What to Expect in 36 Months: A 3-Year Roadmap

Thirty-six months. 1,096 days. 13,149 hours. 3,124 diapers. 104 gallons of milk. 12 states. Hundreds of tiny plastic toys lost under the couch. Thousands of tantrums. Millions of hugs and kisses. Today Evan is three years old.

This age is a wild mix of wonder and exasperation. He’s no longer a newborn who needs constant tending; he’s a little person and my constant companion. He’s cooler, funnier and cuter than I deserve, and even though he has more friends than I do, he still prefers me—and that feels amazing. He gives public hugs, asks for kisses for every scraped knee, insists on being carried sometimes, and I’ll encourage that as long as he wants it.

Of course, he can flip in an instant from cuddly to full-on meltdown: screaming, flailing, refusing dinner. The not-eating phase is baffling—he never sits still, so how can he possibly not be hungry?

Evan is endlessly friendly and will chat with anyone who smiles at him. He tells the older women in the grocery store about his pirate adventures: Captain Hook tried to take Pirate Mommy’s treasure and Pirate Evan rode “to the RESCUE!” with his hands on his hips, full superhero swagger. His trains and toys perform dramas stranger than any movie, and his imagination keeps getting richer. I’ll do everything I can to keep that spark alive.

Because he loves attention, being ignored makes him loud and dramatic: “MOMMY LOOK AT WHAT I’M DOING!” That can be exhausting—especially when he’s narrating his boogers for everyone—but it’s also part of who he is: dramatic, confident, and absolutely himself.

We’ve started family dinners at the table every night, and Evan shares his day with us. He calls Caroline “Baby Sister” and tells everyone she gives the best hugs. He takes her hand and sings, “C’mon Baby Sister!” as they run through the house. He praises the dog—“Good boy, Brutus Brutus”—and when his dad walks in the door he says, “Daddy, missed you ALL DAY.” He’s been talking nonstop about his birthday party and how he’ll see “all my friends.” I’m excited for the party and even more excited for the stories he’ll tell the next day. Those moments make all the effort worthwhile.

No matter how many tantrums or how much attitude, he’s a good kid. I’m not mourning the baby stage because what’s better than a baby? A child who uses the toilet like a champ.

Evan’s favorites: running, kicking things, his tricycle, gymnastics (finally!), Baby Sister, dogs, cats, helping around the house, friends, Daddy, bathtime, naps, milk, coloring, talking, singing, chocolate, strawberries, dinosaurs, cheeseburgers, lemonade, books, pirates, the Disney Channel, cousins, counting, pillows, and elevators.

Dislikes: being tired, band-aids, falling down, being ignored, spiders, and being forced to pose for pictures.

And now for some favorite photos from Evan’s birthdays and the last few years:

35-Month Milestones (summary, from BabyCenter)

Mastered skills most children can do:

• Describes how two objects are used — He knows the iPhone is for games and the TV is for Disney, so that counts.
• Uses three- to four-word sentences — He surprised us with inventive phrasing and plenty of laughter.
• Names two actions (like skipping or jumping) — He frequently demands I run faster or do high knees while we walk, acting as a tiny motivator.

Emerging skills many children begin to show:

• Hops and may skip — He can skip when prompted, which is adorable and unexpected.
• Follows two- or three-step commands — He can go to the bathroom, remove pants, flush and wash his hands with minimal help.
• Separates from parents fairly easily — He’s confident with others, which will help with preschool when that time comes.
• Rides a tricycle — On flat ground, he pedals happily and wears his new helmet proudly.

Advanced skills some children show:

• Balances briefly on each foot — He can walk the balance beam in gymnastics.
• Dresses without help — He can put clothes on but sometimes still gets stuck; we’re working on independence with patience.

Happy birthday to my wonderful, special boy. Three years of Evan have been chaotic, joyful, messy, loud and full of love. I can’t wait to see what the next year brings.