Working on daddy's card

With all the excitement of Ian's birthday weekend, I failed to get a picture of Eric with the kids on Father's Day! So, this picture of them working very diligently on his card will have to suffice. They make a great team!

2nd Birthday Party

Ian had a great 2nd birthday party, complete with family and a theme of, what else, lions! His Coldstone BFF, Jenny, made his special cake, and he has been enjoying the leftovers as much as his first bite. Audrey was given a salad kit since Ian stole the one she was given for her last birthday, but it seems he has also claimed this one as his own. He is quite the chef!

A conversation with Ian

My little rooster was the first one up on his birthday. Since it was also Father's Day, I scooped him out of bed to let Eric catch a few more winks. It was still dark. Quiet. Cool before the heat. So, Ian and I had breakfast together. He ordered his usual: "Banana. Milk in Elmo cup."

I could have just eaten him for breakfast. :)

Dear Ian,

Tomorrow, you turn 2. Ah, the 'terrible twos'. You are showing signs of independence and strong-will, though later than your sister. You are beginning to immediately say, 'no' when asked to do something, but you often still comply. You love your daddy. Sitting on his lap. ("Sit on Dada's cap!") Often during dinner. :) You often ask him to 'rock!' you at bedtime. You want to know whose car you are riding in that day. ("Dada's car? mama's car?"). You recite your ABCs and are counting at least thru 10. You are using more and more sentences. You say the prayer before dinner, and your sister even lets you sometimes say it alone. :) You love that big sister. You often imitate her. I see you look over at her, wondering what she is up to. She definitely leads the play time, and you often let her without complaint. You have been trying to put her in time out though, much to her chagrin. ("No, Audrey. You go time-out!"). You so love lion. He is the best pillow and must go with you to school and wherever you may be sleeping. He often helps you wake up in the morning. And often is what will help you find comfort. And your mama? Well, your mama loves you so. You will be the death of me, with your dangerous feats that I only hope do not end in injury. You do somersaults and attempt handstands. You are taking the steps quite well, up and down. Alternating feet without prompting on the way up. I love our snuggle time during gymnastics. As long as I bring you hungry, you will sit in my lap for a whole hour, so long as the snacks are interesting enough. You like to go 'allyoup!' when we head out the door. You have been choosing your own books before bed, and tonight asked for each of the chosen books by name. You are starting to read along. (Old hat, new hat!). Your mama still tries to sing, "Are You Sleeping?" to you each night, but you have started to say, "No, stop it!". And then giggle to try to get me to do it again. I told Audrey this tonight, and that I was sad you no longer want a serenade. And she told me to sing it to you anyway! Don't mind if I do.

Happy 2nd birthday, Ian! May you have a happy, healthy, and amazing year number two!

Love,
Mama

Lounging

"You have to get a picture of the two of them before they don't do this anymore!"

I heeded Eric's advice and got a snapshot of Audrey and Ian on a typical non-school day, lounging after breakfast to watch the latest Super Why episode. They get along like gangbusters when first waking up! And usually thereafter! :)

PBS Kids at the Park

We headed downtown today on a whim when Eric remembered PBS Kids at the Park was being held. It was a hot day but when we learned that the Super Why characters would be there, we knew we had to go. I honestly wish I had video rather than just a picture of Ian with AlphaPig, who just happens to be his Super Why hero. He doesn't care much for the show after AlphaPig uses his alphabet map to navigate, but boy does he love this pig! When Ian spotted AlphaPig, his mouth gaped open, and Eric had to drag him a bit by the hand to get him to keep moving - he was too in awe for his little legs to work. I hear him say, "Alpha Pig!" He has been talking about it ever since!