Elijah's 3rd Birthday

My baby turned 3 on May 2nd.  I can't believe how fast time flies.  He was such a good, little kid when he was two.  Now it seems like whoever said it was terribly two's was way off.  I, on the other hand, no that it is really supposed to be the terrible THREE's.  Alright, so he hasn't been terrible everyday, but he sure is starting to find his little personality.  It's okay, we are managing the little guy and he makes a nice addition to our family.
On April 30th we celebrated Elijah with a Mickey Mouse birthday party.  I gave him a choice between Elmo and Mickey and he picked the mouse.  A couple months ago he was really into Sesame Street and then it was replaced by Mickey's Playhouse, so I wasn't surprised by his choice.  We had little friends his age invited to his party, with their siblings of course.  My sweet friends, the Hiatts, we kind enough to let me borrow their coto pool house to celebrate Elijah.  It was just perfect.  Similar to last years party, in a lot of ways, but the kid won't even notice.  I struggled with even having a party for him in the first place.  We aren't exactly rolling in cash.  But when miss Eva talks about having four birthday parties this year, I figured, Elijah has to have at least one!  Here are some pics capturing the event.

Okay, so this was the best picture of Elijah so I had to use it.  But man, do these little kids make me laugh.

He was so excited when the pinata came out.  He was literally jumping for joy.

The instructions were, once the candy falls out, everyone grabs ONE bag.  Elijah missed those instructions and grabbed FOUR.  He was so PROUD of himself.  The truth is every time we go to a birthday party there are huge kids there and he is lucky if he gets one piece of candy.  Well, on his own birthday he got all the candy he could have dreamed for.

Eva and I made these little cupcakes.  Recipe was from pinterest, of course, and the cupcake liners were the labor of Eva and I cutting them out and punching out circles.  When I was almost finished I realized, why in the world is my cricut not cutting these things out!?

Later in the week on his actual birthday we had an intimate family birthday party.  Something cute about Elijah.  If you would tell him, "Happy birthday Elijah!"  He would turn around and tell you "Happy birthday papi."  Or whoever he was talking too.  We thought it was funny.  So on his day, we just had more leftover cupcakes and a little gift from mom and dad.  It made me realize how kids are content with just one thing and don't really need too much do they? He was pretty excited about his batmobile.  And frankly, so was his dad.

Sorry for my camera skills.  Guess I should have used a flash.  Anyway, I can't believe that as he gets older, he still is just as messy.  I don't know why he eats his cake and icecream, like a dog, but for whatever reason he thinks that is the only way you can.  In Mexico, or Mexican families, have a tradition of "mordida" which translates to "bite."  My Eva has been to enough birthday parties to know that it is a must on your birthday.  That day, after we were done singing, she started chanting, "mordida, mordida" and Elijah, obediently went down to take his bite.  Once he was on the cupcake Eva helped by faceplanting his face into the cupcake even more.  We laughed and Elijah loved it.

This is for you Elijah:

I mostly just call you Elijah.  Although lately you have been hearing me call you hon too.  Doesn't make your daddy too excited since he doesn't know what his special term of endearment is anymore but I just can't help it.  In fact, one day, I was calling for your daddy, saying, "hon, hon..." and you kept saying "que mammy, que?"  Made me realize your dad was right.  Your daddy calls you Elijon, since a lot of the Mexicans here can't say your name quite right.  That nickname actually comes originally from Eva's little friend, Luna, who would call you that.  Most people say your name Eliya and some just flat out call you Elias, the Spanish way to say Elijah.  

We are still working on the talking bit with you.  I am starting to think that slow and steady wins the race with you.  You have grown leaps and bounds in your communication.  I probably can understand you the best, but that is because I am with you the longest.  You understand both English and Spanish really well.  Understanding language has never been your issue though.  You are pretty lazy when it comes to speaking.  And if you are tired or feeling like a "baby" you resort back to babbling.  Instead of saying, you are all done with something, you say, "Uh, I don like it."  And even though everyone makes it a point to talk to you only in Spanish, you still turn around and speak a lot of English, or you mix the languages when you speak.  My favorite part is when English speaking children come over, they use their Spanish to speak to you.  It is adorable.  If we ask you your name, you can tell me, "Eliya" and if I ask your age, you stubbornly say "uno." You understand the idea of counting, and you try really hard.  But most of the time it goes something like this, "uno, do, cuato, CINCO."  And every morning you ask, "donde ta uh queque?"  To which I reply escuela, but you turn around and say, "oh, ahkay, scool."  And after your breakfast you always asks, "uh, now, watch uh movie?"  If you notice a trend, it is because there is one.  You like to say uh almost before any statement you make.  And one more for the books, I love it when you cover your nose when you realize something is stinky and you say, "uh stinky, mom."  Usually, it's your own feet!

You don't really nap anymore.  Every couple days if you are having a rough day, a lot of crying or whining, you get to take a nap, and if I let you, you would probably sleep for a long time.  But, if I do, then we have a problem at night that you don't want to go to sleep, so you only get to take short naps when you need them. Currently in the heat, you sleep in undies only and you don't seem to care for clothing much.  Probably because your head is so large.  You mostly wear polo shirts with buttons for that reason.  When we put your clothes on in the morning, you fight cause you don't want them on.  You tell us, "I don like ah ropa."  But at night when it is time to take them off, you fight that too.  You are sensitive to hot.  You would rather take a bath with cold water than warm even.  We are still trying to figure that one out.  

You love to climb and wrestle on top of people.  Lucky for you, Eva doesn't seem to mind.  You can play for a real long time with your little cars and trains.  You like to take them with you to the kitchen table and are content playing with them there.  You are pretty good at sharing when asked nicely to do it.  And you still have a fascinating over pinatas.  You can still find anything and turn it into one.  A string with a bucket and River's leash are among your favorite inventions for a pinata.  You are creative and quite the little problem solver.  The other day, I told you you couldn't have these packaged juices out of the fridge.  You were upset, but walked away and went into the play room.  You then proceeded to grab your little scissors and open the package to get your little juice container.  You were so proud of yourself, and I was so impressed you figured that out on your own, that I let you have it.  You like to chew your "chique," and you still love your fruit.  You have also found a new love for the iPad, which for you is an "iPie."

Elijah, you will always be my sweet little boy.  For now, you can never do wrong, and I hope so much it stays that way.  You know how to work me.  If you know I am upset, you forget the sorry, and move right to the "love you mommy" and it almost works every time.  I don't know what my life would be without you.  You are one chill kid, and for that I will forever be thankful.  And even though your daddy doesn't like it too much, you are still my hon.  And with that, I love you to pieces hon :)