Last Day as a Three-Year-Old

Today turned into a big celebration of doing everything for the last time as a three-year-old for Jacob. Even though his birthday is Thursday, we wanted Wednesday to be super special and turn his birthday into a big, special time for him this year.

We all got up and rushed out the door to enjoy free Chik-Fil-A breakfast. Every Wednesday they give one free entree per person in the dining room, so we headed in to enjoy it together as a family. Jacob and Joshua ate a great breakfast, and we were thrilled to head to the park afterwards. But, then a teenage driver hit our car in the parking lot. It took a while, but we were eventually on our way to the park! We finally had a break in the extreme heat, so it was a beautiful morning for the kids to run around.

 Joshua cracked me up with how determined he was to put all of this into the tunnel.

 Jacob loved this slide!

 After the park, we headed home and had some lunch. Joshua took a nap right away, but Jacob stayed up for a little while to play. He took a short nap, and Joshua slept for almost three hours! Definitely the longest nap he has ever had!

A trip to the library was next on the agenda. Joshua cracked me up because he took a book with a fire truck on the front and carried it over to another mom and said "wee wee." I forgot to put on here that he has started calling anything with a siren a "wee wee." What is so funny about that is that Jacob did the same thing all the way up until he was almost three years old. I love that they both say the same random things sometimes! And, it's hilarious to hear Joshua say "wee wee" at every police car, fire truck, ambulance and siren! We checked out lots of train books for the birthday boy, and then headed back to the house to drop off Joshua and Daddy so Jacob and I could enjoy a date night.

We went to Jacob's favorite restaurant, Moe's, and enjoyed sitting at dinner without hurrying along or sharing time with anyone else. Jacob asked me to sit at a table since Joshua wasn't with us (we normally sit at a booth with him on the end), and asked to sit on the same side. I just loved hearing everything he had to say and what he was thinking throughout the whole dinner. It was just so special to get this time with him where we weren't in a hurry to get home or to do anything but spend time together. We had just taken a few bites when out of nowhere he reached over and gave me a huge hug. Melted my heart.

Every time I got up to get a refill or to get him something or to throw something away, Jacob came right with me and hugged onto my leg. He was just soaking up this alone time so much. We make sure we take each of the boys on their own sometimes, but Jacob was looking forward to this so much that it was just so special for us to have this night together. I asked him during dinner what his favorite part of the day was, and he said, "sitting here eating dinner with you, just me and you time." He is so sweet! He got to try my diet cherry coke for the first time, but he also just enjoyed trying both cherry and raspberry lemonade. We talked about some of the things he loves to do with his brother - dance, and chase each other and play dark out (they turn all the lights off and use their flashlights only and hide in a room or closet, and Jacob calls it dark out or darkness, so funny!). We talked about how he misses his friends at school, and that he can't wait to get the fire truck for his birthday. We talked the entire dinner about everything and nothing special at the same time, and I wouldn't have it any other way! He makes me laugh, that's for sure.

 My grandma had sent Jacob some birthday money, so we headed to Toys R Us so Jacob could pick out any toy he wanted with the money. He was so funny on the way into the store because he said his belly was so full from dinner! First he picked a train that would go with his Thomas trains, but finally settled on more freight cars for his GeoTrax collection.

 After paying, Jacob received his birthday balloon and crown from Toys R Us. The lady didn't tie the balloon on tight enough, so as soon as we stepped outside it was off into the air, with Jacob holding onto the weight still so tightly. He was upset, but I took him back inside and we got a brand new balloon. Happy once more, I asked Jacob if he wanted to head to the bookstore or home. He picked the bookstore!

I love that our special place together is Barnes and Noble. He headed straight for the train table, and then I read him an adorable book, "Demolition." Then, he headed to the Titanic section, and we went through a 60 page book on the Titanic. The book took about half an hour, and Jacob loved every minute of it! So did I! I loved not having to tell him to hold on while I chased Joshua or that I couldn't go through that book because it was too long while Joshua was with us. He ended up picking out three step into reading books - Twisters, Bolt, and a Transformers one he didn't have already. He has always been fascinated with tornadoes, so they were great picks!

Since we are members of their kids' club, I printed off the coupon for Jacob to get a free cupcake. There were two in the case, and Jacob automatically said "one for me, and one for Joshua!" Since it was free, I said that was sweet, but only got the one, haha. Jacob was stuffed from dinner still, so he gets to eat his cupcake in the morning on his birthday. Normally I'm busy baking cupcakes, but thankfully, Barnes and Noble saved the day this year.

 I loved hearing Jacob say he had such a wonderful time, and that he loved just "special me and you time" together. I just adore this kid, and can't believe this was his last day as a three-year-old. I'm glad we really did it big for today because he really understood this year what a big deal his birthday is to all of us. We love Jacob more than the world, and are just so lucky to have him. Tonight was such a special night that I will never forget. The way he smiled and laughed and knew it was all to celebrate him. He was so sweet to say thank you for everything and to give lots of hugs and kisses.

Here is a peek at some of the decorations Jacob will wake up to in the morning! His family party isn't until Saturday, but we wanted to make sure his real birthday morning was just as special!