new year snapshot #1: jackers

I have a list of "new years" posts I want to publish, but I first want to take some time to snapshot my kids. First we'll start with Jacky-Boy.

He is 3. He is adorable. He is all-boy.

I keep having this feeling that even though I think he is so BIG now, in a few short years he really will be big, and I'll realize that at 3 he was little and adorable. I'm trying to enjoy his little-ness.

He gets dressed by himself first thing every morning. Even before eating "brefkrist." He wants to wear Lightning McQueen undies every day, even though he only as 4 pair. He has specific outfits that go together and won't budge about it.

He still loves to play cars. Mostly he names them what they look like: "yellow-red" and "silver window" or my personal favorite, an orange Reeses brand hot-wheel that he named "drive candy car."

He likes to hide behind my leg and frown when adults talk to him. But when he's in his element (a.k.a. home) he doesn't stop talking. Unless he's singing.

He takes his role as annoying-little-brother seriously. He loves to tease Ana and her friends.

He takes his role as big brother seriously. He still will get me diapers. He smiles and coos at Katie and loves to make her laugh by jumping around the room.

He says "thanks for the yummy food, Mom" after dinner. He prays for everyone in the family during his prayers. He randomly gives hugs and says "I love you, Mom."

He started Primary yesterday. He loved it, even though it took him most of the 30 minute singing time for him to start singing.

I can tell him to clean his room or get pjs on and he does it right away.

Whenever he doesn't like something - whether a friend who doesn't share or going to time-out for hitting - he reacts the same way: screaming. It isn't a temper tantrum, but he cries and does so very loudly.

Every week at the library he wants to check out "space books": non-fiction books about the planets, stars and space. His favorite is Saturn. Right now he calls himself "Jack Saturn J.A.C.K. Larsen." He will sit while I read the whole thing (about 15 or 20 minutes) and he knows quite a few facts about Space. Like that stars are born in a nebula. And that Saturn's rings are chunks of ice and dust. The other day I was reading a space book and we came to a page about Supernovas and he said, "Supernovas are really bright. If we ever went by a supernova, the light would touch my eye and I would need to wear supernova glasses."

I am still wrapped around his finger.