This boy! His lively and animated personality is always making me laugh!! But he is also my biggest challenge thus far in parenting. He is very strong willed, super active and physically advanced in both fine and gross motor skills. He knows exactly what he wants and won't let anything or anyone get in his way. At the same time he can be super sweet and even polite. He's the only kid to say thank you and you're welcome without any prompting and will say excuse me if he bumps into someone. If he drops something when I'm trying to give it to him he'll say sorry. I find it very interesting that in those moments he says all the right things but he definitely won't say sorry for throwing mulch in your hair or kicking a mud puddle at you. I think that's because he thinks those things are fun even done back to him, so why should he say sorry? (I promise I tell him not to do those things and say sorry but it's hard for him to understand.) He's such a rough and tumble little guy! Not many bumps or bruises bother him for long. So much energy in one little body! He rarely ever stops even to eat. I wish he could share some energy with me! ;)
I thought he would handle adding a sibling to his life pretty well since he was very independent and played so well on his own. Well, I was right for the first month or so. But once I started work again and doing school with the older kids I started to realized he was having a harder time adjusting than I expected. The time I used to have with him was all but gone. He's always been a little loud. I mean with 4 kids you have to be a little loud to be heard and it's not like the rest of my kids are quiet. ;) But he got much louder and much more sensitive about not getting what he wanted. Each of my kids have gone through different struggles when adding a sibling. Jane was huge tantrums, Atlas it was a constant whininess, Xan was outbursts of anger and Flynn is loud yelling and saying no over and over when things don't go his way. They've all gotten through it, right now Flynn is in the middle of it. I know it's about him trying to protect his small world because he feels like no one else is going to protect it for him. Some days I see him getting better, other days seem worse than ever. I know it's extra hard for him compared to Atlas and Xan because he's not as advanced as they were in speech. So communicating what he wants and needs can be frustrating for him sometimes. I forget that I also had him give up the pacifier a few months before Piper was born. And to add to it, he switched out of the crib in a room on his own to a toddler bed with roommates and he stopped taking naps… all at the same time. That’s a lot of change for a little kid. Flynn reminds me of Jane a lot in temperament, but Jane didn't have a bunch of other siblings to have to share with when she had to adjust to a new baby and she still had her thumb for comfort. So yeah, I try to give him a lot of grace since not being the youngest any more is a big adjustment and he was the youngest a year longer than everyone else. I hope everyone else can understand he's dealing with some big changes in his life and give him grace too. I feel strongly that once he's just a little older and having little sister feels more normal to him he'll calm down considerably and be is super happy self again, especially as his communication improves and we find a good rhythm and routine again after adding a family member.
As you can tell from the pictures above Flynn adores his blankets! He’s the first one to insist on bringing a blanket to the park and since he’s the 4th kid, I said yes. He looked like Linus running around with a blanket trailing behind him, so cute! Something I’ve noticed about Flynn that’s different than my 3 older kiddos is that he acts exactly the same at home as he does anywhere else, the park, a friends house, the store, etc. my other’s feel a little less comfortable somewhere other than home so they behave a little better. Flynn doesn’t care! In fact he may a little more well behaved at home because he has his blankets and his bed for comfort. It’s is safe spot to retreat to when he needs to cry about things not going how he wanted. He will put himself there and cry for a bit and come out happy again shortly. It’s hard when he doesn’t have that spot to relax in and refocus. He’s getting there though!!
Flynn wants to be wherever his siblings are! He’s still learning to play well together with everyone though. He’s naturally more independent when playing. For example he wants to be where everyone is but he will play his own thing by himself in the same room. Plus 3 is a hard age for sharing. I see more and more sweet sibling moments as he is getting older and he is learning to trust a little more. Jane and Flynn have the most similar personalities! They always want to do things faster and bigger. They are thrill seekers. Jane was very motherly to Flynn until he was 2 but now he’s in the annoying little brother category at times because he wants to do what she is doing but he just messes up what she is trying to do. They do have some sweet times together and he is always making her laugh. Xan and Flynn have the most up and down relationship. And I’ve seen this already with Altas and Xan so I know it’s mostly their ages and how 4 & 3 just have a really hard time with sharing. They have the most common interest in toys which is why they will fight over them more than the other kids. Dinosaurs are both their favorite! So sometimes they will play super well with Dinos together and other times they’re fighting over the one dino they both want! They’ll give each other super sweet hugs but also hit each other the most too. Haha! I think they’ll be close once they are a little older. Flynn and Atlas definitely have that brotherly connection already, but Flynn interacts with Atlas the least. I would say it’s probably because Atlas plays a lot of video games and Flynn isn’t old enough to play yet. Also they are constantly fighting over who gets to jump on the trampoline first since we made the one person rule. But they will have a friendly wrestling match out of no where and have the best time when I let them play in the bath tub together. Flynn and Piper are still getting to know one another. At first Flynn barely noticed Piper but a couple weeks into being a big brother he decided he wanted to hold her and he loved it! He is usually very sweet with her, unless he feels she is too close to his toy. Otherwise he’ll only be upset when I need to feed her when he wants me to do something else instead. He still won’t let it bother him for too long though. I’m looking forward to watching him grow into his big brother role more!
Weight
Birth: 6lbs 6oz
1 Year Old: 20lbs 13oz
2 Years Old: 26lbs 4oz
3 Years Old: 30lbs
Flynn has never been chunky, but with the exception of his first month or so he’s never been super small either. Just not quite up to average. He’s just so active it’s hard for him to put on any significant amount of weight. I’m glad he’s healthy! He’s can still fit into most 2t clothes but I really do need to dig out my 3t boy clothes soon!
Height
Birth: 20 Inches
1 Year Old: 28.5 Inches
2 Years Old: 34 Inches
3 Years Old: 36.25 inches
Flynn’s never been tall either. I imagine he’ll be sort of my dad and brother’s height and build. On the shorter side but very athletic. He’s got wide feet that give him great balance too. You never know though! He might get a growth spurt as a teenager and surprise me!
Flynn got his canine teeth very soon after his 2nd birthday and then a few months before he turned 3 he got his second set of molars which he got pretty cranky about. But we’re through it and he’s finally done getting new teeth until he gets his first set of permanent teeth!
Firsts
Time for firsts and favorites! Man, the difference between 2 and 3 is such a huge change! I love watching him grow through the year.
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| Playing in Fake snow - Jan 2022 |
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| Arcade game - Feb 2022 |
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| Haircut - March 2022 |
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| Riding/driving a power wheel - April 2022 |
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| Slip and Slide! - May 2022 |
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| Happy in a hole on the beach - May 2022 |
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| One on One night with Mom - June 2022 |
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| Becoming a swimmer - July 2022 |
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| Baby Sister - August 2022 |
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| Climbing the rock wall! - September 2022 |
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| Preschool pic - September 2022 |
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| Playing at the Interactive zoo - October 2022 |
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| Trying the hover board! - November 2022 |
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| Napping with food on his head - November 2022 |
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| Big slide at the Atascocita Park - December 2022 |
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| Picture with Santa! - December 2022 |
Favorites
Look at that smile! It radiates joy! Flynn's laugh is contagious and so genuine. All of his siblings stop to look and smile when Flynn is giggling. I wrote last year that he was such a happy kid, not getting upset for long and he was super independent. He's definitely still independent but he wants me for things more now than he used to. Probably because my time is so much more special to him now that baby sister demands so much attention now. Not being the youngest anymore has a big part to do with Flynn becoming easier to upset and screaming about things because it's the only way he feels heard. We're continuing to work on it. It's still the same though, when Flynn is happy he makes everyone around him happy! He adores being outside but he doesn't want to be outside alone. He always wants me or one of his siblings to go with him to the backyard. One of his favorite things is to splash in puddles or play in mud or sand. He enjoys getting dirty but if he wasn't trying to get dirty he wants to get clean right away. What hasn't changed at all in his level of activity. He has so much energy!! But he's only on or off and goes straight to sleep once it's bedtime each night and sleeps so well! He's still got great rhythm and loves to dance. He asks for dance parties often. He seems to have a particular taste in music too. Rock, Punk or some K-Pop. I hope he never becomes too self-conscious that he stops dancing. It's the best!
Snacks are life to Flynn! They are portable and easily replenished whenever hunger is too much for him to ignore. He’s not the kind of guy that sits down to eat long and just because someone says it’s “dinner time”. Sure he’ll sit down and eat a couple of bites but it’s not but a few short minutes and he say’s “I done!” And is off running again. Some meals he MIGHT sit and eat for a meal are Mac and cheese, pb&j, cheesy bread pizza, grilled cheese and tomato soup, ramen, pasta, yogurt, pop tarts, chocolate milk, a protein smoothie, pancakes, apples and strawberries. Some of his favorite snacks are ritz sour cream and onion chips, dry Cinnamon Toast Crunch, kettle corn popcorn, goldfish, tortillas, a plain piece of bread, cheeto puffs, and anything that isn’t his at park day. Haha!! Also he is constantly trying to convince me that candy is a meal and appropriate at any time of day, he LOVES candy!! Just about anything that isn’t too chocolatey. As much as he loves meat eating dinosaurs he does not like meat himself. One day I’ll get him to eat more than one bite of meat. ;)
Have I mentioned yet that this boy adores dinosaurs!!!! (Yeah I think a few times ;) ) Any new carnivore dinosaur is his favorite! He’s not really into the calm plant eaters. They’re not his style. T-Rexes and spinosauruses seem to be at the top of his dino list. Any Dino that’s new is his fav, especially if they’re not his. ;) He’s all boy and also enjoys playing with trucks, trains, Mario toys and magic car tracks. He enjoys building with duplos and magnatiles as well.
Obviously books focusing on his interests are his favorite. So dinosaur books are the best! Even better if they have flaps. A couple of favorites have been “big book of dinosaurs”, peak inside dinosaurs and all of our reusable sticker books. He’s not very interested for me to read to him at this point. He likes to look at them on his own a good amount. I think he just doesn’t like having to wait for me to turn the page. He wants to turn it whenever he wants. Hopefully he’ll let me read to him again, otherwise school is going to be quite the challenge.
Being active is everything to Flynn! Even if he’s watching tv he has to jump or climb or run around. He still holds the top spot for being the most active of my 5 kids. He adores swimming and was the earliest to learn to swim when he was just a little older than 2 1/2. So impressed! He really enjoys the trampoline as well but won’t go outside to jump on his own. If I watch him he will jump but he’s much rather have Xan up there with him. He loves to throw the frisbee, play with any ball, drive remote control cars, play in dirt, splash in puddles. Anything to keep him moving. <3
Flynn's favorite shows or movies are whatever he's into at the time. Usually it's dinosaurs! But he does have some shows he'll always come back to and some of them are story bots, brain candy TV, nursery rhyme songs like cocomelon, Camp Cratatious, floor is lava. His favorite show as of late is Ryan’s world! He especially loves the episodes featuring the volcano experiments. YouTube dinosaurs still hold the very top spot though. He hates Iron Giant. The poor boy is so frightened of it! It's so strange for him because he likes scary things and Iron Giant isn't even that scary. We think it must have come from a nightmare after watching it. I hope he can overcome that fear one day. We all love Iron Giant around here!
Flynn loves to “go in the car”! His favorite place to go is Marmee and Pappaw’s house! He asks all the time if that’s where we are going. Other favorites are the park, urban air, the library, the beach, open gym and Friend’s houses. He hasn’t warmed up to zero gravity yet and he does not like getting curbside groceries. To boring apparently.
Flynn has boundless energy! You know when he has arrived wherever he goes. (Yeah… sometimes that’s just because of his loudness) He’s got a strong presence that commands attention. Flynn wants to be in control and knows exactly what he wants. That’s hard when you’re 3. Since a 3 year old is not allowed to be in control. He will try to give me driving directions and tell me no if I turn the opposite way he wanted me to. He seems to think if he is persistent enough I will give in. And maybe in a weak moment I have given in to a piece of candy or an extra snack, but in general I do not give in to his demands and tell him he’s 3 and he doesn’t get to decide where the car goes. Haha! He’s a tough kid! He did an accidental front flip off the trampoline cried for like 5 seconds on his way to climb back up on the trampoline to keep jumping. That tenacity, toughness and strong willed temperament is hard to parent, but I know he will be a strong man when he grows up. I will do my absolute best to teach him to use his strength for good and to protect those who need protecting instead of bullying for his own selfish gains. Despite the difficulties of learning how to parent Flynn, he is soooo much fun and brings so much joy to our lives. One thing is sure, life is never dull with Flynn. I’m looking forward to all the adventures we’ll have together! <3
Happy 3rd Birthday Flynn Flynn!! We love you so much!
