{3 years}

*When someone asks if you want something and you don’t,  your rely, “No thanks, I good.” while shaking your finger.
*We will ask if you want something and you will reply, “maybe” and that means yes.
*When we are flipping through videos to watch you’ll say, “I haven’t seen this in a while.”
*When we don’t get what you are trying to say, you say, “uuhh, you don’t understand me.” It is the saddest thing ever.
*You were counting everyone around the table. 1,2,3,4, and me sweetie. Yes, son you are a sweetie.
*Your favorite day of the week is Fursday {Thursday}.
*You’ll exclaim at the end of the day, “today is the best day ever!”
*You love all sweets especially: Oreos, cupcapes {cupcakes}, orange popsicles and any flavor ice-cream.
*For bananas you say, "Bonanas, Yock is for lock. Yegs for legs,and yook for look.  
*Cero for cereal, tomato for tornado  and magnatiez for magnetic.
*Your favorite TV shows are: Octonauts and, Transformers Rescue Bots.
*Fire Man for Iron Man. You insist that everyone call you ‘Fire Man.” If we call you Ryker you get mad and if we call you Fire Man you get mad. You just want to be called Iron Man.
*When we are done kissing you, you will turn around and kiss us very softly the exact spot we kissed you on your face.  It melts my heart every time.
* When we point to a picture of Jesus you say, Jesus Christ amen. You think it's his name because we say it at the end of each prayer.  
*You want to be an Astronaut and go to Mars when you grow up.
*Every morning you ask for Nutella {tella} or Cinnamon toast.
*When daddy can’t play with you, you say in a sad voice, “I guess I play by myself.” or “I don’t  have four arms.” 
*You can count up to 14 by yourself by only skipping 13.  
*You love to be read to before bed. Your favorite book is your name book and Skeleton in my closet.
*You are wearing size 3 shorts and shirts. Size 9 shoes.
*You are still sucking your fingers upside down and twirling mommy’s or your hair with your left hand.
*You like to grab a chunk of hair and smell it while saying, "it smells good."
*You love anything with robots, your favorites are Heat Wave, and Optimus Prime. You have even mastered the robot dance.
*You love to be creative especially playing in shaving cream, painting with cars, and drawing on the white board.
*You don’t take naps so, you’re in bed by 7 pm. You are in a stage where you wake up once a night so we can tuck you back in bed. You are up by 6:30 or 7 am.
*When you think something you have done is funny you will tell us "look because it is going to make you laugh". It always does.
*When we can’t get you to eat we have races of who can eat the piece of food first. Somehow you always eat it the fastest.
* While we were driving one day you said, the word "explodium". 
* You came home form church in June and exclaim “abomination”.   You use this word quite frequently and it usually fits right into your sentence.
*We have been talking to you about your birthday and on that day you will turn 4. You exclaimed, ”I am Ryker, not four.” I explained to you you will change to 4 years old and you won’t be 3 anymore” You said, “OK mommy, when I turn 4 I will have a new name, ‘4’.”
* This makes me laugh every time I think of this;
Nana: Ryker, you cut your blonde off
Ryker:  it was time for my blob to be cut.
*While we were eating lunch one afternoon you looked at me and said, “you know the word that sounds like mommy?” You mean, mummy? Yea, that word.

Our words can’t express how much we love you. You are our world. You have brought happiness, laughter, craziness, lots of hugs and kisses, smiles, and clever sayings into our lives. You have taught us that we could love something more then anything in the world. We love every minute with you, even the hard and fun times.
Love, Mom and Dad