He's never met a stranger and still views every kid he meets as a new friend. He's learned to introduce himself and ask what their name is and if they'd like to play. He's seriously such a social butterfly, and I don't just mean that he's friendly with new kids, but also that he really gets that life is better when you're spending it with people you love. He loves playing with his friends, especially his second-cousin Liam who is his same age and lives down the street (no words can capture how awesome it is to have them so close; we literally play 1-2x per day) and his big cousins Tucker and Kyndall. And our pastor's son, Evan, who is in elementary school and plays baseball with him.
Speaking of baseball, yes, we are still all BASEBALL BASEBALL BASEBALL around here. Beckett is so into baseball, it's rather absurd. It's his favorite toy/game/activity... you ask him what he wants to do and his answer is always (always!) "Um, maybe play some baseball?" We play in the house, in the yard, at the park, at friend's houses, everywhere. He always wants to bring a ball and glove with him when we go somewhere. We usually don't let him because we're really trying to encourage some other interests, but the heart wants what the heart wants I guess ;) His friend Evan handed him down his old baseball uniform and Beckett wears it all the time (he especially loves the real baseball socks, which he'll grab out of the dirty laundry and wear 4 days straight). What may be the craziest thing about his baseball obsession is at least once a day I find him practicing. Like really practicing, not playing around. He'll say he's practicing his pitching, or his catching, or his batting, or his stealing, or checking for the runners, or his sliding, or his grounders or his pop flies. He'll be throwing the ball against the fence and trying to catch it as it rolls back or he can even toss it up in the air and catch it himself. Kolby can pitch it overhand to him and he nails it (hard!) probably half the time. He and Kolby watch a little bit of the Rangers game most days now that it's baseball season and Beckett's knowledge of the game and of the Rangers is absolutely insane. He knows all the players and even who is hurt and who got moved down to the minors and who hit the homeruns in last night's game and who's pitching and who's fast and on and on. His favorite position by far is catcher. If you ask him what he wants to be when he grows up he'll tell you he wants to be a catcher for the Texas Rangers. I know he'd love to start playing tee-ball, but with two boys we've got a lifetime of organized sports ahead of us so for now we just play at home and all it takes to absolutely make Beckett's day is to get a baseball game together. Samuel has picked up on baseball from watching big brother and Beckett is surprisingly patient with him and they've started to play baseball together in the backyard and it's the absolute cutest thing ever.
Viewing Samuel as a baseball buddy was a turning point in their brother relationship, I think. Just over the past few weeks they've become occasional playmates in other activities as well. They like to build with mega blocks, usually creating "stadiums" for their animals and playing with a set of baseball figurines. The other day Beckett said they were playing a game called "Best Friend Day" where they threw all of Beckett's stuffed animals off his bed then gathered them in his closet together. We're encouraging Beckett to try not to get frustrated with Samuel when they play and to use his words (rather than just yelling no, or pushing him, etc.), and told him to be specific so Samuel can learn. We overheard him last week saying "Sammy, please do not knock over my baseball guys. Or else I'm going to go get Daddy and spit at you." Yep, that's specific :)
Beckett loves books, and Kolby takes him (and Samuel) to the library a couple times a week so we always have a bin of library books around to enjoy. He's gotten into the Bernstein Bears lately which is awesome because I remember loving those books as a kid. He's also very interested in the story of David and Goliath and often grabs one of the kid story bibles we have and flips to that page and tells the story.
He's a great eater but is still allergic to milk and eggs. Thankfully his only reaction if he eats much of those foods is he gets a small patch of eczema on his face and the backs of his arms get rough (also eczema) so it's nothing major but we are still hopeful that he'll grow out of those allergies. The allergist said it's fairly likely that he'll grow out of them before he starts kindergarten, and we're praying that's the case. He's a big eater and likes pretty much all foods, except white potatoes (unless they are in the form of french fries), blueberries, raspberries, and I think that's about it. He's not in love with vegetables but we're usually able to convince him to eat enough. He likes so many foods I'm not sure what to call his favorites, but he certainly loves salmon, sweet potatoes, meat, pickles and hot dogs. He's growing like a weed and was holding around the 90th percentile for weight and height at his 3 year checkup and I'm guessing that's still the case now. Napping has been a roller coaster these last six months, with him going through many days where he refused to nap, but he normally gives in and konks out for a couple hours.
As far as his personality, gosh I don't even know where to start. He's such an awesome kid. He's fun and funny and sweet and patient and smart and easygoing and, as odd as it is to say this about a three year old, he's really reasonable. He accepts our explanations for why he can't do something or have something without throwing a fit (most of the time). He's willing to compromise or share or be patient. Of course he has his moments, and when he's truly having a fit he yells and screams and gets super ornery and basically insane. But those are few and far between, thankfully. We haven't found a great discipline/parenting strategy for him in those moments (when we're firm with him it makes things worse, with him yelling louder or lashing out more) but we're all about positive praise and dote on him constantly for being kind and making good choices and turning his attitude around, etc.... you know, sort of a "the best offense is a good defense" mentality. But seriously, when he really flips out it definitely makes us question our own sanity. Parenting. What a ride!
We spend a lot of time in the Target baseball aisle
Grocery store date
Play date with his friend Declan, who's dad is a fireman
Texas week at school
Best buds. We are so lucky that Tucker is the head of the cousin pack. He has such a kind heart and gentle spirit.
The cousins wanted to do an armadillo hunt at the ranch but it was really cold outside, so I drew armadillos on index cards and taped them throughout the house and sent the kids to find them with a flashlight. Total hit, if I do say so myself.
After nap snuggles, aka the only time he'll snuggle
Haircut! His hair is getting coarser every day. Thanks, Kolby!
Took him on a one-on-one date to the sporting goods store and out to get bagels!
Kolby's grandmother is in her late 80s and was reading him books and even playing some baseball!
Donut date
Something small I want to remember... Beckett takes forever and a day to go #2 so this is a really common scene, and chasing around a toddler in a public restroom for 20 minutes while we wait just adds to the fun.
Getting so tall!
Checking out Liam's new hermit crabs, named Liam and Beckett :)
Anytime the weather is nice, we're in the yard, likely on the trampoline
Fun at the park
We told Beckett and Liam that when they turned three they could have a sleepover. We made good on the promise and they had a great time!
We used to do a babysitting swap with the Gordons but paused when Sam came along, and recently tried to start it up again. The night we kept the boys went great. The next time the Gordons kept the boys (at our house, since we have the crib and twin beds). Kolby and I walked in from dinner at 8:30 to the scene of both boys running around naked and really proud. Apparently all was fine when they checked on them...both in their own beds and quiet, but then five minutes later when they checked again they were both naked and confessed to Liam peeing on his bed and Beckett peeing on the wall (?). So they earned themselves a suspension from each other.
Watching Elf the musical like a boss
And now for a series of naptime shenanigans
Notice how he put a pair of underwear on every single stuffed animal
What happens when he refuses to nap. Dinner and a show!
He dreams of getting his own "real catchers equipment" and always wants to go to sports stores to try some on.
Kolby's students had choir concert and it was fun to take Beckett since he's now at the age where he's no trouble at all to have along.
A highlight of trips to Wimberley: Poppa's breakfasts!
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