Dear Ian,

We love you so. You are becoming such a little boy. Not much baby left in you. An emerging chatterbox. Signing some, but using your voice more and more. Lots of 'dog', 'more', 'mama', 'dada', 'Audrey', 'hot', 'what's that?', and 'duck'. Did I mention 'dog'? But, my hands down favorite is 'all done'. You are so animated when you say it. When finished eating. Or riding in the car. Or when looking at a book. Or when you decide you are ready to get out of your crib (even when we've just laid you down for the night!). Or when daddy has NPR on the radio. A man after my own heart! You are such a sweetheart. Giving us kisses for no reason. Loving on your lion. Insisting on as many Nuks as are within sight. Greeting all with a 'hi! hi!' Though you love to pull your sister's hair, you also love sharing with her. You insist that she needs a book in the bath just like you. It drives her bonkers since she has no interest in it, but we laugh since we know you are just being thoughtful. You love when she plays with you, and get so excited when you see her first thing in the morning. You are sensitive to redirection and love to please. You love life and dive into most things headfirst. Literally. You are so willing to try new things. Including food. You down asparagus like nobody's business. But only if you can first hit yourself in the face with it. Daddy is not allowed to cut it up or there are lots of tears about asparagus no longer being fun. You love whooshes when the Bears score and imitate the Bears when you catch a play. And you sit on the couch or floor when the TV is turned on, anticipating Murray Monster from Sesame. So excited when he appears.

I remember when you were born and talking with our beloved pediatrician about how concerned I was that you would not get as much individual attention as Audrey. She told me that while your reality would be different from when Audrey was born, you would thrive nonetheless.

Indeed.

I have no idea who Ian looks like in this picture...

Swim Lessons

Ian loves the bath. Especially walking around in it. Needless to say, this results in short baths. Just as we did with Audrey, we enrolled Ian in swim lessons and we knew Ian would not hesitate to get into the pool. Eric gets in with him, and we hear the same songs we learned when Audrey took lessons. I don't remember Audrey doing this, but as soon as Ian sees me (and Audrey), he waves and smiles and blows kisses and says, 'mamama', and turns his head to keep us in view. He is just beat after lessons. So is his daddy!

Who looks more suspicious?

Ian or Uncle Brian? (The Bomb sign behind Uncle Brian does not help his case...). Taken within seconds of each other, maybe they were part of a conspiracy...Uncle B would definitely like that...