Joseph turns 3 years old today. THREE. How did this even happen? How did time go by so quickly? Seriously, we have to stop all this craziness. I just can’t even handle it.

Joseph, 1 hour old

Joseph, Age 3

Sweet Joseph {Joe Joe; Joe; Judea},

I will never be able to fully put into words just how much you mean to me. You bring me so much joy. I love your enthusiasm for literally everything, especially anything that is blue or has an engine. Over this past year, you have started talking like crazy. My favorite is when you go into pretend play and act like BatMan or a Kratt Brother. And I can’t help but laugh every time you stick your little index finger in the air and say “Um, I know….” You are such a little man.

For as much as I love you, there are your sisters. I always imagined that you and the girls would be close, but I never realized how fiercely you would love one another. Don’t get me wrong, y’all fight like cats and dogs, but at the end of the day there is a beautiful, tender bond between the three of you that will never be broken.

Then there is you daddy. Your daddy who loves to wrestle you and do all the boy things you love that frankly the girls and I will never do. While you are a mama’s boy through and through, I love to see how your relationship with daddy is growing. Watching you two play t-ball, or sword fighting, or action heroes. It’s blessing to know that you have such an amazing, Godly man leading you.

Joseph, sweet boy, I pray that you would always know that you are so treasured, so loved, and so perfectly matched for our family. My prayer is that you cling to the Lord and follow Him all your days. That you grow in character, faith and leadership. That you are strong, but know that strength is always caring for those weaker than you.

I love you papi.

Mama