| Brett’s Birthday Gazette |
| May 23, 2010 FREE |
Extra! Extra! Read All About It –
Brett Turns Three!
Small but Mighty… and Challenging
For the record, Brett hasn’t gained more than a few pounds over the last year. Fortunately, his pediatrician and endocrinologist have assured us that Brett is a healthy little boy. What he hasn’t gained in pounds, he has more than made up for in strength, independence and willpower, though. Brett has a slap-shot that impresses all the neighborhood boys, and he is not afraid to grab a stick and jump right into their game. (Until Mrs. Jenkins lures him away with a freeze pop for his own good!)
Brett’s strong-willed side often comes out best while we are at his Ear, Nose and Throat appointment. (God Bless Dr. McElwain and Cathy!) It usually requires 3 staff people and me to hold Brett down for his ear exam. However, during his last visit, he tried a new technique (after bolting out of the exam room when the door was left open by the technician.) Brett actually ROARED like a lion when Dr. McElwain walked in the room. He turned to me and announced, “Me scare her away and she no look in my ears!”
Brett definitely is not afraid to say “No,” and doesn’t always obey immediately. However, Mark and I are determined to be diligent and consistent. We have found some remarkable advice:
"Train with an eye to your children's souls. We are made what we are by training. Our character takes the form of what mold into which our first years were cast. The path of obedience is the way in which He gives blessing. Determine to make your children obey you, though it cost you much trouble, and cost them many tears. The mark of well-trained children is that they do whatsoever their parents command them - cheerfully, willingly and at once." ~J.C. Ryle (1888)
Sounds like a lofty goal, but we believe it is attainable because for each of Brett’s challenging moments, he has a million endearing ones!
Oh The Places We Go…
Brett went on a lot of fun trips this year:
- Niagara Falls, NY for a spring family visit
- Myrtle Beach, SC with Mommy, Daddy, Brett, Grandma and Papa
- Niagara Falls, NY for the July 4th weekend
- Rehobeth Beach, DE with Mommy, Daddy, Brett, Neenee, Jerry, Uncle Brian, Aunt Beth, Aidan, Auntie Ann and Kimmy
- Berkeley Heights, NJ for cousin Aidan’s 2nd birthday party
- Niagara Falls, NY for the Christmas Holiday
- West Palm Beach, FL AND Orlando, FL for our 1st trip to Disney with Mommy, Daddy, Brett, Neenee & Jerry!
We were really excited to spend Brett’s birthday 3rd birthday in Niagara Falls this year!!!
Brett’s 3nd Year - In Review
July 9th – Swing set installed!
Sometime last summer – 1st time on ice skates
September 14th – 1st Day of Preschool at MPCP
January 16th – Brett’s 1st “friend” birthday party at Wildwood Highlands for Chase Monroe
January 19th – 1st trip to Carnegie Science Center
February 14th – 1st Pens game
February 20 – 21st – 1st trip to Walt Disney World
March 1st – Met Baby Peyton Sevick, who was visiting from Guatemala
March 11th – Henry & Mudge performance by Pgh International Children’s Theatre
May 11th –1st service project at ManorCare Nursing Home w/ Chevaliers & Champions
Sometime this Spring – Potty-trained!!!
Brett the Preschooler
Brett started preschool in September at Memorial Park Christian Preschool. We were slightly hesitant to enroll him for several reasons, but after prayerful consideration we enrolled him in the Unassisted (no parents attend) One Day Two Year Old Program. It was such a great experience for Brett. When I picked him up, he was usually smiling and covered in paint, marker or dirt from the playground. He always reminded me, “Me no kie (cry) today.”
Mark and I were pleasantly surprised at both of Brett’s parent-teacher conferences when we learned that he was progressing nicely. His teacher, Mrs. Seiferth, informed us that he: uses “please” and “thank you” independently, sits/listens to story during circle time, comes to line when called, verbalizes appropriately to teachers and peers, shares with prompts, takes turns with prompts, recognizes his written name, cuts with regular scissors, knows and is able to match shapes and colors and uses the bathroom independently. She said that he especially enjoyed stringing colored key rings and playing with other small manipulative, such as ladder blocks and clear crystal blocks. He didn’t participate in praise and worship, but he sat quietly and watched the others. According to Brett, his favorite thing to do at school was “see Byan (Brian) on the playground!”
The Things that Brett will Say….
“You are kidding me!” – “Mommy, why don’t you have a penis?” (he usually says this loudly in a public restroom) – “I sy (try) again” – “I’m a strong boy.”
A Few of My Favorite Things
Brett is becoming quite a diverse little boy. He really loves everything about hockey. Brian and Brett spend hours playing in the basement. Brett is mastering a lot of the hockey terminology; he can commit and identify most penalties by name, such as slashing, tripping, and goalie interference. He especially loves wearing all of the equipment. Just a week or so ago, he insisted on wearing his goalie gear to my doctor’s appointment – shin guards, gloves jersey and helmet!
While he loves playing golf, hockey, basketball, baseball and football, Brett is also developing an artistic side. He really enjoys painting, coloring and drawing. One of his favorite pastimes is using the Ratatouille Draw with the Chef magnadoodle. He recently drew a “dine-sore” that really resembled a dinosaur. In the car, it is not uncommon to see Brett’s little foot tapping, keeping the beat of the song that is playing on the radio. He always asks me to turn the music up!
Brett doesn’t eat very much, but when he does, he chooses macaroni and cheese, noodles, Kix or Golden Grahams cereal, Cheez-its, pretzels, Goldfish crackers and freeze pops. His diet is pretty much limited to carbs and candy!
Other things that Brett likes – putting puzzles together, building with blocks, Play-doh, playing board games like Zingo, reading (favorite books include, The Best Nest, Toy Story Forever Friends and the magazine Wild Animal Baby), wearing football jerseys, “Blue Milk” (Pediasure supplement with the blue cap), cleaning, his friends Ben, “Els” (Ella Perry), Mada, Ashlyn and his cousin Aidan, and his very favorite person in the whole world, Brian!
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