Before I get started, I feel like I should tell you that I get a little nervous when I write to you every year. I know it seems silly because, at this point, you’re just a part of my imagination, but I get super excited thinking about you. I think you should know that. Maybe I can remind you of this every three years. I’m not exactly sure what I’m going to do with this writing yet, but perhaps I’ll publish it. I guess I have to figure out how to do that now, huh?

Anyways, you’re turning the significant number THREE! How exciting! I’ve done some minor research on this, and this is one of those years that you will probably be talking up a storm with me. I can’t wait. I told you when you were one that I would talk to you like you’re an adult all the time, and I intend to keep that promise. I know it’s not going to be easy because I’d love to create our language, but maybe we can hold off on that.

The experts say that by this time, you’ll be speaking in about six-word sentences. You’re going to love asking “why” for just about anything. I’ve got to tell you right that I’ve been working on this for my entire life. Even during times, when I dream of you, I would wake up wanting to figure out the reason for everything. Your dad’s a typical “over-analyzer.” I don’t know if that’s going to be a genetic thing that gets passed on to you, but I hope it’s not. I hope you’re going to be a little less worrisome than me, but I highly doubt it. Your grandpa was this way too. I didn’t realize that until I got older, so I guess you’ll know this at an earlier stage in life, huh? I’ve been working on getting all of those questions answered beforehand, but I promise that I’m not going to be perfect. Please don’t ask me about death and where babies come from yet. I will probably lie to you, so there’s that.

I read that I should be praising you for good behavior when you demonstrate it and that I shouldn’t always be focusing on your adverse reaction. I’ve got to start working on my patience. I think I have it, but I guess I will be more robust because I’m going to expect so much greatness coming from you. Since I can’t promise you patience every time, I promise I will do my best not to laugh at you for silly mistakes. I’ll respect the heck out of you, and if somebody decides to make fun of you, I’ll punch them in the nose. I’m kidding; of course, you’re going to have to learn to laugh at yourself now and then. Life’s a lot better when you have a sense of humor and don’t get offended by everything.

At this time, I don’t know how I feel about pre-school. I want you to bond with kids your age, but I feel like this is the perfect age where I want you to bond with family. During this time, I’d love to take you to visit “the motherland” and work on getting cultured. Your dad has dark skin, so chances are you’re going to be on the dark side too. I’m going to show you why you should be proud of that at all times. I want to introduce you to the family as soon as possible and show you off. I think buying you your first pair of boots would only be right. I’ll show you how we can shower in the river as grandma did. I promise it’s better than it sounds.

The experts also say that your imagination is going to be working at full speed. So we’re going to want to plan out our dress up adventures. We’ll buy costumes and whatnot, but I’d like to make sure you create your costumers first. That would be pretty neat. I’m not sure if we’ll have trees in the backyard where I can build you a treehouse at this point, but we can build forts in my room and pretend to camp. I’ll teach you how to roast marshmallows because I’m sure that I’ll be a fan of s’ mores by that time.

Lastly, we’re going to be trying to perfect potty training by this point. Hopefully, we can get started on this by age two, but we want to be masters by the age of three. You’re probably going to have mishaps now and then, but that doesn’t mean I love you any less. I will gladly clean you up anytime, but please try and avoid it happening on my bed.

I love you so much, baby. I’m looking forward to seeing how you grow from ages three to four. Could you not grow up too fast for me?