Piper Laughs

It's kind of hard to get Piper to laugh. It's not that she's unhappy, it just takes a lot to get her to actually LAUGH. She'll smile huge smiles and she'll do this silent giggle thing that reminds me of Grover's laugh. Today, though, Daddy got her to LAUGH!! These are probably some of the loudest laughs we've ever heard out of her!

Mackinley Turns 3!!!

The day he was born.

At his 1st birthday party

The morning of his 2nd birthday.

A few days before his 3rd birthday

I can't believe our little man is THREE YEARS OLD!!! How is this possible??

Some of my favorite things about Mackinley:

• His passion for life
• His contagious giggle
• How he still calls me "Momma"
• The way he wants to snuggle with me after his nap
• The way he sings his ABC's and "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"
• The way he says "chooly" instead of "chilly": "It's CHOOLY out, Momma!"
  
• When Piper is crying, he puts his little arm around her and says "Awww! It's ok, Peanut!"
• When Piper is screaming or getting into one of his toys and he says "PEANUT NUH-NAY!"
• How he calls Jason "Daddy Nuh-Nay" and me "Momma Nuh-Nay"
• When he says "Ooooohh! That's too funny" or "Oooooh, Momma!"
• His complete adoration for his Papoo
• His loving spirit and kind heart
• When he says "Here's a toot for you!" or "I pooped! You like it?!?"
• Stripping down to his diaper and proclaiming "YAKE-ED TIME!!!!!"
  
• His Ironman impression and all of the steps that lead up to it (putting on the suit)
• His prayers and attempts at repeating Bible verses
  

Some of his favorite things:

• Ironman, The Hulk, and Transformers
  
• Chocolate milk
• Oatmeal, waffles, peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, hot dogs, cheeseburgers, shakes
  
• Books
• Coloring
• Playing outside
• Snow & Mud (and if they're both together in one place...WATCH OUT!)
• "Being" Ironman, The Hulk, or Bumblebee
• Going to church and playing with Dalton
• Helping Daddy get dressed for work and saying "CLEAR!" in Jason's radio
• Matchbox cars & dinosaurs
• Papoo
• Getting to stay up when Piper takes her morning nap and getting to stay up later than Piper for afternoon naptime and bedtime
• "Curious George", "Clifford The Big Red Dog", "Dora The Explorer", "Diego"

Mackinley is such a blessing. He becomes more and more fun with each passing day. I am SO PROUD of him and I can't believe I'm his Momma. I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings for him. I can't wait to watch him grow into a wonderful man who will be an amazing husband and father. But I savor every single day because just look how fast these THREE years have flown by!!! I love you, Little Man, more than I could ever express.

From Grammy & Jim!!!

Mackinley got a package in the mail from Florida!! He got a fun pop-up book and a stuffed dog. He also got a card with an alligator-pirate sticker on the front! He loved all of it! He wants the book read to him every night before bed. And he likes to do all of the little activities in it HIMSELF! :)

"The Hulk"

"The Hulk"!! This has been watched 3 times since he got it!

Piper Helps

Piper enjoyed Mackinley's discarded wrapping paper.

Ironman!!

Ironman!!! This present made Mackinley very happy! I don't think he's put it down, except to sleep and eat, since he opened it!

From Grandma Lisa

Mackinley had another package in the mail! This time from Grandma Lisa in Michigan. She sent him "Kung Fu Panda" and the book "I Know An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly". He loves both!!

Thank you, everyone, for helping make Macky's special day even more special! We're having a party for him on Saturday so expect more pictures soon!

Buddies

Mackinley and his friend, Dalton. Mackinley talks about Dalton every single Sunday after church. They're buds.

Play Doh

(WOW Kaeleigh looks like her Aunt Amanda-Jason's sister-in this picture!!)

The kids LOVE to play with their Play Doh (Thank you, Grandma Lisa!!)

Jason enjoys it, too! I told him he could get a job at a bakery making fondant animals!

Ironman?

Since "The Polar Express" has been put away until next year, Mackinley has turned his movie obsession to "Ironman". One day he was stomping around the house and I said "Mackinley James! Stop stomping so loud!" He looked at me (making the above face) and said "I not Kinley, I Ironman!"

So, playing along, I later said "Hey, Ironman, want some lunch?" He took his hand and pretended to remove a mask and said "I not Ironman, Momma, I Kinley!" This has since become an every day occurrence. I wish I could show you a video of him "putting on his suit". I will work on getting that because it's priceless.

Cupcakes & Smiles

Mackinley enjoying a cupcake. Piper kept smiling for the camera!

Snow Play

Jason & Mackinley played outside in the snow today. Piper and I stayed inside where it was warm!

Look at his rosy cheeks!

New Year's Resolution??

I was looking at myself in the mirror tonight. I pulled up my shirt to look at my stomach and Mackinley said "Momma, you fat. You need to do your exercises."

From the mouths of babes and no one is more honest than a 3 year old child! So I suppose I need to buckle down and do my exercises. And maybe stop eating.

Movie Monday

Last Monday we took Mackinley for his first movie experience! We had lunch at The Munchie Emporium (Mad Anthony's Brewery).

We saw "The Tale of Despereaux" . It was an adorable movie. Both kids were on their best behavior and it was a very wonderful experience!