Aston's 3! Notes, Stats and a Movie

Aston was 3 on Sunday 7.18.10. What a really big guy we have. I am not sure how we got here so fast but however it happened we must have done something right to have created a stupendous kid like Mr. Aston. He makes us laugh more than ever, he surprises us more than ever...with the things he says and the ideas about life he has...and of course, as always, we love him more than e.v.e.r. Way to go bud you are a perfect 3!

Checkout Aston's birthday weekend...movie-style:

Aston Turns 3 from kate Lee on Vimeo.

Stats: 7.19.10 Appointment with Doctor Richter

Weight: 31.6 pounds (50%)

Height: 38.5 inches (50-75%)

BMI: 15.2

Blood Pressure: 86/54

Shots: Hib (only because they ran out at his last appointment) and Pnemococcal

Doctor Richter says Aston is doing exceptionally well. I flipped out a bit when I was asked to fill out the 3 year old questionnaire and Aston aced everything but the fine motor skills. Dr. R explained that this is to be expected…he's a boy and he's not gonna want to learn how to use scissors or hold a pen or tie his shoes…she said boys need to play with things like a tools to tune up their fine motors. Guess we'll be getting a tool set very soon:) She was mildly concerned that he dropped from 90th percentile to 50-75th in height and said she will check on his growth throughout the year.

34-36 Month Notables:

• Aston stopped using the paci the day he turned three. We had been talking about it for months so he was well prepared to hand over his paci's to Meips on his birthday and he did just that. The first day went great…no really issues other than he wanted me to rub his back for longer than usual and stay with him in his room for longer than usual. On day 2 we made it through but it was 1.5 hours of rocking and back rubbing before he finally fell asleep for nap. During that time I offered the paci and he rejected it with tears in his eyes:( I knew how much he wanted his paci and it tore me up to watch him fighting so hard against the effects of his withdrawal. That night was fine but we did offer an "incentive" for a paci-free night. We told him he could have a present that Gram sent him in the morning if he made it without it and he did. The 3rd day after many minutes of back scratching I asked him if he missed his paci…he said he did but he's a big boy and doesn't need it anymore. A few minutes later he slowly began to cry and said “I'm sorry Mommy but I do need my paci”:( I had tears too and then I handed it to him…and he said “i'm sorry Mommy” again. He handled it in such a big boy way…I was so proud. So since then we do paci at nap (for Mom's sake) and no paci at night and that has held up quite well for a full week.
• Asty's softer side has really shown through lately. A couple weeks ago he was playing on the iPad and he happened upon the “Mr. Lee” movie I made for Jeff for Father's Day. He started watching it and 3-4 minutes in after seeing all the pictures and video of himself and his Dad he got very teary. It wasn't a cry, just tears and when I looked him in the eye and he looked back at me he just smiled the biggest smile, rubbed his eyes and said “I want Daddy, Mommy”:( If that wasn't worth the hours that went into the movie I don't know what is…joyous tears for mom too that day.
• Still LOVES golf with Dad, Aunt Wook and Babs. He talks about it all week and gets his bag together days before with all the cars and toys he is planing on bringing
• For the past couple months he prefers to poop poop on the big people potty and mostly pee pee on the big potty too which makes life MUCH easier for us.
• Aston is addicted to his red flip flops with no backs. He wears them daily around the house, partially to prove to us that he is getting really good at running and walking in flops with no backs…I love this stubbornness/stick-to-it-ness. He has mastered it…I must admit. I think he also does it because BB wears her flops in the house as "house shoes" or "tuo xie" in Chinese.
• A couple of months ago Aston said this "funny" and I forgot to document so here it is: We were out by the swampy area by our house and we spotted a baby turtle in the grass about 20 feet away from the swamp. Aston said “oh poor baby turtle…how is she going to get back to her Mommy and her Daddy and her Big Boy?” At the time he was fixated on the baby sister, big brother and Mommy and Daddy family structure and obviously thought that was the way for every family…man or amphibian:)
• After school got out this year the kids were going to Childwatch at the YMCA a few times a week for the month of June because we didn't have any activities otherwise. Aston hadn't been in months and it was like starting over for him. The first week there was crying and the second week he kept picking on his best pal Kate Kate. He did better for the last week but we haven't been since because he's been in camp at his school this month…he LOVES!!!! camp. He counts down the hours until he can go play with his camp friends…this is the last week…I have already prepared him.
• Aston is extra cautious lately. He was always the first to jump in the pool and now he is very timid about the water. He has been braver the last couple weeks but it's been as if he's forgotten all his skills from years past...or maybe he is wiser now and is more aware of the consequences of his actions.
• The other day I was complaining about my faulty shoulder and told Aston I was going to get a massage and that Daddy would be home very soon to take care of him while I was gone. A few minutes passed and he quietly said "I'll do it for you Mommy". By then I had forgotten I told him about the massage. I said " do what for me?". He said "this" and walked behind me (i was sitting down) and started to massage my back. I was having a down day and my body really hurt so for him to do this caused me to really tear up. So much so I needed to explain tears of joy versus sadness. I mean I really didn't think he had ever heard the word "massage" before.

34-36 Month Rascally Behavior:

• The talking back has gotten better. It comes out 1 to 2x per day but it usually stops after the first warning. For instance I will say Aston did you eat all your chicken? He will say “Mommy did you eat all yoooouuurrr chicken?” and it will stop right there and then when I give him a look.
• We've started to do timeouts with a timer. He has an egg timer by the stairs where he sits for timeout and he starts it himself when he sits down and gets up when it beeps (2 minutes). This has greatly reduced the whining throughout the timeouts. He has stopped asking “can I get up yet?” a zillion times. I have to say that he has had fewer timeouts lately but that may be directly related to us not being home much lately.
• I started a couple months ago, when BB and I saw this tip on the today show, to say “UH OH” before disciplining. Apparently it makes it less threatening and more matter of fact. Like “UH OH you hit your sister…that means you sit in timeout…” It also stuns him and there is less room for rebuttal:)
• Ever since Mei started walking, aston had been much more jealous of his sister. I really think he's been a bit better lately but he would do things like shout over her when she comes out with a new word while we are ooooohhhing and ahhhhing over her. We are far more sensitive to his jealousy now so we try to include him in our praise for her and I think it's helped out. Like I say "Yay Mei! you can say cookie!" and then I say "Aston can you believe Mei Mei can say cookie!"
  

Here are my favorite stills from the Movie:

Happy birthday Bud we are soooo PROUD of you!