Derek Turns 3!

It seems like only yesterday that Jason and I were the only ones in our family. Now our first born has turned 3! Wow! And what a smart, enthusiastic, very outspoken 3 year old he is! I don't think there is a word he doesn't know! He can have great conversations with anyone and loves to do so! He will talk your ear off and ask a ton of questions. His favorite activity these days is swimming with daddy. Apparently mom doesn't do all the tricks and fun stuff that dad does in the pool. His other favorite thing to do is go to his Aunt Cindy's house. She has horses and has been letting him ride them. He wears his little helmet and just LOVES it! Now all he wants to do is be a cowboy and go to Aunt Cindy's house!

He is FINALLY seeming to warm up to James and Jillian. When they cry he is right there with a toy or doing a dance or singing a song, just trying to cheer them up. And the best part is that it usually works! They start to smile and giggle when he tries his hardest to help mommy out.

He had a great birthday. A little party with cupcakes and party hats at Miss Laurie's. Then grandma Sue picked him up and took him shopping at Toys-R-Us. He got a cool sand and water table and a Home Depot chain saw. Then they went to Chick-Fil-A... another favorite place of Derek's. When he got home I had the house decorated with balloons and a big Happy Birthday sign. Aunt Sara had also flown in to surprise him; he thought that was pretty cool. Then grandma Maria came over and we had pie. He and Jason fell asleep on the couch with all his presents around him.

1 month


2 months


(so I can't find my folder of any pictures between 2 and 12 months!)

12 months


14 months


19 months


2 years


His party was the following Saturday. He wasn't in the best mood when his guests started to arrive. A nap was definitely needed! Lots of swimming, pinata hitting, and running around, he was as good as new. His favorite gifts of the day included real leather cowboy boots from grandma and grandpa Castellon, Wrangler jeans, a leather cowboy belt and shirts from Aunt Cindy, and a cowboy hat from his cousins. This cowboy has been wearing his outfit for 4 days now! I think I have a real life cowboy on my hands. He can't wait to wear his outfit riding with Aunt Cindy!

With cousins Lily and Lucy


The very happy cowboy


Everyone is swimming and Derek won't take off his cowboy outfit!


So Happy Birthday to my big boy! He definitely let his birthday ride out for at least a week! The Happy Birthday sign was still up in the backyard yesterday and as I was putting chairs away he told me his birthday isn't over because the sign was still up!