Three.

Dear Ryker,

Today you are THREE.  Three years old.  I simply cannot believe it.

Our proud American turns 3!

Three years ago I was in the hospital with daddy, anxiously awaiting the moment we would get to meet our very first baby.  At 3:55 PM you entered this world and Daddy said, "it's a boy!"  We named you Ryker James; Ryker, for strength and power, and James for your great-grandfather, whom daddy knows you would have loved very much.  That night you, me, and your Daddy sat and watched fireworks across the city from our hospital room, relishing every moment with our precious baby boy.

​You have accomplished so much in the three years you have been on this Earth, and you have brought joy, love, and happiness to everyone you encounter.  More importantly,  however, you have proven that God exists, and your life is a testimony to the miracles God performs every single day.

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The last time I posted (way too long ago!), we were celebrating 1 minute and 13 seconds of you walking independently in the pool.  I cried tears of joy in that moment!  Today, however, just a few months later, you're walking EVERYWHERE you go!  WALKING.  A skill many take for granted, but something we know you have worked hard for since the moment you were born.  I thank God for every single step you take -- I thank Him for the amazing brain He created, I thank Him for your determined spirit, and I thank Him for always reminding us that He is right there by our side.

When you fall, you get back up, and quickly move on to the next steps!

You are brave, strong, and simply amazing.

You are also silly.  So silly!  Your laugh is deep and joyful, and truly one of the greatest sounds I have ever heard!

At three years old, here are your favorite things:

1. Baseball.  This has been a favorite since the very first time you saw a baseball! 
2. Cars.  You will play with cars all day long if you could, and you are an excellent bedtime negotiator, often convincing me that you need to bring 5 cars to bed with you (rather than the 2 I initially offered).  As an attorney, this skillset makes me proud!
3. Sharks.  You take after your mom on this one.
4. Dinosaurs.  You have an awesome ROAR.
5. Maverick.  Your most favorite of all!  You WALK into Maverick's room every morning to greet him, hug him, kiss him, and wrestle him!  He is your favorite person in the world, and you are his favorite person in the world.  You are the BEST big brother.

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Ryker, to say I am incredibly proud of you is an understatement.  There are truly no words that can describe how I feel for you and all that you have accomplished in three years. I can't WAIT to see what you will accomplish in this next year!

Keep up the good work, buddy.  You are the BEST.

Happy birthday to my favorite three year old in the WHOLE world!

Love,

Mama

Baseball birthday!

You get a ball at every game!

Big brothering at its finest.

Ryker James Steen | July 4, 2015

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"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." ~ Numbers 6:24-26