"Daniel, what are you doing??!!"

"I'm trying to teach Beau how to ride a bike...without training wheels!"  Smiling at his genius plan, he added to himself, "It's gonna be awesome!"

And for anyone who doesn't know...Beau is our fully grown German Shepherd!

We do gratitude drawings every morning.  I ask them what they're especially thankful for that day, and today I got the sweetest little answer from my rough and tumble Daniel-boy...

"I'm so thankful for Grace.  She's so cute!"

It kinda made me grin all over!

Some days he's thankful that I made cookies and that we have milk to go with them, but today was especially touching!

I've written time and time again about Daniel's volume when he speaks.  His voice carries.  He's a very sweet boy, but he's loud.  And he talks or sings or hums or just needs to be making some sort of sound at all times.  All times.

Well, we were at the store, and there was a young lady in rather, uh, short shorts...

"Well, she might as well have on a bathin' sou'p'!"  (Please tell me she didn't hear him or at least that she doesn't know what a bathin' soup is!)

Daniel is a sweet and lovable child.  I love him.  I love his attitude...most of the time.  I love his excitement.  I love his smile and his laugh.  I love to watch him run...when he's running outside, that is.  I expect him to say and do weird things...things you think of when you think of a typical and classic little boy.  I am so thankful for him. 

But he can sure do/say some weird things!

"Mommy, Grace has a lot of boogers in her nose. {pause}  Don't worry though.  I'm gettin' 'em out!"

{sigh}  Honestly, I didn't quite know what to say to that.  I was speechless.  Unfortunately, it's happened more than once, too...

"Ethan, dip your scrambled eggs into your yogurt!  It tastes awesome!"

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"I Spy something yellow...[Is it a schoolbus...flower...etc.]...No, like on the Wal-Mart sign!"

"Daniel, is it the Wal-Mart sign?"

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And just how old do you think you are, son, lookin' at your mama like that?  I know I'm takin' your picture at karate in front of all your little karate buddies, but I did give birth to you, and who already paid for these lessons? Or do you just have your game face on!

"Haaaannaaaah....I have a boo-boo right here on my cheek.  I think you need to kiss it and make it feel better!"

"Dear Lord, please bless Ethan not to be sad that his fishy died." (Like three months ago...)

I found this one that I haven't put on the blog...How fast do you think this thing broke?

To my dearest little Daniel-boy...

Four years old.  What can I say?  Over the last year, you've changed so much, grown so much...  (and gotten so strong!)

Although I definitely think there used to be some sort of shell to you, it's gone now!  You have no trouble telling me every single itty bitty thought that pops into your blonde head!  Your sense of humor has blossomed tremendously as you tell me on a fairly regular basis, "I like to joke like Daddy jokes!"  

You want to be bigger than you are and stronger than you are.  I'm reminded, daily, that you are such an independent little thing.  You want to know the whys and wherefores about almost every thing.  And you don't forget a thing. 

You're as adventurous as little boys come, and there are many times I have to turn my head when you and your brother and daddy play.  We've had quite a time of disciplinary issues with you this year more so than any other year.  You seem to think you're already all grown up...{sigh} And you're still under the impression that the entire house will flood if you flush the toilet! 

Over the last little while, you've pumped up your tender heart a few notches when it comes to your sisters.  There are still times you consider Hannah a sibling not a little sister, but your gentleness is improving.  Grace is your little princess though.  You dote on her hand and foot, and you insist she's hungry if she ever makes a peep of a sound that's not quite all the way happy. 

First thing in the morning, I'm reminded of how young you still are.  You'll come to sit with me a lot and lay your head on my shoulder for just a little while, and I go back to the days you were a baby.  You'd look up at me with your big blue eyes, and you'd make my heart skip a beat!  My Daniel-boo.  It's been a long time since I called you that, but sitting here...thinking back...I just see this toddler learning how to walk, and now, you're learning how to read!  Where does the time go?  It's all passed by in such a blur.

I think I want to slow it all down...

I can't even express how deeply I love you, my son.  You are a blessing, and I'm so thankful God blessed our lives with you!  Happy Belated Birthday to you, Daniel!

Love, Mommy

Quote of the day:

"Let's play hide-n-seek, Mommy.  I'll hide!" A nice pause while he scurries away... "I'm hiiiiding!  Come and fiiiind me!"  Another pause.  "I'm in the tent!"

I've mentioned before that Daniel has been the one who's had the most difficult time adjusting to all the changes surrounding our little family.  He's gotten into oooooogles of trouble lately, but despite all that, he absolutely loves and adores our Grace!  You can't tell, can you?

"Mama, I need to tell  you something!" He said with an huge grin plastered all over his face. "When I grow up, I'm gonna be a knight!  A-yand I'm gonna have a sword...a-yand it's gonna have a sharp point...when I grow up!  But not now...dat's dangerous!  Mama, you and Ha-yan-nah and Bwace can all be pwincesses when you grow up!  D'you know dat?"

We were all outside cleaning out our disgustingly dirty and filthy vehicles...Really, it was bad!  I truly couldn't believe how much junk we pulled out of them.  How long they'll stay this beautiful, no one knows, but man, they look good right now! 

Daniel informed us he needed to go to the bathroom, so inside he goes.  A little while passed and out the front door he runs wearing nothing but a little undershirt...

"Something's happening inside that's making me very nervous!"  His eyes had grown to what seemed like twice their normal size, and he was waving his little arms in circles!  I wonder where he's heard the term "very nervous."    I can't tell you how many times I've caught myself saying that since then.

I ran in and found the toilet overflowing and the water headed out the bathroom door!  I yelled to Deron that the bathroom was flooding, so he ran in and fixed it and mopped up all the water.  He wouldn't let me get down on the floor to mop it up with me so far along...nice, huh?

A few minutes later,completely unprompted, Daniel walked up to me and said so sweetly, "I'm sorry I almost flooded the bathroom.  I just had some trouble with the toilet paper."  Imagine that!

"It's okay," speaks the mommy who didn't clean up the mess.  "Next time you have trouble, just ask for help."

"O-tay. I will do dat tomorrow."  Poor baby!

For Uncle Chris- Yes, they L-O-V-E looking at the Wildlife Fact File Cards!

I really couldn't believe that the OB actually changed the date on my chart, but nonetheless, I'm 35 weeks along today!  I can't believe it myself!  I don't see how in the world I'm going to make it to 40 weeks, but we have a lot going on, so it'll pass by so fast I won't be able to see straight!

Upon a day full of playing and fun, Daniel had obviously done some thinking...

Daniel: "Mama, Grace is probably lonely in your tummy.  I think you should let Hannah get back in there, so they can both have someone to play with!  Is that a good idea?"  A few minutes later, "If Grace doesn't like something you eat, can she take her hand and throw it back out of your mouth?"

Ahhh...the mind of a three-year-old...don't ya love it?

Do you see the muscles?   And don't you love his little puffed out facial expression?!

Three years ago, today, my dear little Daniel was born!  I can't believe three years have gone by since he graced us with his presence! He was born at 2:37 in the afternoon and was 7 pounds 14 ounces and 21 inches long.  Now, he is one hunk o' boy weighing in at 36 pounds!  My oh my, how he's grown!

He's a very sensitive little thing, and at the same time, he’s a rough and tumble little boy who is growing up too too fast!  I can’t believe he’s gotten so old because he’s still such a baby to me.  His hair still won’t cooperate with me.  He still talks in his sleep…rather loudly, I might add…, and he still looks like a baby when he sleeps.  How would I know he would love superheroes and cowboys and cars, planes, and trains, and yet still kiss his sister upon waking up in the morning?

He’s such a blessing to us, and I’m so thankful for him!  For his smile, his voice, his laugh!

Happy birthday to you, Daniel!  We love you!

This is a picture our friend, Amber, took quite a while back!  She has such a knack for capturing emotion in photos!  This picture of Daniel, even many months ago, symbolizes everything about him! (After I pasted this picture in, I realize even more how much older he looks!  Time flies!)

"Daniel, do not ever ever put dogfood in your nose, again!  Okay?  Why did you do that?"

"I don't know."

I'm often surprised when I actually hear the words that come out of my mouth!

Me: "Daniel, where are your pants?"

Daniel: with exasperation, " I don't know!"

{double sigh amidst a bout of giggles!}