Happy Birthday, Bear!

Dear Barrett,
On your third birthday, I want to tell you Happy Birthday, and how happy I am that you are in my world. You really are like sunshine to me. You have more personality in your baby toe than many people have in their whole bodies. Always let that light shine.
I am so proud of you and the sweet, caring, big brother you are to Kyle. You are such a good leader and yet you watch out for him too, like on the playground, and when you help me make sure he doesn’t eat or drink things he’s allergic to. You are such a good big brother that Kyle wants to say and do everything you do. He has so much admiration for you.
I admire you, too. I admire how outgoing you are. When I was your age, I would whisper in public. Not you! Since before you could talk, you would say or wave bye-bye to every single table as we left a restaurant. The other day at a party, you got a piggy-back ride from a man you just met. You are always starting little games of peek-a-boo with somebody at the next table, or just striking up a conversation. That’s so great! So many times I wish I could do that.
I love your stories, your observations, your smile (chipped tooth and all). I love your laugh (even when you have no idea what you’re laughing about). I love your curls, your passion, your made-up songs. I love your cars all lined up in a “parking lot”. I love your hugs and kisses, especially the surprise ones and the sound of your voice whispering, “I wuv you, mommy.”
Every age that you are, I think, “This is a fun age” but then I get sad that the last one is over, but then I wonder what you’ll do next! Oh, please, please, please don’t grow up too fast. My camera is shooting as fast as it can go!
I love you more than words can express.

Love,
Mommy
I love these pictures because they are so you. You were just putting my sunglasses on and singing into the hose and you didn't think anyone was looking. I can see a bit of myself as a kid in your personality especially when I look at these pictures.

These are a few things that make you happy right now:

Tractors
Tow trucks
Motorcycles
wearing Mommy’s shoes
“Mama don’t you tickle my toes”
Bedtime stories
Bulldozers
The Beach
Bananas
Blueberries
Boots
Blankets
Baths with my brother
Butterfly kisses from mommy
Pancakes
Push toys
People
“Parking” toy cars
Play-doh
Piggy-back rides
And that's just the T's, M's B's and P's! You're a happy little guy! I could go on with the U's and F's, I bet most people would have a hard time coming up with U-words that make them happy...
Upside-down sunglasses
Umbrella “cane”
Forklifts
Forts