Degen is 3 Years Old!
Feb 20th, 2008 by Bethany
Sunday was Degen’s third birthday and I have this weird warped perception of time. On the one hand, it seems like he’s been part of our family forever and that he was born decades ago. On the other hand, it doesn’t seem like he could possibly have finished being two already!
Degen is a special kid. He’s obedient, and even when he really, really wants to do something his way he almost always comes around and obeys us when we tell him not to do it. He is nice to others and is suprisingly sensitive to how other people feel (for a 3-year-old anyway). Degen is playful–I love watching him come up with new and totally unexpected ways of doing things. For instance, he just washed his hands with what little was left of his glass of milk. Good thought, kiddo–not totally effective, but definitely creative! Degen likes to read books and say the ABCs in his own order (the letters R, O, P, and A come up more often than others). He likes to sing. He plays with his sister and is always trying to make her laugh. Earlier today they were eating lunch together and making funny faces at each other at the table while they giggled.
Degen wants to do everything by himself. Even when I ask him to do something he doesn’t want to do, he’ll do it anyway as long as I let him do it himself. Last night I told Colin that I didn’t want to put Degen to bed, then I laughingly asked Degen to put himself to bed. Degen said “okay Mommy” and I said “thank you” (not expecting anything to come of it) and Degen said “you’re welcome Mommy.” A little while later I found him asleep in his bed, with his blanket and toys covering him. I absolutely couldn’t believe that he went to bed all by himself–he HATES bedtime! I missed telling him stories and saying prayers together, but it was such a breakthrough in bedtime fights that I had to celebrate. Who knows if it will ever happen again, but I needed a break last night and I got it. Thank you Degen! He’s such a good son.
On Sunday we had a little birthday party for him. Our home teachers and visiting teachers were here at the same time and we sang “Happy Birthday” all together and they stayed while Degen opened his presents. Degen had chosen his own cake mix and frosting (both chocolate) at the store a few days before and was pleased with the result. Later that evening we invited ourselves over to a friends house to share our cake and ice cream and we had a great time. Degen (and Maggie for that matter) loves presents–bath toys.