Rhett is THREE! – Peanut Butter Fingers
There’s one thing about our youngest youngster’s birthday that brings a few swirl of reflective feelings. Has it actually been three years since I’ve held a new child in my arms? Are we actually three years faraway from the newborn days? Is my child actually now not a child anymore!? The entire above solutions are true however, on the similar time, my infants will at all times be my infants.
As a toddler and as I grew up, my dad would at all times say to me, “You’ll at all times be my little woman.” The sentiment behind these phrases felt stronger to me than I feel he realized. Now, as an grownup, I really feel a brand new sense of depth behind his phrases. Whereas on the floor they appear like a father assuring his daughter she’ll at all times have her dad, now that I’m a mom, I really feel the depth of what he might have been making an attempt to convey. I really feel it fiercely for my sons. They’ll at all times be my infants. They’ll at all times have their mom behind them, cheering them on, loving them unconditionally, supporting them, encouraging them, studying from them, rising with them, praying for them and wanting the very best for them.
Rhett is three years previous and whereas three appears so previous in comparison with the gurgly child days, on the similar time, it appears so very younger. Although we’re satisfied Rhett thinks he’s each bit as large and succesful as his large brothers, moments pop up each single day that make us understand our little man continues to be simply that… little.
He nonetheless wants and desires Mother one million instances a day for love and luxury. His playful character will activate a dime if one thing tragic occurs… ya know like a granola bar breaking in half. He’s exploring his independence with a ferocity he exclaims in a yell-scream — “I do it myself!” (And should your endurance attain new heights should you don’t let him attempt.)
Rhett’s vocabulary exploded proper after his second birthday and it’s been so enjoyable to have the ability to speak to him and watch him be taught and develop and talk in new methods. Rhett says the cutest issues from the second he wakes up and I at all times stay up for going into his room within the morning as a result of I by no means know what he’s going to say. Loads of the time he’ll start his day by telling me, “I like Peppy” (our canine), reminding me, “Moon goes down, solar comes up! It’s morning time!” or asking in regards to the climate. “It wet in the present day? A pleasant day? It sunny today?”
Ryan and I joke that the amount at which our kids talk appears to have solely elevated with every youngster we’ve had. I’ve little doubt delivery order performs an enormous function on this as a result of the squeaky wheel will get the grease and all that however daaang does Rhett love a great yell-talk.
Rhett is fascinated by his large brothers, animals, cooking and baking with me within the kitchen, automobiles and vans (particularly rubbish vans, hearth vans, Jeeps, Porches and Mini Coopers aka “Mini Groupers”), books, Picasso Tiles, trains, Pepper, puzzles, Biggie Beads, coloring, dancing, chopping paper, swimming, water slides, “serving to” Mother and blowing off the driveway with Dad. Speaking with Rhett, studying with Rhett, enjoying with Rhett… it’s all simply so yummy at this age. Peak cuteness for certain!
Rhett additionally loves college and talks so much about his preschool academics and mates. His wonderful academics have praised Rhett’s listening expertise, willingness to assist, kindness towards his classmates and his potential to self-entertain at preschool and I can’t anticipate Rhett to fall in love with preschool much more now that he’ll be going 4 mornings per week this fall! He’s a social child whose curiosity is immediately piqued by making an attempt new issues and preschool has been essentially the most unbelievable factor for him. He nonetheless doesn’t love separating from me at drop-offs (I blame Covid for this as he wasn’t separated from me as early or as typically as his large brothers) however Rhett rallies rapidly and his academics guarantee me his fussiness stops inside a minute of me leaving. He simply desires to verify I get hit with somewhat mom-guilt at drop-offs.
Three-Yr-Previous Challenges
Ryan and I typically joke that Rhett didn’t get the “chill child” memo that always appears to return together with having a 3rd youngster. From day one, Rhett has stored us on our toes and isn’t the laidback third youngster you hear a lot about. He performs arduous, laughs arduous, screams arduous, resists arduous and loves arduous which makes him so splendidly enjoyable however so intensely exhausting generally, too. Please know I share this from a spot of overwhelming love for our big-hearted, big-feeling little man.
If one thing units Rhett off it may be arduous for him to return round and discover his calm once more. I rapidly realized that when Rhett has these moments of intense feelings, one of the best ways to assist him settle down is to drop all the things, maintain him, love on him after which distract him with a narrative, one thing foolish, and so on. Whereas this appears like a fool-proof plan, it may be difficult if you’re alone with three children, dashing out the door on a busy morning or making an attempt to get principally something finished round the home. I’ve at all times mentioned mothering Rhett is simple if all I’ve to do is mom Rhett. Isn’t that the reality about parenting younger children usually although? It’s typically all of the different stuff that makes parenting really feel arduous whereas once we’re in a position to drop all the things and focus solely on our kids, it feels so purely great.
One in every of our different more moderen challenges we’ve had is Rhett’s nap time. Oh my gosh you guys, Rhett fights his naps with such depth. He screams his little face off when he sees me coming his solution to scoop him up for nap time and whereas I can at all times get him to settle down and settle with just a few tales earlier than placing him in his crib, he not often sleeps today. Rhett will fortunately stay in his crib for greater than an hour quietly enjoying however I really feel like a toddler this younger nonetheless wants a nap, proper!? Chase and Ryder napped till they had been virtually 4 so that is blowing my thoughts. Rhett actually doesn’t appear drained in any respect when it’s nap time however then round 4:30 p.m. on daily basis the fussiness and neediness kicks in and I can inform he wants extra sleep. It’s a problem I don’t anticipate ending quickly as Rhett might be in preschool till 1 p.m. and Chase’s college pickup is round 2:40 p.m. so when is that this child imagined to nap in the course of the college 12 months?! One blessing of Covid for our household was having Ryan working from house so he may stick with the monitor whereas Rhett slept so it is a new(ish) problem for us. Final 12 months I sometimes paid a neighbor to sit down in our home for one hour within the afternoon when she was obtainable so I may do Chase’s college pick-up whereas Rhett slept however she’s not obtainable typically so it’s tough enterprise. Proper now early mattress instances for Rhett are the reply to our no-nap dilemma however man oh man I want I may depend on common naps for our little man.
Little Brother Life
We love little brother Rhett! He thinks Chase and Ryder are the COOLEST and once they’re all enjoying collectively, Rhett fuses his large brothers collectively and refers to them as “Chase-Ryder.” He observes them in a method that makes it so apparent he’s absorbing all the things they do and committing it to reminiscence so he can attempt to do all of it, too.
He’s courageous and adventurous and by no means shies away from making an attempt one thing his large brothers are doing, even when the talent or exercise is properly out of his (virtually) three-year-old wheelhouse. That is wonderful as a result of Rhett is at all times studying and rising and tackling new expertise nevertheless it may also be difficult. We don’t need Rhett to really feel like we’re holding him again however there’s that entire “maintaining you protected” factor that may make Mother and Dad really feel like a moist blanket to Rhett generally.
We’ve realized to let Rhett attempt what he desires to attempt (when it’s protected) and he’ll typically shock us along with his talents and dedication. Working example: Rhett’s swimming! His swimming expertise completely skyrocketed this summer season. Although we nonetheless require him to put on a life jacket within the lake and ocean, within the pool he’s life jacket-free and might leap in and swim to us and leap off the facet of the pool and swim to the ladder. When top restrictions don’t restrict him, he’ll go on any waterslide he can and smile so large the entire method down. It’s so enjoyable to look at and after I put on goggles and watch Rhett swim underwater, it’s much more enjoyable as a result of the child actually grins from ear to ear when he swims underwater. We name him our little guppy and he’s actually taken to the pool in a brand new and crazy-fun method this summer season!
So far as Rhett’s relationship along with his large brothers, it’s totally different relying on the brother and what number of brothers he’s enjoying with without delay. When it comes to one-on-one play, the five-year age hole between Rhett and Chase signifies that Rhett appears to Chase for assist and safety somewhat bit extra. Chase is affected person and inclusive with Rhett and likes displaying him new expertise and video games. Rhett additionally loves bringing books to Chase for Chase to learn to him which by no means ceases to soften my mama coronary heart.
The 2-year age hole between Rhett and Ryder means there’s much more ardour concerned of their dynamic. This ardour will be great — they snicker so arduous and play so creatively collectively — nevertheless it may also be difficult as nobody elicits intense screams from Rhett greater than Ryder. This typically boils right down to Rhett interrupting no matter Ryder is doing and Ryder telling him “no” which, at virtually three-years-old, is principally the worst phrase in your entire world to Rhett. (Their dynamic jogs my memory a lot of Chase and Ryder’s dynamic at this age when Ryder was in Rhett’s footwear.)
Rhett copies Ryder all day lengthy and has picked up on lots of Ryder’s pursuits, making them his personal. Rhett seen Ryder’s love for puzzling and rapidly realized to fly via Melissa & Doug puzzles beside Ryder whereas his large brother tackles greater puzzles. When Chase is in school and Rhett has Ryder to himself, he follows Ryder in all places. They’ve the loudest and cutest dance events collectively and can line up automobiles and trains and provide you with essentially the most inventive video games to play. Rhett is usually pleased to hearken to Ryder’s concepts and I’ve discovered myself telling Ryder to provide Rhett a “job” once they play as a result of Rhett does rather well with listening to Ryder’s strategies and it appears to stop fights once they have separate roles of their playtime. (Fights over coveted toys are nonetheless essentially the most intense fights they’ve round right here.)
Having three boys, three brothers, is really one of many absolute largest blessings in my life. I pray so arduous that the closeness they share proper now lasts a lifetime and watching their relationships develop and strengthen brings me a lot pleasure. Whereas Rhett is simply too younger to totally grasp the idea of gratitude, he doesn’t appear to be too younger to comprehend his large brothers are his favourite playmates and clearly loves them so, a lot. It’s a sense that’s one hundred pc reciprocated.
Random Issues to Bear in mind
- Favourite Meals: Yogurt, pouches, cucumbers, carrots, ice cream, hen nuggets, toast with butter and honey, contemporary or dried mango, Easy Mills almond flour crackers, Bobo’s chocolate chip bites, lollipops
- Favourite Colour: Inexperienced
- Favourite Books: Little Excavator, Pete the Cat Books, any seek-and-find books, Little Blue Truck Leads the Way (he cracks up on the line, “Higher transfer it Little Beeper!”)
- Favourite Music: “This Little Mild of Mine”
- Favourite Present: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Octonauts
- Favourite Animal: Canines
- Wake Up Time/Mattress Time: Bedtime is correct round 7:30 p.m. however when he doesn’t nap, he’ll go to mattress as early as 6:15 p.m. Get up time is round 7 a.m.
Likes
- His large brothers
- Pepper (aka “Peppy”)
- Automobiles, vans and trains
- Outside adventures
- Using his bike
- Books
- Constructing with magnetic tiles and blocks
- Creativeness video games
- Lining up varied little toys
- Puzzles
- Coloring, portray and craft initiatives
- Cooking and baking with Mother
- Biggie Beads
- Dancing
Dislikes
- Preliminary separation from Mother
- Being instructed “no”
- When his large brothers have one thing he desires
- Naps
Three-Yr-Previous Favorites
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