Dear Tornado,

 To my rambunctious 3 year-old,

My goodness, the years fly by so fast!  I still remember bringing you home from the hospital to our apartment in Provo.  Our home hadn't been finished yet and you were only weeks old when we had to move.  You've always been so good at going with the flow.  Even today, you are my child who rarely complains.  When we go on hikes, or go somewhere too cold, or stay somewhere a long time, you don't whine.  You do have your breaking point, of course, but I am always amazed that my youngest walker will walk the furthest and be happy.

 You are my third child, and my second boy.  You work extra hard to make sure you don't get lost in the shuffle!  You are so inquisitive and interested in things around you.  You test everything.  You love the noise of playing loudly, but will also sit down for quiet concentrated time with books and toys.  You are very clever in the way you figure out toys and are fun to watch.

 You love to pull stools and chairs around the kitchen, always wanting to see what's going on and how you can help. You never want to be out of the loop or lose a turn.  You find out what's going on and you become part of it.

You share a room with your older brother and you really idolize him.  You follow his lead and copy whatever he does, whether right or wrong! 

You are by far the cleanest child we have.  You manage to make your way into the shower just about every morning while one of us is getting ready, and sometimes back into the tub at night.  You know how to wash your own hair (although you also like to dump shampoo down the drain) and find your own towel after getting out.  You always smell good!  Well, except for your feet.  You do have stinky feet!

For now, you are our wild child!  You seem to have boundless energy that goes and goes and goes... until you come to me and announce you are tired and ready for bed.  Your zest for life is infectious- both to your parents and to your siblings.  You often start great wrestling matches with Dad and are a leader at organizing imaginary playtime with your older brother and sister.  I am amazed at your imagination and the details you describe.

You were a late walker, but you would never know that now.  You run and play with all the big kids on our street.  You have even managed to sneak out of the house by yourself a couple times, just trying to get in some extra time on your bike.  You talk so well for a boy your age, and really express your thoughts and feelings with big words. You make sure to tell everyone that you are a "big dog."

You have an amazing capacity to remember songs.  You know all the words to "God Bless the USA" and several others.  In the car, you ask me to turn on certain songs because you have memorized the numbers for all the songs.  In fact, you know the CD better than I do!  You already do great leading music when we have family night.  I am so impressed with your memory and love of great songs.

Your dad and I love the quiet moments in the morning when you climb in bed with us just a few minutes before we need to get up- how do you know to come in just then?  You truly are one-of-a-kind and you just make me smile.  I love you so much!

Love,
Mom