Since starting this series of photos with my kids, I have really tried to pay attention to each one of them. Don't get me wrong, I pay attention to them all of the time! But, in a mom kind of way. Like, making sure they don't start the oven, and burn one of Sarah's Barbies as an offering. Or making sure that they aren't trying to be Mary Poppins and jump off of our back balcony, to see if they can fly. I do that all of the time! But, I mean, pay attention to what they react to, positive or negative reinforcement. Or, paying attention to what makes them happy and sad. Or, even, paying attention to how they communicate with each other, and with me. It's been pretty amazing, honestly, and has taught me to take a step back, when I'm having a particularly hard time with them, and realizing how I can help each one understand what I want, without causing too much turmoil in that moment.
This week, I focused on Taylor. I asked Taylor what his favorite thing I do with him was. I was sure he would say snuggle, or play games, or even jump on the trampoline with him. But, he, too, surprised me with his response. Here is the photo from this week:
Taylor's favorite thing to do with me is to color with me! I color with him at church, and sometimes when we are having a particularly quiet time (rarely). This got me thinking. Why is that his favorite thing to do with me? I realized, it's not something he does WITH me, but actually, something he does FOR me. Every other day, Taylor is always drawing the sweetest pictures for me, showing him and I hugging, or him and I flying while we fight a killer dragon (that's my favorite one, HA!), and his latest one, where I am a tree that grows flowers, and he is watering me. Why? Because he says that I only bloom flowers when he waters me. HA! If you think about it, it's really a sweet story. He wants to make me happy (flowers), and by watering me (giving hugs, gifts, and kisses), I bloom flowers (I am happy)! He is such a sweetheart.
Taylor is the third child. He is often overlooked, forgotten, and gets almost nothing new. But, don't feel bad for the little guy. He makes sure that none of those things happen by being the loudest one, the most imaginative one, and is never afraid to throw himself in the mix of things. Taylor, aka Batman, is always pretending, and dressing up, and loves to wrestle with daddy. Daddy is always the bad guy, and Taylor and Luke always join forces, and defeat Daddy. I love it! Taylor gets beat up a lot, and is happy to take it, in the name of good wrestling action, but don't be fooled by his tough exterior, and love of fighting. He is probably my most sensitive child.
Taylor is really a tender heart. He wants to make everyone happy. He wants to make everyone laugh. He wants to belong. He wants to be liked. But, most of all, he has a huge love of his mommy. Taylor will probably always be my mama's boy....and I LOVE it. He will always stop anything he is doing, just because he thinks I need a hug. He will always stop, and tell me how beautiful I am, or how much he loves me, followed by a sweet, long hug. I hope that never changes.
Taylor has always had a soft spot for animals and babies. People were always nervous that he would hit the puppies, kittens or babies, but were surprised to learn, and see, that he is probably the sweetest, softest kid with all of those things. He is a huge animal lover! He loves his two dogs, and can always be found laying next to one or both of them, at the foot of the stairs, just petting them, and talking to them. He is the same with babies. He loves to hold babies, talk to babies, play with babies and just snuggle up to them when they are sleeping. He is so sweet, gentle and loving. He has learned how to be a big brother to Elliott, and is so sweet with him. He protects him, watches him when we cross the street, plays with him, lets him pretend to play video games with him, and loves teaching him. His latest accomplishment is teaching Elliott how to count to 20!! Taylor is a pretty amazing big brother.
Over the last year and a half, Taylor has really struggled with potty training....or I should say, Allan and I have really struggled with potty training. But, it has been the best struggle ever! I have learned that Taylor needs to hear positive things, like, "Taylor, I'm so proud of you for going potty on your own!! It's ok that you didn't make it, because you tried!!" We used to get mad at him, because we would get frustrated. But, now, we do it positively, and always have a positive tone with him, and he has really gotten the hang of it!
Potty training aside, Taylor has really grown up a lot this year. He is figuring out his own confidence, without his brother and sister around. He has figured out what HE likes, and not what others want him to like.
Taylor is a tough guy, very smart, extremely handsome, very sensitive and pretty funny. His lisp is an amazing cute bonus! He loves everyone, and just wants to make everyone feel happy and loved, and does a pretty darn good job at it. He is my little lover, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
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