Valor turns three

Valor is three! I'm nursing conflicting feelings of pride and nostalgia - encouraged by his growth but also wistful he's no longer as little. His zeal, compassion, and silliness are a sweet gift to our family. He thrives on lots of love - hugs and words of affirmation are essential to filling his love tank. While he shrinks back when he is the center of attention, he adores fostering camaraderie in small groups. He loves his sisters well and is learning to protect and serve them as the only boy, even if he is the middle child. He is most content if he is aware at least one of us in the family is around. If he notices one of us is missing, he'll ask for us earnestly, "Where's Daddy? Where's Mommy? Where's Jie Jie Sewene? Where's baby?" He has grown much in his speech this past year. People's ability to comprehend what he says makes him a happy little boy, for not being understood frustrates him easily. He banks on good rest, taking a 3+ hour nap every afternoon and sleeping through the night for 11-12 hours. If he is overtired, he cannot function well. He is sensitive and quick to ask for forgiveness when he disobeys God. His tender heart blesses us all.

He loves dancing to music along the lines of The Greatest Showman, VBS songs, praise & worship, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and My Little Pony (courtesy of his big sister). His moving and grooving are endearing to behold. He desires to do everything Serene does, especially when it comes to learning. He is a quick learner, a lover of storytime, crafts, games, identifying numbers along with letters and their beginning sounds. He participates eagerly in family worship, singing passionately, asking questions nonstop during bible storytime, answering catechism questions, and asking to pray for all his teachers at church. He engrosses himself in imaginary kitchen play, setting up parties comprising of pretend ice cream, cake, and cookies every day. He has a penchant for taking things apart (i.e. destroying) and putting them back together, which makes him fond of building with blocks, train tracks, and the like. He loves helping around the house, asking to sort clean silverware and laundry every day. Sometimes in his effort to expend energy, he provokes his sisters who don't exactly appreciate his strength. Thankful he has his daddy for that. As rough as he is at times, he is not the biggest fan of playing outside because he abhors getting dirty and catching sight of insects in the air. He is timid to try new things, constantly working on not giving up if a task is hard at first. He's learning persevering can lead to satisfying accomplishment, like learning how to ride the tricycle by himself.

His favorite foods are sweets. He eats treats with fervor, looking forward to Sunday services because an auntie will bless him with a "pop" (lollipop). On the regular, he gulps down milk and fruit. He'll also partake of roasted veggies, eggs, cheese, soup, and meat, though he eats the least compared to his sisters. He is still not a fan of carbs, unless they're of the sweet treat variety. For his birthday, his simple request were Mickey cupcakes with a candle. He loves Mickey Mouse so, which we incorporated for his birthday breakfast treat. We cut out a Mickey silhouette to tape onto the wall for a morning cupcake smash (Looking at these pictures, I now realize the poster paper was pretty wrinkled. Oops!) I stuck Oreo cookies into chocolate cupcakes to look like Mickey cupcakes and stuck a candle into one. Valor was the happiest kid donning Mickey ears he received when we celebrated at Disneyland a couple of days ago and eating his Mickey cupcake in the company of his sisters. Happy birthday, dear son. It is a privilege to watch you grow. Praying you'd grow to be a God-fearing man who loves Him and loves others. We love you so much!!!

P.S. Valor turns two, Valor turns one, and Valor's birth day.