The toddler is three

Wait, is a three year-old even considered a toddler anymore? He certainly doesn't toddle anymore...can we refer to him as a racer, or a skinned knee-er, or a bump head-er, or a stomp on a pile of fire ants-er? He's taken lately to running around or jumping off something with a "hold on mama, watch me!" and then (if all goes without incident) announcing proudly, "I'm a fast boy, mama!" or "That was FUN!"

Today is Roman's third birthday. We went to the zoo with his little buddy that he will hug one minute and announce they are brothers and then hit on the head with a toy helicopter the next and say that he doesn't want to see his "stupid friend." Is this a typical boy friendship? I'm still a bit clueless on that subject.

Anyway, we wore birthday hats at the zoo and watched elephants take a shower (and then one of them take the hugest pee I've ever seen) and a lion take a nap and a camel make faces at us. The boys ran around and had a blast, and I'm pretty happy I didn't do a huge birthday party with matching favors and Pinterest bragging rights. He had a good day.

Here he is singing with his birthday cake and candles. When I asked him if he wanted candles on his cake, he screamed "YES! YAY! CANDLES!" This kid - when he's not tired and grumpy - is the epitome of exuberance.

Roman, we all absolutely adore (and probably spoil) you. Happy birthday, (not-so) little buddy. I miss the days when you would smile and proclaim "F*CK YOU, F*CK YOU WARY MUCH!" when you were thanking someone (isn't toddler pronunciation adorable?!) but I live for those moments when you bring your stack of Thomas books to the bed and climb up and announce you will read to me; or when you grab my hand and announce "mama, you're my best friend," or when you kick me and ask, "Is it morning time yet? I want to play Thomas and Edward and train table" before six in the morning enough times that I finally relent and accompany you downstairs to play with your trains. You are the umbrella to my drink, the nutella to my croissant, and sometimes the sand to my bathing suit. But I wouldn't have it any other way, my sweet baby boy. You are really cool and it's such a privilege being your mom and watching you grow up.