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The Best Things About Carl (at 3 and a 1/2)


1. He has a fantastic smile.  But featured here is his "fierce face", which I like a lot, too.
2. He stands up for everyone.  When Soren is angry at one of us, it is sweet to hear Carl say with gusto, "But mommies/daddies are special to our family!"  He also tries to negotiate justice when neighborhood kids get hit or have their toys taken away.
3. He loves to dance, especially to my Harry Belafonte cd.  I am glad we can share a love of Calypso.
4. He mimics writing in his drawings a lot.  Although he doesn't know the alphabet or how to write the letters, he frequently labels his pictures with letter-like symbols and then tells me what they say.
5. He is left-handed.  It makes his dad proud.
6. He has a imaginary friend.
7. He also battles imaginary enemies in the living room nightly.
8. He is friendly and really likes to be around other people.  He likes to go visiting and have visitors.
9. He likes to mop the floors with me and he has finally figured out how to wring out the rag.
10. He likes to snuggle with me when he first wakes up from his nap.  I still have enough room on my lap to enjoy this.
11. He is excited about his new baby brother.  He talks often about where the new baby will sleep, sit in the car, or what toys he will play with.
12. He likes to feel the baby moving in my belly.  He thinks it's hilarious and will wait very patiently for it.
13. He knows how to ham it up, which is hilarious.
14. He quickly memorizes the text of books he has heard only a few times, then recites them to himself while looking at the pictures in bed.
15. He loves singing time in primary.  He often tries to conduct his own singing time activities at home.
16. He gives very sweet compliments like, "I like you beautiful hair today" or "Thanks for this yummy breakfast."
17. He knows the rules of our family and follows them, even when I am not present.  My friend told me that she asked him the other day if he wanted more barbeque sauce with his lunch and he said, "No, I need to finish my food first."  This is because we have a rule in our family that you don't have to eat anything on your plate but you do have to finish it all if you want more of anything.
18. He has a strong desire to be independent.  He wants to do things by himself and is growing more capable of that all the time.
19. He likes to help me cook.  His favorite thing is to roll out tortilla or roti dough. He is actually getting better at it aka his rounds are getting thinner.
20. He still naps!  Hoorah!

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