Rhett is THREE! - Peanut Butter Fingers

Although for an unknown cause Rhett is telling everybody he’s turning seven tomorrow, Rhetty Roo, our candy and spicy little man, is in the future away from turning THREE!

There’s one thing about our youngest baby’s birthday that brings a couple of swirl of reflective feelings. Has it actually been three years since I’ve held a new child in my arms? Are we actually three years faraway from the newborn days? Is my child actually now not a child anymore!? All the above solutions are true however, on the identical time, my infants will all the time be my infants.

As a baby and as I grew up, my dad would all the time say to me, “You’ll all the time be my little lady.” The sentiment behind these phrases felt stronger to me than I believe he realized. Now, as an grownup, I really feel a brand new sense of depth behind his phrases. Whereas on the floor they appear like a father assuring his daughter she’ll all the time have her dad, now that I’m a mom, I really feel the depth of what he might have been making an attempt to convey. I really feel it fiercely for my sons. They’ll all the time be my infants. They’ll all the time have their mom behind them, cheering them on, loving them unconditionally, supporting them, encouraging them, studying from them, rising with them, praying for them and wanting the best possible for them.

Rhett is three years previous and whereas three appears so previous in comparison with the gurgly child days, on the identical time, it appears so very younger. Although we’re satisfied Rhett thinks he’s each bit as large and succesful as his large brothers, moments pop up each single day that make us notice our little man continues to be simply that… little.

He nonetheless wants and needs Mother one million instances a day for love and luxury. His playful character will activate a dime if one thing tragic occurs… ya know like a granola bar breaking in half. He’s exploring his independence with a ferocity he exclaims in a yell-scream — “I do it myself!” (And will your persistence attain new heights for those who don’t let him attempt.)

Rhett’s vocabulary exploded proper after his second birthday and it’s been so enjoyable to have the ability to discuss to him and watch him be taught and develop and talk in new methods. Rhett says the cutest issues from the second he wakes up and I all the time sit up for going into his room within the morning as a result of I by no means know what he’s going to say. A whole lot of the time he’ll start his day by telling me, “I really like Peppy” (our canine), reminding me, “Moon goes down, solar comes up! It’s morning time!” or asking in regards to the climate. “It wet at the moment? A pleasant day? It sunny today?”

Ryan and I joke that the quantity at which our youngsters talk appears to have solely elevated with every baby we’ve had. I’ve little doubt beginning order performs an enormous function on this as a result of the squeaky wheel will get the grease and all that however daaang does Rhett love an excellent yell-talk.

Rhett is fascinated by his large brothers, animals, cooking and baking with me within the kitchen, vehicles and vehicles (particularly rubbish vehicles, hearth vehicles, Jeeps, Porches and Mini Coopers aka “Mini Groupers”), books, Picasso Tiles, trains, Pepper, puzzles, Biggie Beads, coloring, dancing, chopping paper, swimming, water slides, “serving to” Mother and blowing off the driveway with Dad. Speaking with Rhett, studying with Rhett, taking part in with Rhett… it’s all simply so yummy at this age. Peak cuteness for positive!

Rhett additionally loves faculty and talks quite a bit about his preschool lecturers and mates. His superb lecturers have praised Rhett’s listening expertise, willingness to assist, kindness towards his classmates and his capability to self-entertain at preschool and I can not anticipate Rhett to fall in love with preschool much more now that he’ll be going 4 mornings every week this fall! He’s a social child whose curiosity is immediately piqued by making an attempt new issues and preschool has been probably the most unbelievable factor for him. He nonetheless doesn’t love separating from me at drop-offs (I blame Covid for this as he wasn’t separated from me as early or as typically as his large brothers) however Rhett rallies shortly and his lecturers guarantee me his fussiness stops inside a minute of me leaving. He simply desires to ensure I get hit with a bit mom-guilt at drop-offs.

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Three-12 months-Outdated Challenges

Ryan and I typically joke that Rhett didn’t get the “chill child” memo that usually appears to return together with having a 3rd baby. From day one, Rhett has saved us on our toes and isn’t the laidback third baby you hear a lot about. He performs arduous, laughs arduous, screams arduous, resists arduous and loves arduous which makes him so splendidly enjoyable however so intensely exhausting generally, too. Please know I share this from a spot of overwhelming love for our big-hearted, big-feeling little man.

If one thing units Rhett off it may be arduous for him to return round and discover his calm once more. I shortly realized that when Rhett has these moments of intense feelings, the easiest way to assist him settle down is to drop every little thing, maintain him, love on him after which distract him with a narrative, one thing foolish, and so forth. Whereas this appears like a fool-proof plan, it may be difficult once you’re alone with three youngsters, speeding out the door on a busy morning or making an attempt to get mainly something executed round the home. I’ve all the time stated mothering Rhett is straightforward if all I’ve to do is mom Rhett. Isn’t that the reality about parenting younger youngsters on the whole although? It’s typically all of the different stuff that makes parenting really feel arduous whereas after we’re capable of drop every little thing and focus solely on our youngsters, it feels so purely great.

Certainly one of our different more moderen challenges we’ve had is Rhett’s nap time. Oh my gosh you guys, Rhett fights his naps with such depth. He screams his little face off when he sees me coming his method to scoop him up for nap time and whereas I can all the time get him to settle down and settle with a number of tales earlier than placing him in his crib, he not often sleeps lately. Rhett will fortunately stay in his crib for greater than an hour quietly taking part in however I really feel like a baby this younger nonetheless wants a nap, proper!? Chase and Ryder napped till they have been virtually 4 so that is blowing my thoughts. Rhett truthfully doesn’t appear drained in any respect when it’s nap time however then round 4:30 p.m. day-after-day the fussiness and neediness kicks in and I can inform he wants extra sleep. It’s a problem I don’t anticipate ending quickly as Rhett will probably be in preschool till 1 p.m. and Chase’s faculty pickup is round 2:40 p.m. so when is that this child alleged to nap throughout the faculty 12 months?! One blessing of Covid for our household was having Ryan working from house so he may stick with the monitor whereas Rhett slept so it is a new(ish) problem for us. Final 12 months I often paid a neighbor to take a seat in our home for one hour within the afternoon when she was accessible so I may do Chase’s faculty pick-up whereas Rhett slept however she’s not accessible typically so it’s tough enterprise. Proper now early mattress instances for Rhett are the reply to our no-nap dilemma however man oh man I want I may rely on common naps for our little man.

Little Brother Life

We like little brother Rhett! He thinks Chase and Ryder are the COOLEST and once they’re all taking part in collectively, Rhett fuses his large brothers collectively and refers to them as “Chase-Ryder.” He observes them in a method that makes it so apparent he’s absorbing every little thing they do and committing it to reminiscence so he can attempt to do all of it, too.

He’s courageous and adventurous and by no means shies away from trying one thing his large brothers are doing, even when the ability or exercise is effectively out of his (virtually) three-year-old wheelhouse. That is superb as a result of Rhett is all the time studying and rising and tackling new expertise but it surely will also be difficult. We don’t need Rhett to really feel like we’re holding him again however there’s that entire “preserving you secure” factor that may make Mother and Dad really feel like a moist blanket to Rhett generally.

We’ve realized to let Rhett attempt what he desires to attempt (when it’s secure) and he’ll typically shock us together with his talents and willpower. Working example: Rhett’s swimming! His swimming expertise completely skyrocketed this summer time. Although we nonetheless require him to put on a life jacket within the lake and ocean, within the pool he’s life jacket-free and may bounce in and swim to us and bounce off the aspect of the pool and swim to the ladder. When top restrictions don’t restrict him, he’ll go on any waterslide he can and smile so large the entire method down. It’s so enjoyable to look at and once I put on goggles and watch Rhett swim underwater, it’s much more enjoyable as a result of the child truthfully grins from ear to ear when he swims underwater. We name him our little guppy and he’s definitely taken to the pool in a brand new and crazy-fun method this summer time!

So far as Rhett’s relationship together with his large brothers, it’s totally different relying on the brother and what number of brothers he’s taking part in with without delay. By way of one-on-one play, the five-year age hole between Rhett and Chase implies that Rhett seems to be to Chase for assist and safety a bit bit extra. Chase is affected person and inclusive with Rhett and likes displaying him new expertise and video games. Rhett additionally loves bringing books to Chase for Chase to learn to him which by no means ceases to soften my mama coronary heart.

The 2-year age hole between Rhett and Ryder means there’s much more ardour concerned of their dynamic. This ardour could be great — they snort so arduous and play so creatively collectively — but it surely will also be difficult as nobody elicits intense screams from Rhett greater than Ryder. This typically boils right down to Rhett interrupting no matter Ryder is doing and Ryder telling him “no” which, at virtually three-years-old, is mainly the worst phrase in all the world to Rhett. (Their dynamic jogs my memory a lot of Chase and Ryder’s dynamic at this age when Ryder was in Rhett’s footwear.)

Rhett copies Ryder all day lengthy and has picked up on a whole lot of Ryder’s pursuits, making them his personal. Rhett seen Ryder’s love for puzzling and shortly realized to fly by Melissa & Doug puzzles beside Ryder whereas his large brother tackles larger puzzles. When Chase is at college and Rhett has Ryder to himself, he follows Ryder in all places. They’ve the loudest and cutest dance events collectively and can line up vehicles and trains and give you probably the most inventive video games to play. Rhett is commonly blissful to take heed to Ryder’s concepts and I’ve discovered myself telling Ryder to offer Rhett a “job” once they play as a result of Rhett does very well with listening to Ryder’s recommendations and it appears to forestall fights once they have separate roles of their playtime. (Fights over coveted toys are nonetheless probably the most intense fights they’ve round right here.)

Having three boys, three brothers, is really one of many absolute greatest blessings in my life. I pray so arduous that the closeness they share proper now lasts a lifetime and watching their relationships develop and strengthen brings me a lot pleasure. Whereas Rhett is just too younger to completely grasp the idea of gratitude, he doesn’t appear to be too younger to appreciate his large brothers are his favourite playmates and clearly loves them so, a lot. It’s a sense that’s one hundred pc reciprocated.

Random Issues to Bear in mind

Favourite Meals: Yogurt, pouches, cucumbers, carrots, ice cream, rooster nuggets, toast with butter and honey, recent or dried mango, Easy Mills almond flour crackers, Bobo’s chocolate chip bites, lollipops
Favourite Colour: Inexperienced
Favourite Books: Little Excavator, Pete the Cat Books, any seek-and-find books, Little Blue Truck Leads the Way (he cracks up on the line, “Higher transfer it Little Beeper!”)
Favourite Track: “This Little Gentle of Mine”
Favourite Present: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Octonauts
Favourite Animal: Canine
Wake Up Time/Mattress Time: Bedtime is true round 7:30 p.m. however when he doesn’t nap, he’ll go to mattress as early as 6:15 p.m. Get up time is round 7 a.m.

Likes

His large brothers
Pepper (aka “Peppy”)
Vehicles, vehicles and trains
Out of doors adventures
Driving his bike
Books
Constructing with magnetic tiles and blocks
Creativeness video games
Lining up numerous little toys
Puzzles
Coloring, portray and craft initiatives
Cooking and baking with Mother
Biggie Beads
Dancing