hAPpY biRThDaY TriSTaN!!!

I was tucking Tristan in just last night, and I felt a tug at my heart as I pulled the blanket down over his feet. He is quickly becoming a little boy, and not such a baby anymore. I wanted to climb in his bed and hold on to him forever. Today marks his third birthday, and I am in awe of the little man he is quickly becoming.

Tristan was born 3 1/2 weeks early, but tipped the scales at 8 lbs! He had a rough start, and spent the first 6 weeks of his life crying, eating, crying, projectile vomiting, and screaming. I had no idea what was wrong with him, and shed many tears trying to make it better. About the time I had decided I was a terrible mother, and could not take care of my own cubbie, he was diagnosed with acid reflux. We started giving him Prevacid, and he has been a different kid ever since! He had seizures as a baby, (talk about stress for Mom!) but it was decided that they were benign, and were due to an overload on his nervous system. Because he was born early, but was large for his gestational age, his body had a hard time adjusting to life outside the womb. He is happy and healthy now, and for that, I feel truly blessed!

10 Facts About Tristan

1. He loves Pop Tarts! He is my best eater and will eat most anything, but give him a "ta-tart", and he is in hog heaven! He also enjoys mac n' cheese, nuggets, cereal, mini M&Ms, and hot chocolate-you know, the typical 3-year-old diet.

2. He is my best sleeper. He is the first to bed, the last to get up, and still takes a 3 hour nap most days! He is my kinda boy! There is one draw back though. Like his Momma, he is a bit of a grouch when he wakes up.

3. He loves to sing, and he has an amazing ability to memorize songs after hearing them only a few times. We all enjoy listening to him. When the actual words are a little hazy, he will improvise. He sings so often, I find myself inserting his improvised words into the tune as I sing along.

4. Second only to his love of singing, is his love of dancing. If he hears music of any type, he comes running to bust a move. He unabashedly flails his arms and legs to the beat, with a look of pure joy on his face.

5. He is a good little cleaner-when he wants to be. He can put his entire room back together by himself, and has been known to correct others for putting a toy in the wrong bin. He is also very clever at looking busy, but not being busy.

6. Tristan has a tender heart. He is kind to anyone and everything, all the way from babies to bugs. He laughs when you laugh, and cries when you cry. On more than one occasion, he has offered a sympathetic hug to someone who is down.

7. T-Bird loves stuffed animals. He has several-each with a name and a place to sleep at night. He plays with them and tends to them like a pro. He is gonna be one awesome dad when he grows up with all this practice.
8. Those who are casual observers of Tristan think he is quiet. They would be wrong. Given the
chance, he will talk your ear off! He is quite observant, and loves to share his insights with others.

9. He hates to go to nursery at church! It is a weekly battle to get him to go. Most weeks he wins, and goes to my primary class with me. He has even decided to plead his case to a higher authority... "Heavenly Father, please bless our food and help me not to have to go to nursery..."

10. Tristan gives the best hugs, has the best smile, and has the most infectious laugh. Where ever he is, sunshine and happiness abound.

Happy 3rd birthday T-Bird! You are an awesome little boy, and we love you! You bring much happiness to our home, and we are excited to see what the world has in store for you in the year to come!