Somebody had a birthday today

Our little guy turned three this morning, at 8:08 to be precise. It's scary how fast we've gotten to this point. Didn't we just have a baby? Noel is no longer considered a toddler but a preschooler, although his birthday falls too late for him to start preschool this year. He does some big-boy things (talks in long sentences, pretends to read, writes a couple of letters, opens doors) but hasn't figured out how to give up diapers or pedal his tricycle. He's still a sweetie but has gotten very bad about dumping things out and refusing to pick them up. Biting has given way to what he calls "blubbing." Ah, don't you wish you could be blubbed by Noel!*

Here is more about Noel at three:

--chose to eat at Sweet Tomatoes and play at Monkey Joe's for his birthday

--enjoys riding his tricycle and jumping the trampoline (I love the way he says that, by the way)

--started a parents' day out program in September

--wants so badly to go to school with Dominick

--asks for crackers and raisins for morning snack every day

--likes chocolate (I wonder where he gets that?)

--navigates the iPhone amazingly well, just like his brother

--loves lollipops but gets himself way too sticky when eating one

Some recent words and phrases:

--pootie (breast)

--big booty puddle

--cameloupe

--fire eraser (extinguisher)

--two bless yous (after sneezing twice)

--"Hi, stupid butt grabble." (gravel)

--"I going to the pool. My penis going to the pool."

There are many more of these, if I could only find the various scraps of paper I wrote them down on. And now for the best one:

--"I love you, Mom."

*Blubbing is when you put your mouth on somebody's skin and blow to create an interesting noise. Is there a real word for that?