The Big 3

Stinky Head Monkey Toes (SHMT) turned three near the end of August, and we celebrated with grandma and the Red Sultans at Scandia.

SHMT had a blast. Pizza, cupcakes, soda, ice tea, miniature golf, bumper boats, go-cart raceway, and kiddie-winkie casino (arcade) -- all made for one very exciting birthday party shared with loved ones.

SHMT loved it all, even the beet flavored pink cupcakes!

Three-year olds are so easy to please!

We've had so much going on lately, that I've neglected to report on Sir SHMT's progress. Let me just say, he's very, very sweet, funny, intelligent, articulate, and really knows how to reason now. But couple that with his physical aggressiveness and fearlessness, and we have an endless source of entertainment and unexpected surprises.

Specifics, you ask? Ah, yes. There is

1) the climbing of bookcases,

2) the destruction of all things paper, like the books in the bookcases,

3) the terrorist guerrilla tactics of sibling stalking and maiming (POOR, POOR BedHeadSid...),

4) the throwing of all objects (e.g., water, glass, food, anything potentially lethal), especially breakable, mess-making things

5) the squealing or screaming ban-shee like,

6) the singing of many nursery rhymes, ballads, musicals, and movie theme songs (I cannot drown out the theme from Ironman...)

7) the agile and deftly performed hopping, skipping, dancing, soccer kicking, and acrobatics off the floor, couch , and bed

8) the ability to burp at will (he's been doing that since he was one!)

9) the fascination with chocolate, pink and lip gloss (fabulous!) and lastly,

10) the reasoning and wherewithal that enables him to reason and clarify "who me?" when BedHeadSid asks a question not addressed to anyone in particular.

I know SHMT is like most other children his age, but then again, he has a unique sense of being, a personality that somehow separates him from the pack. We love you Stinky Head Monkey Toes, you great, big three-year old, our little man!