Dear Chase,

Today you turn three. THREE. It seems so much older than two, even though just yesterday that is what you were. I find it so hard, no impossible to believe that it was already three years since I held you in my arms for the first time. I will never forget meeting your eyes for the first time, or noticing that we have the exact same thumbs. You are such an extension of me, a true smaller version. You have all of my features, right down to blood type. I used to wish you looked more like Daddy but now I am so happy you look like me.

You are my little sidekick, my best buddy. You are truly coming into your personality and you make us laugh all day long. You are an amazing big brother, even when Jimmy isn’t very nice to you. You LOVE Thomas the Tank and would watch that show all day if we let you. Your Daddy and I got you your first set of tracks and trains yesterday and you were so excited! You jumped around and yelled about how much you loved Thomas, but completely overlooked the fact you could open the box and actually play with them. That’s OK, you made up for it later.

I enrolled you in preschool this week Buddy-man. You are going to go to the same one that your Daddy went to when he was little. I really think you are going to like it, but I am a bit sad. I am just not ready for you to grow up. I am not ready to lose any more time with you than I already do by working. I really want you to have this experience though and I know you will be a rock star at school. You are the sweetest little man I know. You can adapt to anything that comes up, I know you can.

I really hope that you keep the sweetness that you have now. You are the first to say “God Bless You” when someone sneezes, and the first to ask ”Whatsa matter?” when you think someone is upset. Just this morning when I stubbed my toe, you ran over and rubbed my back telling me that it would be all better. And you know what? It was. I like to think you had something to do with it. You have made my life mean something. You were the incentive I needed to get my life together and be a better person. Every time you run over for a hug, or you tell me “Lub you more”…my heart almost overflows. There is no better feeling in the world than hearing that from you. Every time you use the potty you run over and tell me “I made my Mommy happy!”. You don’t need to use the potty to make me happy, you thrill me each and every day.

I love you so much Chase-face, my  Chasifer, the Chasinator.

Mommy