Now you are three

Dear Seamus,

You turned three on the sixteenth, which we spent speeding through ghost towns on our way to Ely Nevada, to ride Engine No. 93 on the Nevada Northern Railway. No. 93 went into service in 1909 as an ore train from Ruby mine to McGill. We car-hopped a bit before settling in (as best as you can settle, my wee quicksilver dude) before spending most of the ride in the open  passenger car right behind the locomotive, coal car, and caboose, which meant we were covered in crisp black ash at the end. You also went garnet hunting with us, cowboy gear shopping, and we got a rare tour of the inside of a Union Pacific locomotive waiting for its dispatcher to tell it to leave Truckee with two miles of cargo. We showered you with toys on Saturday, and you got the rare treat of iPad movies on our loooong Sunday haul home.

It’s funny, the ride was meant to be the apex of the weekend, but we had our share of small adventures all weekend. This was our first trip with you since we drove to San Diego with Grandma and Poppy in the spring, and the difference in you is interesting. You can entertain yourself a bit now, but dislike being still for very long, and you hate being thwarted. You are curious and want to see and touch everything, and you know your desires and state them.

You’ve had some rough moments in the last couple of weeks. You’ve been denied treats not because of behavior, but due to circumstances we couldn’t control, and you’ve melted down for long, long tantrums. You’ve also been encouraged to look for things  and get things on your own when you are accustomed to having them pointed out to you or handed to you. I hate to tell you that your responses are ripe for a good old-fashioned ignoring, but I think you’re going to have to ride this stuff out a bit. We’ll guide you as best we can. You are so very sweet and friendly and funny when not having these developmental bumps, that I think that’s the essential you, and the rest of this is building your character skillsets.

Here’s to how all of this shakes out. I love you, little boy.

Mama

The mountain of laundry awaits and the dog needs a walk. But I love you, I’m so happy