Three Year Old Zac

Considering that you're completely into ABCs at the moment, I thought this year I'll use the letters of the alphabet to tell you about your current self.


A is for Afrikaans
You recently started repeating the things we say in Afrikaans. I've also heard you say your grace in Afrikaans. Of course, we don't know if you understand a word of what you're saying. Still, your little Afrikaaner accent is awfully cute!


B is for Big Brother
You really have taken to this new role. You adore Sam, and the first thing you do every morning (sometimes before you've even properly opened your eyes) is share some cuddles with him. You especially like to read him stories, and seem to be looking forward to all the mischief I'm sure you'll get up to together someday.


C is for Commitment
You don't do anything half-heartedly. You're intense and focused, and while this often leads to frustration when you can't get things right, your dedication and determination will stand you in good stead as you grow up.


D is for Drums
I genuinely thought you may be over this obsession by this birthday. Apparently not. You are more into this than ever before. You play drums on an app on my ipad, you play drums with your cutlery on the dinner table, you even play drums on your father and brother's heads. As a result we have given in and started saving for your first drum kit.

And Donuts. You love syrup donuts! When I was asking you about birthday cakes last week you said "no thank you. Just get door-nuts".


E is for Ethan
I suppose we always knew, being born just three months apart, that you two were going to hit it off. You two can have some pretty physical encounters (a punch for a punch and all that), but you'd be lost without each other. I so enjoy listening to your interesting conversations, and see you hug and high five each other at the end of every school day.


F is for Fish
I'm thrilled to announce that you seem to be over this phase. I did not have to make a single sea-themed anything for this year's celebrations, and Nemo is finally getting some rest out of the dvd player.


G is for Grown Up
You're growing up so fast. You're so independent, just this morning you said "you don't need to hold me Mommy", and I realized my time babying you is over. You're making your own decisions (including what to wear which is why you sometimes look a little mismatched), attempting challenges on your own, and going to school next year. Where has the time gone?


H is for Health
This year has probably been your best in terms of health. You've been growing well (you've finally outgrown your 18 - 24 month clothing), and your chest seems to have eased up a lot. I'm so grateful for your life and health, and am so happy to see you enjoying it to the full.


I is for Intelligence
You are seriously smart. I know everyone is going to think I'm bias because I'm your mother, but really: I don't know any other child who at two years old could identify a hexagon! You're particularly into ABCs, numbers, shapes and colours at the moment, and have recently learnt to write your name.


J is for Jet-Setter
Ok, not really, but you've done a little bit of traveling this last year - including a trip to the UK - and you were super fantastic at it! You're a great flyer, and that in itself is a gift to any parent!


K is for Kwaai
This word. Annie taught it to you, and much to my horror, you love it. Someone will show or tell you something, and if you like what you've seen/heard, you give them a thumbs up and say "kw-aai".


L is for Laugh
You've always had a pretty infectious laugh, and I'm happy to say that you still do. Your eyes scrunch up as you throw your head back, mouth wide open, and chuckle. It's one of my favourite sounds in the world.


M is for Memory
You seem to have a very good memory, and a lot of what you know, you have learnt using it. You're at a stage where you can remember large chunks of information. Currently you are able to recite the full armour of God and the end of Psalm 23. I love that (a) my speaking this over you has been ingrained into your memory, and (b) that you are now able to speak it over yourself.


N is for Naughty
I suppose all boys are naughty, so I won't make too big a thing of this. At the moment it can be cute (sometimes), but I certainly hope the terribly twos are nearing its end...


O is for Outdoors
You love to play outside. You ride your bike, pick up leaves, bring sand into the house (I'm still learning not to freak out about that all the time). You love to play sport, and happily run around laughing until your chest (literally) hurts. And you love the ocean. You still happily run straight from the car into the water - clothes and all!


P is for Particular
There's no denying, you're a strong-willed child. I see it every day in everything you do. You like things done a certain way, and have no problem making a point of it until things are done to your liking. You do your toast in triangles, your sarmies in squares; you eat butter on your Weetbix, and peanut butter off a spoon; you have your own seat at the table and drink milk (in a waterbottle) with your meals. Right now this particular trait is quite tiring, but secretly I like that you know what you want.


Q is for Questions
I suppose this comes with an enquiring mind, still, you ask a lot of questions. The word I've heard most often from you this past year must be "why?". And you don't accept any old answer. If you want more information you keep asking until your curiosity has been satisfied. Of course when the tables are turned and I ask you "why?" you simply tell me, "because."...


R is for Romantic
Okay, so maybe I'm projecting a little, but surely there's no way someone as loving and affectionate as you could not turn out to be a romantic? You're all about hugs and kisses...


S is for Singing
You love to sing and pretend to play an array of musical instruments. You have a seriously good musical ear, and coupled with your exceptional memory, you can easily repeat a song you've heard only one or two times. You regularly serenade us at home with your sweet voice, often running from one worship song to the next, but you never sing in public. I'm not sure what the story with that is.


T is for Tantrum
Boy can you throw a tantrum! You don't care where we are, or who we're with, if you feel you need to get my attention - or don't like the specific attention I have given you - you can jump straight into a full-blown meltdown: a dramatic collapse, accompanied by open-mouth crying and large crocodile tears! I have noticed that, lately, you are more able to verbalise your frustrations, and so I'm hoping that these tantrums will subside.


U is for Underpants
At two and a half you decided you were ready to be toilet trained. I say 'you decided' because that's exactly how it went down. We got back from Ireland, and you potty trained in three days - without me pushing for it. As a result you now wear the cutest, tiniest little undies.


V is for Vroom
You're a boy's boy, alright. You're all into cars and planes and trains and buses. It's one of the things I enjoy about being a boy-mama. You still regularly sit on Anno's lap and pull the cars into the driveway. To think you've been doing this since the night before your first birthday... Maybe next year Anno will let you try it alone ;)


W is for Weaning
Unbeknown to many, you only stopped nursing for a while when I was pregnant and had no milk. However, just before Sam's arrival you just wanted to comfort 'feed', and I wanted to avoid sore, cracked nipples, so I allowed it. Anyway, tandem feeding was not something I ever wanted to - or thought I would ever need to - do. As it turns out though, some oral thrush from Sam has meant you can't feed at the moment, and so it appears that perhaps, as you turn three, you'll no longer need or want your beloved "beebee".


X is for XX (as opposed to XY)
I'll never forget the day I came home from hospital with Sam: you sat next to me on the bed, looking adoringly at Sam, and randomly asked "and where's my sister". And you've not let up since then. If you're serious about this one, you're going to have to speak to Anno.


Y is for YouTube
Imagine you had been a nineties baby - or even early twenty-first century - you would have a lot more difficulty getting to all those videos and songs you like. But, you have been born in the age of the internet, and so you're savvy with all things technological. You know the different apps, their different functions, and are able to type in "abc" to get to the songs you want. The one thing you don't yet fully get is wifi: and so when you're watching something and we leave a wifi zone, you sometimes proceed to throw one of those above-mentioned tantrums.


Z is for Zac
You are so unique. You are this crazy blend of Anno and me, and while there certainly are a few things from my side that I wish you didn't inherit/pick up, I see so much life and adventure and potential in you. There isn't anything about you that isn't there for a purpose, and I can't wait to see that purpose unfold.


I looked at you this morning: my big boy, not a trace of baby left, and I could not be prouder to be called your Mama...

Happy Birthday x