Jack at 3 Years Old

This post is way overdue (and far too long for anyone other than me to want to read) but we've had such sleeping problems that I haven't been able to think straight lately. Other than not sleeping (and the behavior problems caused by sleep deprivation for the last 7ish weeks) Jackson is still the sweet, loving, precocious and hysterically funny little boy he's always been. Here's a snapshot (perhaps panoramic) of Jack at 3 years. . .

What he LOVES: Jacks loves trains, family, his baby brother, his friends, big parties, play dates and groups. He loves being in big groups of kids. He makes friends very easily and has no concept of strangers. He is very enthusiastic and sweet. He still loves to cuddle. Lately he crawls into bed with me in the mornings and snuggles. Yesterday he looked over at me and put his hands on my face and said, "we like to cuddle because we love each other. We are best friends!" And even though I was dying of exhaustion from being up with him 4 times and Bear 2 times the night prior my heart still melted. Jax is still obsessed with firefighters and policemen. He loves to ask questions (THOUSANDS of them) and wants to know everything about everything. He loves school and his teachers. He loves fruits (other than apples) and vegetables and has become a much better eater in the last year. He drinks a big green smoothie every morning and doesn't really fuss about things he's not allowed to eat. Of course when his class ate McDonalds the other day and he told them all it was garbage and that they shouldn't put it in their bodies I realized it was time to talk about how others can eat how ever their parents let them. And that we should not comment:)

What he says: One thing about Jackson lately is that he has kept me laughing so hard with the totally crazy things he says.
*****
Jax: Is gas like a green smoothie?
Me: No, you would never want to drink gasoline.
Jax: No, it's like a green smoothie for a car because green smoothies give us energy to life and gas gives a car energy.
*****
Jax: Please can I have another brother and a sister? I'll take care of them all by myself! You can just sleep and I will nurse the babies and change the diapers. And when I'm 16 I can even drive them to school!
*****
Jax: Mommy, do I look adorbidle (adorable)?
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The other day I found an empty roll of toilet paper on the floor of Jackson's room and went to throw it away when he stopped me.
Jax: No mommy, let's save this toilet paper roll for some tiny mouses and they can use it to wipe their tiny bo bo's. But you would have to hold the mouses over the toilet because their legs probably aren't long enough to reach the potty. It would get really messy if you didn't hold them.
*****
Jax: So, God is in your heart even though I can't see him. Is Lennon in my heart right now?
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After talking on the phone to one of Gaga's friends the other day Jackson put down the phone and said, "Gaga, does Frank buy organic?"
*****
At the grocery store the other day we were checking out and Jackson was talking to the lady who was bagging the groceries.
Jax: So, how old do you have to be to work here?
Lady: Uh, 16 why?
Jax: I got bills to pay man!
*****
After learning about litter and how it's against the law.
Jax: Uh, mommy, is poop litter?
Me: Why Jack?
Jax: No worries mommy. Never mind.
*****
Jax: Mommy, does Mickey Mouse have Jesus in his heart? Because I sure do want to see him in heaven!
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Me: Jackson, don't put stickers on my bed. You know you're not allowed to put stickers on wood.
Jax: Sorry mommy, I guess I have short term memory loss.
Me: What? Where did you even hear that term?
Jax: Dorie from Finding Nemo has it. I have it too. That's why I can't obey sometimes, I can't remember!
*****
Jax: Mom, the Cowboys are playing today and I'm going to watch with Daddy. He's going to teach me all of the rules of football!
Me: That sounds great Jack.
Jax: After he teaches me the rules I'll teach you and then you can be like a really cool mommy girl who knows football and wears hair bows and lipstick!
*****
Jay: Jackson, it's time to get ready for bed.
Jax: Uh oh, I turned my listening ears off and now I can't hear you daddy. . .
*****
Jax: Mommy, you spell Hillary H-I-L-L-A-R-Y.
Me: Yea, uh how did you know that?
Jax: I heard you say it on the phone today. I always memorize what you say on the phone.
*****
Jax: Mommy, how old do you have to be to vote?
Me: 18. Jackson do you know who the President of the United States is right now?
Jax: Sure do mom. Jesus Christ!
*****
Yesterday we got a Disney credit card application in the mail. It had a paper credit card attached to it and Jackson was thrilled when he saw it.
Jax: Momma! I have my own credit card now! I'm going to buy you a princess dress for Halloween because you are so beautiful!
*****


What he knows:
Jackson recognizes most of his letters and all (0-9) of his numbers. He can write a few of them. He knows my cell number, Jay's cell number, our address, the city that most of his friends and family live in, the spelling of his, mine and Jay's names. He memorizes things very quickly. . .which is sometimes not a good thing. I am constantly amazed by the sponge-like nature of toddlers. Being Jackson's mother I am very biased but it truly is remarkable how much kids can learn on a daily basis. He is also very curious about how old you have to be to do certain things.


He is super nosy. Anyone who talks on the phone with me knows that. I can't make any exclamation without him saying, "what happened mommy!? Why did you say that?" My parents tell me that one is just pure karma. My nickname as a child was EARS because they said I heard and remembered everything. I thought it was a girl thing but maybe it's just a first born thing because Mia has it too.

Jackson's behavior lately (other than the sleep thing) has gotten so much better. He's gotten really good at obeying and not being so impulsive. In addition he hasn't gotten a single time out at school this year. Granted it's only been two months but for a very active little boy that's a long time to be on the green (they use a green, yellow and red light system for behavior). I mentioned this earlier in the Bear post but Jax is such a fantastic big brother. Even when he's at his worst he's still sweet to Baron.

Ok, well, as you can see I could go on forever but since I am ready for bed I'll stop here and just say that the last 3 years have been the most wonderful years of my life. Jackson-I hope you read this someday and know how loved, cherished, prayed over and delighted in you were as a child. You are one fantastic kid and I can't wait to watch you grow into the man that God created you to be! (Now usually I would try to fix that sentence to not end with "be" but these days I have thrown all spelling and grammar concerns to the wind!)