Goodness! It's great to turn 3!!!

Tate's birthday celebration continued throughout the week.  I record him opening his gifts as most of them were sent from people who love him dearly, but can't be with him.  So, I want them to be able to experience his joy and excitement, so I record him and send them the videos of him opening their gifts.


Aunt Lindsey brought her gift over on Tuesday, and we did that because he was so overwhelmed on his actual birthday that I thought it best to have him open some gifts as the week went on.  And I knew her gift was some sort of Thomas, so he would be deliriously happy!

(I love listening to him cackle and laugh as he's reading his book.  I have no idea where this laugh has come from!  He was just so very happy. )
He went to sleep that night clutching his new sticker book, and he asked for his new Grandmommy train blanket, the very one he tossed aside on his birthday :)

Wednesday his gift arrived from his daddy, Oma, Opa and Aunt Katha and Uncle Sebastian...He was thrilled!!!

He loves this new LEGO train!  But oh my goodness...the Oma and Opa cookies were the biggest hit.  Oma searched for these egg-free cookies for him in anticipation of his visit to Germany this past May.  And while he was there, he just ate them up with absolute gusto!  They are egg-free and sugar-free (and flavor free in my and Christian's opinion :) ), and I mentioned to Christian that I would love to have some shipped here.  They were kind enough to send him three packages for his birthday.  As is apparent they were the highlight of the birthday week!


Thursday his gift arrived from his twin 3 year old cousins, Kayla and Korey, from the Bronx.  They turned 3 the week before Tate.  We called them on Face Time, so they got to see him opening their gift!

So in light of all the generosity of those who love Tate and myself, we will be donating some of his old toys to his daycare and other children who I know don't have as much as we do, and not just materially, but spiritually and emotionally.  Though Tate may be wrapped in the materialism of his birthday gifts at this age, I hope as he ages and grows up that he understands that we need to pay it forward.  I intend to have him carry some of the toys into his daycare as well as give them to the children who need them.


We are very, very blessed.  The number of friends and family who called and wished Tate a Happy Birthday was overwhelming.


Three amazing years.  I look at this little boy with his crooked smile, gorgeous eyes, quick laughter, sweet hugs and lovable kisses and am incredulous that he's mine, that he's part of me.  I carried this little boy in my tummy and now he's here, a manifestation of all my dreams.  

Happy 3rd Birthday Tate!!!

My sweet birthday boy!  We had a most amazing day!!


Tate had his usual breakfast of champions...plain oatmeal, plain yogurt and cheerios!

A leisurely breakfast and opening his first gift from Mommy...

We then made our morning trek to daycare and work.  Sweet Tate was not too thrilled to have to spend his morning at daycare, but he had a great morning!!

So, I took the afternoon off.  I could not fathom not spending the day of my son's birth with him.  It broke my heart to have to work in the morning.  And I know many, many people don't like to make a big deal about birthdays, their own or other people's.  I do not get that.  Every single person's birth should be celebrated in my opinion.  For without a BIRTH DAY none of us would be here.  The day we were brought into this world is the most important day in our own individual lives.  So I make a huge deal out of it, for myself and most especially for my son.


My mom had an appointment in town, so she came to my office when she was finished and once I was done we headed out to pick up Tate's cake for his celebration at daycare.  Of course I had a few balloons on order as well.


We headed over to his school arriving right after naptime!  The kids had a great, great time.  I so love watching Tate interact with his friends and his teachers in this place he spends 10 hours a day, four days a week.

Having so much fun during the celebration...

Then it was time to say so long  to his friends.  Watching these little children, these babies to me, love on my sweet boy and tell him how much they love him just made my heart swell.  His school may not be the fanciest or the swankiest or any of the -est, but his teachers love him and treat him beautifully and he's learned more in the 2 years he's been there than I could ever have imagined.  

Most of all, these little ones are full of love certainly a testament to the love they receive on a daily basis....

In the last two pictures he's with his teachers, Mrs. L in the top one (his lead teacher) and Ms. I in second one :)

And when we arrived at our house...

I think Tate was a bit overwhelmed by the truck.  He was excited, but it was a bit more work than I think he anticipated as he tries to figure out how to push the gas and control the steering wheel :)


So we went inside and opened a few more gifts...


Aunt Shelley came by with gifts for her godson, and she joined us for dinner.  We called Christian on Skype, so he was able to 'participate' in the gift opening!  Aunt Kellie, Scotty and William joined us as well.



 

Then it was dinnertime!!  We were off to Chuy's!  Fantastic Tex-Mex!  

Bathtime would not be complete without the insert from his gift from Aunt Dottie and Aunt Rita...the Thomas Misty Island Take 'n Play...

Then he slept the sleep of the angels...tuckered out, well celebrated, full of cake and hopefully some amazing memories....with the insert :)

Happy Birthday Sunshine!!!

July 23rd - Three Years Later

July 23, 2009

3:13pm

A bell rings.

Tate Christopher has been born.

7 pounds 12.7 ounces

19 1/2 inches long

July 23, 2012

3:13pm

A child laughs.

Tate Christopher is 3 years old.

31 pounds

Larger than life.

Another Birthday Celebration on Sunday....For Another Sweet 3 Year Old!

Sunday morning found us lazing about the house.  What better way to wind down after such a festive Saturday afternoon.  We had spent Saturday after the party opening gifts;  as always our friends were extremely generous...

  

After I put him to bed on Saturday I put most of his gifts back in their bags, and he was thrilled to re-open them on Sunday morning.  Two early faves were the floor Melissa and Doug transportation puzzle from Cousins Scotty and William and his Thomas chair from Hannah.  Humorously he keeps calling the chair cover his umbrella cover for his chair :)

We headed out for some grocery shopping along with his new favorite Thomas book along with his baby doll. 

 

He was sure to show the book off to everyone in Whole Foods who oohed and ahhed over it with him.  Home for lunch and then it was time to head off in the car for a nap on our way to Alie's 3rd birthday party at Pump It Up!  (what a fun-filled birthday weekend!)  Tate was a bit grumpy at first as he woke up right when we arrived after napping a good hour, and he is not a fan of large slides these days.  But he got into his groove and had a great time with his little daycare buddies.

So

Much 

Fun!

Posing with the birthday girl!

More cake!!

 

We ventured down to my parents' for a while after the party, and Tate and his papa did their train watching on Papa's iPad after he opened his festive train set from Alie!!

Home again for dinner and bedtime which did NOT go well this evening.  I put him in bed around 7:45 and at 8 he was starting to fuss and cry.  I wanted to get started on putting together his birthday gift...a Jeep Wrangler Power Wheels car which I knew would take me a while.  In my garage.  With my pink tools.  In the sticky, humid, mosquito filled evening.  I opted to let him try to work it out himself and went on down to the garage.  I don't know if hearing the garage door go up upset him even more for fear I was leaving, but he became hysterical, and I was not happy.  I went on back upstairs and barged into the room to see what was wrong and he was apopletic.  Hiccupping tears and sobbing.  I picked him up out of the crib and calmed my sweet boy down;  I really think he thought I left the house, though how he heard the garage door go up over his sound machine and lullaby CD I don't know, because he never hears anything else.  Anyway, I rocked him to sleep and in fact when I did finally make it to bed after midnight I put him in bed with me.

So, why did I not make it to bed until midnight?

All the many pieces!

Halfway done!!!

Ta-Da!!!

Though the assembly instructions said to allow at least 30 minutes for assembly of the Power Wheels Jeep Wrangler, it did not say it could take over 2 hours.  2 hours and 15 minutes to be exact.  But I did it.  All on my own!!  It turned out just great!  I collapsed into bed at 12:17am, my sweet little boy beside me :)