’ll at all times have their mom behind them, cheering them on, loving them unconditionally, supporting them, encouraging them, studying from them, rising with them, praying for them and wanting the very best for them.
Rhett is three years previous and whereas three appears so previous in comparison with the gurgly child days, on the identical time, it appears so very younger. Although we’re satisfied Rhett thinks he’s each bit as large and succesful as his large brothers, moments pop up each single day that make us understand our little man continues to be simply that… little.
He nonetheless wants and desires Mother one million occasions a day for love and luxury. His playful character will activate a dime if one thing tragic occurs… ya know like a granola bar breaking in half. He’s exploring his independence with a ferocity he exclaims in a yell-scream — “I do it myself!” (And will your endurance attain new heights for those who don’t let him attempt.)
Rhett’s vocabulary exploded proper after his second birthday and it’s been so enjoyable to have the ability to discuss to him and watch him be taught and develop and talk in new methods. Rhett says the cutest issues from the second he wakes up and I at all times sit up for going into his room within the morning as a result of I by no means know what he’s going to say. Lots of the time he’ll start his day by telling me, “I really like Peppy” (our canine), reminding me, “Moon goes down, solar comes up! It’s morning time!” or asking in regards to the climate. “It wet at present? A pleasant day? It sunny at the present time?”
Ryan and I joke that the quantity at which our youngsters talk appears to have solely elevated with every little one we’ve had. I’ve little question start order performs an enormous position on this as a result of the squeaky wheel will get the grease and all that however daaang does Rhett love a superb yell-talk.
Rhett is fascinated by his large brothers, animals, cooking and baking with me within the kitchen, automobiles and vehicles (particularly rubbish vehicles, fireplace vehicles, Jeeps, Porches and Mini Coopers aka “Mini Groupers”), books, Picasso Tiles, trains, Pepper, puzzles, Biggie Beads, coloring, dancing, reducing paper, swimming, water slides, “serving to” Mother and blowing off the driveway with Dad. Speaking with Rhett, studying with Rhett, taking part in with Rhett… it’s all simply so yummy at this age. Peak cuteness for positive!
Rhett additionally loves faculty and talks rather a lot about his preschool academics and buddies. His wonderful academics have praised Rhett’s listening expertise, willingness to assist, kindness towards his classmates and his capability to self-entertain at preschool and I can’t look ahead to Rhett to fall in love with preschool much more now that he’ll be going 4 mornings every week this fall! He’s a social child whose curiosity is immediately piqued by attempting new issues and preschool has been probably the most unbelievable factor for him. He nonetheless doesn’t love separating from me at drop-offs (I blame Covid for this as he wasn’t separated from me as early or as usually as his large brothers) however Rhett rallies shortly and his academics guarantee me his fussiness stops inside a minute of me leaving. He simply desires to verify I get hit with a bit mom-guilt at drop-offs.
Three-12 months-Previous Challenges
Ryan and I usually joke that Rhett didn’t get the “chill child” memo that usually appears to return together with having a 3rd little one. From day one, Rhett has stored us on our toes and isn’t the laidback third little one you hear a lot about. He performs laborious, laughs laborious, screams laborious, resists laborious and loves laborious which makes him so splendidly enjoyable however so intensely exhausting typically, too. Please know I share this from a spot of overwhelming love for our big-hearted, big-feeling little man.
If one thing units Rhett off it may be laborious for him to return round and discover his calm once more. I shortly realized that when Rhett has these moments of intense feelings, the easiest way to assist him relax is to drop every thing, maintain him, love on him after which distract him with a narrative, one thing foolish, and so forth. Whereas this appears like a fool-proof plan, it may be difficult while you’re alone with three children, speeding out the door on a busy morning or attempting to get mainly something completed round the home. I’ve at all times mentioned mothering Rhett is simple if all I’ve to do is mom Rhett. Isn’t that the reality about parenting younger children usually although? It’s usually all of the different stuff that makes parenting really feel laborious whereas once we’re capable of drop every thing and focus solely on our youngsters, it feels so purely fantastic.
One in every of our different newer challenges we’ve had is Rhett’s nap time. Oh my gosh you guys, Rhett fights his naps with such depth. He screams his little face off when he sees me coming his method to scoop him up for nap time and whereas I can at all times get him to relax and settle with a couple of tales earlier than placing him in his crib, he not often sleeps today. Rhett will fortunately stay in his crib for greater than an hour quietly taking part in however I really feel like a toddler this younger nonetheless wants a nap, proper!? Chase and Ryder napped till they had been nearly 4 so that is blowing my thoughts. Rhett actually doesn’t appear drained in any respect when it’s nap time however then round 4:30 p.m. each day the fussiness and neediness kicks in and I can inform he wants extra sleep. It’s a problem I don’t anticipate ending quickly as Rhett might be in preschool till 1 p.m. and Chase’s faculty pickup is round 2:40 p.m. so when is that this child imagined to nap in the course of the faculty yr?! One blessing of Covid for our household was having Ryan working from residence so he may stick with the monitor whereas Rhett slept so this can be a new(ish) problem for us. Final yr I often paid a neighbor to sit down in our home for one hour within the afternoon when she was obtainable so I may do Chase’s faculty pick-up whereas Rhett slept however she’s not obtainable usually so it’s tough enterprise. Proper now early mattress occasions for Rhett are the reply to our no-nap dilemma however man oh man I want I may depend on common naps for our little man.
Little Brother Life
We like little brother Rhett! He thinks Chase and Ryder are the COOLEST and after they’re all taking part in collectively, Rhett fuses his large brothers collectively and refers to them as “Chase-Ryder.” He observes them in a method that makes it so apparent he’s absorbing every thing they do and committing it to reminiscence so he can attempt to do all of it, too.
He’s courageous and adventurous and by no means shies away from trying one thing his large brothers are doing, even when the ability or exercise is effectively out of his (nearly) three-year-old wheelhouse. That is wonderful as a result of Rhett is at all times studying and rising and tackling new expertise nevertheless it may also be difficult. We don’t need Rhett to really feel like we’re holding him again however there’s that complete “retaining you secure” factor that may make Mother and Dad really feel like a moist blanket to Rhett typically.
We’ve realized to let Rhett attempt what he desires to attempt (when it’s secure) and he’ll usually shock us together with his skills and dedication. Living proof: Rhett’s swimming! His swimming expertise completely skyrocketed this summer season. Although we nonetheless require him to put on a life jacket within the lake and ocean, within the pool he’s life jacket-free and might soar in and swim to us and soar off the aspect of the pool and swim to the ladder. When peak restrictions don’t restrict him, he’ll go on any waterslide he can and smile so large the entire method down. It’s so enjoyable to observe and after I put on goggles and watch Rhett swim underwater, it’s much more enjoyable as a result of the child actually grins from ear to ear when he swims underwater. We name him our little guppy and he’s definitely taken to the pool in a brand new and crazy-fun method this summer season!
So far as Rhett’s relationship together with his large brothers, it’s completely different relying on the brother and what number of brothers he’s taking part in with without delay. By way of one-on-one play, the five-year age hole between Rhett and Chase signifies that Rhett seems to be to Chase for assist and safety a bit bit extra. Chase is affected person and inclusive with Rhett and likes exhibiting him new expertise and video games. Rhett additionally loves bringing books to Chase for Chase to learn to him which by no means ceases to soften my mama coronary heart.
The 2-year age hole between Rhett and Ryder means there’s much more ardour concerned of their dynamic. This ardour will be fantastic — they snicker so laborious and play so creatively collectively — nevertheless it may also be difficult as nobody elicits intense screams from Rhett greater than Ryder. This usually boils all the way down to Rhett interrupting no matter Ryder is doing and Ryder telling him “no” which, at nearly three-years-old, is mainly the worst phrase in your entire world to Rhett. (Their dynamic jogs my memory a lot of Chase and Ryder’s dynamic at this age when Ryder was in Rhett’s footwear.)
Rhett copies Ryder all day lengthy and has picked up on a whole lot of Ryder’s pursuits, making them his personal. Rhett observed Ryder’s love for puzzling and shortly realized to fly by Melissa & Doug puzzles beside Ryder whereas his large brother tackles larger puzzles. When Chase is at college and Rhett has Ryder to himself, he follows Ryder in all places. They’ve the loudest and cutest dance events collectively and can line up automobiles and trains and provide you with probably the most artistic video games to play. Rhett is commonly completely satisfied to take heed to Ryder’s concepts and I’ve discovered myself telling Ryder to offer Rhett a “job” after they play as a result of Rhett does rather well with listening to Ryder’s strategies and it appears to forestall fights after they have separate roles of their playtime. (Fights over coveted toys are nonetheless probably the most intense fights they’ve round right here.)
Having three boys, three brothers, is really one of many absolute greatest blessings in my life. I pray so laborious that the closeness they share proper now lasts a lifetime and watching their relationships develop and strengthen brings me a lot pleasure. Whereas Rhett is simply too younger to totally grasp the idea of gratitude, he doesn’t appear to be too younger to appreciate his large brothers are his favourite playmates and clearly loves them so, a lot. It’s a sense that’s one hundred pc reciprocated.
Random Issues to Bear in mind
- Favourite Meals: Yogurt, pouches, cucumbers, carrots, ice cream, hen nuggets, toast with butter and honey, recent or dried mango, Easy Mills almond flour crackers, Bobo’s chocolate chip bites, lollipops
- Favourite Shade: Inexperienced
- Favourite Books: Little Excavator, Pete the Cat Books, any seek-and-find books, Little Blue Truck Leads the Way (he cracks up on the line, “Higher transfer it Little Beeper!”)
- Favourite Tune: “This Little Gentle of Mine”
- Favourite Present: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Octonauts
- Favourite Animal: Canines
- Wake Up Time/Mattress Time: Bedtime is true round 7:30 p.m. however when he doesn’t nap, he’ll go to mattress as early as 6:15 p.m. Get up time is round 7 a.m.
Likes
- His large brothers
- Pepper (aka “Peppy”)
- Vehicles, vehicles and trains
- Out of doors adventures
- Driving his bike
- Books
- Constructing with magnetic tiles and blocks
- Creativeness video games
- Lining up numerous little toys
- Puzzles
- Coloring, portray and craft initiatives
- Cooking and baking with Mother
- Biggie Beads
- Dancing
Dislikes
- Preliminary separation from Mother
- Being informed “no”
- When his large brothers have one thing he desires
- Naps
Three-12 months-Previous Favorites
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