Our youngest boy JT turns three years old today. Hurray for him and hurray for us. We started the celebration on Monday with a trip to an amusement part. It was a great place called Adventure City, which was recommended by friends because it’s geared toward the little guys. The park is not too big but still has a good assortment of age appropriate rides including a fun mid-sized roller coaster for bigger kids and a smaller one for the little kids.

 

When I was younger I used to love amusement parks (and I still do). But I remember wondering why my parents didn’t seem very excited about getting on faster rides with us. Well, yesterday I gained some insight.

 

JT had a great time getting bumped around on the rides. Apparently, I don’t enjoy getting flung around as much as I used to. JT had a particularly good time on the little roller coaster. It had him giggling with excitement every time it pulled to the left or zoomed to the right. I found myself hoping my liver didn’t trade places with my spleen. Even the faster spinning rides had JT asking for more. It is wonderful, as always, to hear him laughing and enjoying himself.

 

What also made it a good experience for JT was that he didn’t have to hear, “You’re too small for that ride,” which is what happens at the bigger amusement parks. There were only two rides that he was too small for.

 

Our oldest Q, who is five, was able to get on the two larger rides; a larger roller coaster and a kind of free-fall ride. I wasn’t sure Q would enjoy the free-falling once he was on, so I repeatedly asked, “Are you sure you’ll be ok on this Q?” He just nodded emphatically. By the second ride up and down (yes, there was more than one) Q was asking questions about the scenery, while I was dealing with the giant butterflies in my stomach and the amazement that he wasn’t reacting hardly at all. On the last drop (it’s not enough that this ride drops you once, it has to make a production of three of four short plunges) Q noticed me squirming like JT when he’s waited to long to pee. My very honest and understandable reaction was met by Q’s smug little smile and a sarcastic, “Relax Daddy.”  Relax Daddy? I mean, come on. 

 

JT filled a good part of his birthday visit at the petting zoo. He brushed the sheep and goats and an old tortoise chewing on a stump. I told him that the tortoise didn’t really need to be brushed but JT begged to differ. Before we finished the day JT had a final ride on the kid’s roller coaster but this time Mami road shotgun. Let’s just say she and I share a common opinion of that particular ride.

 

We closed out our visit with some ice-cream and a nice ride home filled with hopes that the boys would fall asleep and life would be great. Of course they didn’t fall asleep. But life is still great. 

 

Our toddler is three years old. Wow!   Last night Mami and I recounted our memories of JT’s birth (It’s amazing how we remember it “slightly” different). One of my favorite memories is of Mami holding JT in the hospital bed and introducing Q to his little brother. JT brings us many smiles and laughter. He is strong willed and grounded. He loves to be pushed on a swing and loves to dance and sing. He hates mayonnaise but loves blue berries, which we think he might be allergic to. 

 

Before I finished this post JT woke up from his nap. I bent to pick him up but before I could he pointed to his eye and said “I”, laid his arms across his chest and said, “Love” and then pointed to me saying “You.”

 

Well, we love you too JT, our very special little boy.