A Letter to My Son On His Third Birthday

My sweet Cayden,

How are we here already? The big three! I don’t know how time seems to keep passing us by so quickly, it must be that we are having a blast… If the saying is true that time flies when you’re having fun.

I don’t even know where to begin. You have brought me so much joy, especially during these times of uncertainty. Even in the middle of a pandemic, I look at your face and see so much happiness. You stay smiling and laughing throughout the day which is so infectious I can’t help but to smile and laugh with you. It’s like the rest of the world doesn’t exist and we’re in this incredibly happy, dreamy bubble that we have created with your dad. Just the three of us.

You’ve accomplished some pretty cool milestones this year. You’ve added more Spanish words to your vocabulary and are quick to tell people that you speak it. I think you may be showing off, but that’s okay with me because it’s a reflection of the job I’m doing at teaching you.

By the age of 2 years and 5 months you were fully potty trained! I don’t know if that’s a record for kids, but you got it down and have been in your big boy undies ever since. You shock me at how quickly you are able to learn and remember things at your age. You are so incredibly smart, I can’t wait for you to start school and learn a whole new world of things. If it wasn’t for the pandemic, you would have been in school for six months now.

Another milestone that you crossed by the age of 2 years and 3 months was letting go of your binky! This one really surprised me because you needed one to go to sleep, but as soon as we got back from Mimi and Papa’s house for Christmas, we went cold turkey and you did it with such ease, my big boy.

This year you’ve shown us that you are the notorious fry king. You could eat fries all day, every day and Mickey Mouse is your number one guy. It hurts me that I can’t take you back to Disneyland when the commercials come on but I promise to keep my promise and take you at least once a year — that is, until we move back to LA and I can take you any day.

I love seeing you develop your personality. You are so considerate and well-mannered. You always say thank you whenever I do something for you, which melts my heart. You always listen and I hardly ever have to tell you twice which I think is not common for toddlers. I know at your age I was a handful. Somehow, you are the complete opposite. So chill, mellow, it kind of reminds me of someone… Your dad. Without a doubt, you are his kid.

Your favorite things to do at the age of two were coloring, painting, playing with your water guns, reading books, having picnics in the backyard, playing soccer and basketball, and racing. If you ever have a chance to race your dad and I, you’re taking it and boy are you quick. Sometimes I laugh because you really are beating me with your little legs.

You also experienced your first basketball game at the arena. Of course it was a Lakers game. You were so locked into the game, I think you may have the Burks’ family basketball blood as much as I don’t want to force it on you, it may just be natural for you. If that is the talent that God has given you, I can’t wait to see it into fruition.

Thank you for making motherhood so easy for me. When people ask if we’re planning on having more kids, I always respond with, “If you can guarantee that they will come out exactly like Cayden I would have 5 more” and I’m serious. You are just a smart, happy, well-mannered, independent, super cute little guy and I feel like you make it easier on me than other kids and their parents. Thank you for loving me that much.