Deer Veer,

I can’t believe it’s been a year since I wrote this post for your 2nd birthday. Today, you are THREE YEARS OLD.

I feel like it was just yesterday when we received news of your arrival. I distinctly remember the exact place I was standing when I opened up the WhatsApp family chat to find out that you had arrived. I was up at camp, standing at the staff table, eagerly trying to get reception on my phone. And, once my phone found signal, it froze up a bit because it was loading 1000+ messages. (In case you haven’t picked up on it yet, your family is quite chatty).

But none of those 1000+ messages meant ANYTHING to me as much as the one – buried underneath the others – that said, “HE’S HERE!” I remember how desperately I wanted to meet you. How, despite our attempts at remaining connected through texts and phone calls, I just wanted to hold you in my arms and snuggle you.

Not much has changed. I still want to hold you ALL THE TIME. I want to bite your cheeks off, cradle you in my arms, and snuggle with you when you’re fast asleep. Your Mama always says that you’re the “yummiest” after you’ve fallen asleep. I definitely agree with that. And I love putting my head next to yours on the pillow and watch how you take deep breaths in and out, exhausted from your days filled with finger painting and swings & slides.

You really love the slides. And sometimes you love the swings (mostly when your Papa is swinging next to you), but the slides are your favorite. You really like to climb to the top of the play structure. And, you’re always extremely methodical about it. You look before you leap and I love watching you analyze your next step.

Other things you love? Pharell. No joke. You’re obsessed with all things Pharell Williams related. You will stop mid-activity if you hear the word, “happy,” and every time you say the word “happy,” you yourself get a little happier on the inside. I know this because your face breaks into this big goofy grin and your little arms and legs shake with excitement as you look around at everyone’s facial expressions to see whether we all heard the word “happy” as well.

You love talking. You copy everything that people say. But, more recently, you’ve started responding to questions and comments. You’re asserting your opinion, in your own 3-year old way, and I love watching your personality come out in the way you interact with people and things around you.

You love taking pictures. Hema Bua just bought you a fancy new camera that allows you to take pictures with your iPhone. You mastered the art of picture taking in less than 3 minutes. I am almost certain you are going to be an engineer with an interest in the arts. <—–Colleges, get your admissions people ready for this kid. He’s a rare one. 

You’ve got better rhythm than your Papa. But your Papa always jumps with you when the melody of a song has reached it’s climax. You always shout, “Jump, Papa, Jump” during his god awful trance songs and I can tell that your Papa loves that you love his music.

Juna Chachu said it best when he said, “When I grow up, I want to be just like Veer.” These words could not be MORE true. I look at you and am inspired by your enthusiasm for life, your energy and LOVE for everything and everyone around you, and the way you interact with your environment each day. I watch as you study your new bubble machine, fascinated by the multiple bubbles that fly out of each wand. You soak in every piece of this world – something that we, as adults, have forgotten how to do. You have no idea how powerful you are. You gave us strength during Nanu’s passing and, even today, you manage to lift our spirits when the rest of the world seems to be crashing down. And the funny thing is that you don’t even realize the level of impact you have on people. You just live your life. And your presence alone is a calming factor.

Three years ago, our lives were forever changed. Because you instantly become the most important thing in our lives. Thank you for being the best present we’ve ever received. Happy Birthday, little monkey. We love you so much.