Avett getting older

It is hard to update on Avett. His changes are still so huge, like who he is now to who he was a month ago is vastly different, but the changes are so much more gradual and hard to pin point. Not like when they're babies and you can say "Now they're grabbing things. Now they're walking." etc.
I will say the one thing I'm most proud of (and really shouldn't say because this will all go away immediately) is that Avett is starting to eat a little bit better. It may take some coaxing and bribing, but he is starting to open up even more, try more foods, and increase the number of things he will. For instance, last night I got him to take a bite of lettuce. Tonight he ate the whole piece. Still wouldn't go for the tomato (It was BLTs if you haven't figured that out. All about the Bs though!)
He is very very loving. So many times throughout the day he will tell me "I love you momma" or my personal favorite "I love you soooooo much!!!!" and give me a hug and kiss. What completely took me by surprise is when he started saying it to Haddie. I felt like his announcing his love to me and Aaron was to be expected as he learned it as a response to us telling him that we love him. But obviously Haddie can't tell him that or ask him for validation, he just does it on his own. Tells her the same thing "I love you soooooo much!" or "I love my sister!" It really warms my heart to know that in just a few short years, this child has learned what it means to be loved and to give love in return. Simply one of the best things you can witness as a parent.
That said, as much as he loves Haddie, he also envies her. He seriously makes my blood boil with how many times he deliberately walks over to her and pushes her down. I know it's attention seeking but it's also just so rude. Ugh. Threenagers.
In terms of physical development, he has tried to figure out how to pump his legs while swinging but we're still really little to fully understand and we also don't make it to the park very often for practice. And just yesterday while we were at the big park at the zoo, they had these crazy skinny and windy ladders that you had to climb to get to these super huge slides. And although I was spotting him, he figured out how to climb up them all on his own. And loved it!
This month, he has enjoyed going out to catch fireflies at dusk. He keeps telling Aaron and I "I don't like bugs. I don't like ants, or flies, or spiders, or lady bugs. I just like butterflies and fireflies." Speaking of butterflies, he always thinks of Millie when he sees one. Just the sweetest.
he continues to enjoy playing with his animals. Since I finally cleaned out the basement and reorganized the living room, he has been spending a lot of time playing (lining up) his "big animals". Those are his preference though he still plays with his little animals, as well. And regardless of which ones hes playing with, he makes sure to tell Haddie "No, you're too little!" Yes, Dad.
He still plays with his trucks and trains and such, but moreso because he just got a cool starship from Star Wars that shoots "laser beams" (nerf darts).
Haddie got a baby doll and a whole set of baby accessories (crib, diaper bag, etc) and Avett's slightly obsessed. Mostly with "his purse". Kids a natural. Makes sure to shove everything possible in the diaper bag including the essentials: diapers and bottles, as well as bracelets, cell phones, cameras, keys, wallet, a stethoscope, bandaids... Him and Haddie are both too cute when they're playing with their dolls.
In getting our house cleaned, we also set up the upstairs as more of a play/art area for the kids. Avett likes coloring with crayons on his table and using the markers on his dry erase board. He specifically likes to draw circles and also copied his first letter, 'A' a couple weeks ago. I was so proud. Had to take a picture of his smiling face next to it. Mostly what he enjoys doing is telling me what to draw.
He continues to be Mr. Independent in most daily tasks. He has the routine down of being the one to turn the water on (hasn't figured out how to turn it off on his own), get his toothbrush and toothpaste out (while trying to hit me with the vanity mirror), and wet it. I usually brush his teeth, because lets be honest, kids aren't the greatest at it. But he gets to finish up. Terrible at spitting toothpaste out yet. When should kids be good at that I wonder? Anyways, then he likes rinsing his brush and shaking it off, which is really him just rubbing the bristles all over the sink and grossing the sh*t out of me. Kids. I tell ya.
Oh yea, and the kid is still in love with movies. This month we watched a lot of Ice Age (Avett's favorite), Star Wars (Dad's favorite) and Wild Hearts Can't be Broken, or as Avett calls it: Flying Horses (Mom's favorite).
Some of my favorite things Avett has said is:
"I like your cool ___, mom." (shirt, drawing, whatever)
He lined up all of his animals on the edge of the tub and then pulled the curtain closed around them and whispered "Those are your covers. Good night animals."
One night he coughed and asked himself "Are you okay Vavett?"
Avett has done this several times: "Whatcha thinking about Pads?" (So cute, like he understands what shes saying. Ugh. Melt my heart)
When he was playing with Haddie's doll, he put it to bed in the crib and said "See ya when I see ya." (Seriously? Where did he even learn that? I do not think Aaron or I say that.)
Haddie stood on the scale the other day and Avett told her "You're two three pounds. Wow, you're SO BIG!"
" Because". It's got to be his favorite thing to say. "Because I'm not hungry, because I just got up, because I was sleeping because I was tired, because my animals were tired too. And because Dada was tired." (That is a contrived conversation but 100% something he would say).

I wish I could capture all of his conversations on video. He has a mind like a steel trap. Doesn't forget a single thing. So it makes for great story retelling skills. 
Lately I've had moments where I see him and Haddie, almost like I'm at a further distance than what I'm used to or something, and think "My gosh, you really are so little." Like not just in height, their both pip squeaks, but just in age too. He's always been such a great, big talker and his memory is so amazing that it makes him seem so much older than just three years old. And then I get to thinking about how quickly time is passing. I've never been one to think that before or to wish for time to slow down, but I've had little glimpses of those thoughts passing through.
Some days, I wish he could stay this little forever. He's perfect. But I know he will be even greater than I can imagine as he continues to grow. Love that little man soooooo much!