Some snaps from Theo’s 3rd birthday party + a little dedication to the littlest Mason.

Last week we celebrated the littlest Mason’s 3rd birthday at a trampoline park! For the lack of planning and the expense, we had a blast honoring our happy Theo. Unfortunately, the little man didn’t necessarily get the ‘works’ for his birthday this year. And by ‘works’ I mainly mean that I didn’t exert much energy in the planning process. I wanted simple and easy, and while deciding what we were going to do this year, I soon learned that simple and easy usually means expensive. But I digress because I know the kids had so much fun, and really, that’s the most important part.

I often feel bad that Theo gets snubbed as the second child. While writing this post, I realized that little dude doesn’t get the yearly dedicated birthday post like Remy does. At first I thought, “shame on me,” but came to the conclusion that it doesn’t mean I love my sweet boy any less, it’s just how it is sometimes. However, the epiphany did prompt me to write a few words about my son, if not for anything more than that I’d love to look back at this stage in his life and reminisce on what makes Theo Theo.

My kind little man. God, I love you from the depths of my soul and I’m thankful for your existence in my life every single day. You are such a presence. Your joy, happiness, and vigor – it radiates a room. People comment often about how happy you always are – you bring a smile to everyone’s face.

You are so funny and you know it, which only gives you the confidence to keep making people in your world laugh louder! But sometimes you take it too far which is what gets you in trouble, and why mom and dad tend to describe you as a ‘handful’. You are constantly on the go – jumping or climbing or spinning – and keep us on our toes. I am always on the alert when you’re in my atmosphere just because I’m scared you’re going to get too brave and hurt yourself.

While you have troublemaker tendencies, you are a kind, sweet boy at heart. You are sensitive to the feelings of those around you and always welcome a hug or a kiss from those you love. You give the best hugs, squeezing hard with a grunt and patting the receiver on the back with tenderness. I admire your welcoming attitude and hope you never lose that.

You eat so much, of everything! And I love that. You love French fries as much as your mama and prefer savory over sweet, also like your mama. You like green beans, broccoli, asparagus and almost anything green! You love mango, and right now call them bangos, as well as all fruit. I’m convinced you’re going to eat us out of house and home when you’re a teenager.

You’re becoming pretty independent which I both welcome and curse. You’d rather stand to go to the bathroom than sit, prefer to take your own clothes off for bathtime, and yell at us when we try buckling you up in the car seat. My sweet Theo, you are so quirky you make your equally quirky mama proud! You smell your socks and feet after a long day and yell “pee-yew!” You lick people when you want revenge on someone and you break into the robot dance out of nowhere.

I hope you know that you make each and every one of us so happy. Theodore LeRoy Mason, you complete our little family of four and are the sunshine to our day. I love you fiercely and unconditionally, my happy child. Love forever and for always, your Mom.