A Chip off the ol’ Tooth

Ian had already been having a pretty lousy day. He hadn’t had much sleep, for one thing… Mommy decided to take him for a ice cream to see if that would help; he apparently misstepped while trying to be a nice boy and throw something out… he tripped, fell on his face, smooshed his lip, and chipped his tooth a little. Ian’s not eating anything tonight, he’s very upset and in a bit of pain… everybody’s nerves are a little frayed around the edges, but we’re hanging in there. At this point we’re pretty much praying that he falls asleep and wakes up tomorrow feeling good enough to be able to eat, he couldn’t really get his lips around a straw without balling. We managed to get a little milk in his tummy by letting him drink like a big boy and putting a little bit of flavor in the milk so that he would sort of get through the pain for the sake of more.

I’ve got a bowl of Cheerios soaking in milk right now in the fridge for the morning.

Update this Weekend(?)

I’ve had some nasty deadlines, and I’m no out of the woods yet. I’m hoping to be able to update the blog this weekend with some pictures and other fun stuff. Sorry everybody!

(PS – You can hear the advancement happening in his speech about once a week, or so it seems. The way he gave a half-wave and said “Good morgnin, Daddy!” today was a little off in pronunciation, but the WAY he said it was perfect.)

Crazy Awesome Phone Skills

Just a moment ago I was on the phone with Melissa when in the background I could hear:
“Daddy, I want to talk to you.”

So Melissa hands the phone over, and I proceed to have a fantastic conversation with my kid, over the phone. I can’t possibly convey how much he sounded like talking to somebody maybe three times his age… It went like this.

ian – “Daddy, I went to…”
me – “Hi kiddo!”
ian – “Hi. Hello?”
me – “Hi! Hey, can you tell Mommy something for me?”
ian – “Yes.”
me – “Tell her ‘Happy Anniversary!'”
ian – “Happy Versary!”
me – “Yup, say ‘Happy’ then…”
ian – “Happy Birthday!”
me – “‘Happy Anniversary.'”
ian – “Happy Averserary!”
me – “Awesome, perfect! What was it you wanted to tell me?”
ian – “I play with Isaac!”
me – “Oh, at the farm pickup? Great! Who else was there?”
ian – “Levi…”
me – “Oh Levi? Nice!”
ian – “…he’s a baby.”
me – “Yup, he’s a lil baby. And Isaac can play with Levi whenever he wants to because he’s his little brother.”
ian – “uh huh.”
me – “Isn’t that cool?”
ian – “Yep.”
me – “So did you have a good time?”
ian – “uh huh.” (His “uh huh” sort of dropped here like he was running out of things to talk about…)
(brief silence)
me – “Well that’s great. Hey Daddy should probably get back to work over here…”
ian – “okay.” (His tone changed toward the end here as naturally as a practiced adult, as if to say “I understand that the conversation is wrapping up.”)
me – “Alright kiddo, I love you”
ian – “bye bye!”

Here Comes Fall, I Guess?

A couple days after September 1st now, and yeah I guess fall arrived here in Michigan. Normally I wouldn’t mind an early fall, except that spring just ended August 31st. Also fall is that season that comes before the white-snowy-one-that-shall-not-be-named-until-it-is-upon-us, so as long as it stays late, it is fine to show up early.

Yet another trip to IHOP on the 28th of August, and Melissa pauses to take a picture of The Luckiest Man Alive. (Note the fall-ish shirt.) Nope, not even going to give you the option of looking at that one closer, lol!

And with every trip to IHOP comes the traditional battle royale… I think this picture speaks volumes. Can you determine the victor? See this image larger.

These are from our Monday trip with the Dads, this one on the 31st. Ian brings “flowers” again, what a nice kid! See this image larger.

I didn’t realize it, but his shoes slowly took on water through the dewy grass, until his socks were soaked right through. Didn’t keep him from smiling though, did it? See this image larger.

I officially mandate that Melissa and I need to keep a ball in our cars at all times. Too often, this is the scene that plays out… Ian finds a nice surface to play some kind of ball on, and ends up watching somebody else play. See this image larger.

And now for the good part about fall… my kid is adorable in overalls. Now that’s just my opinion, and I’m a doting parent… however I’m just going to go ahead and show you pictures and you tell me if you draw the same conclusion, ladies and gentlemen of the jury… See this image larger.

Exhibit A, the “change my diaper” pose. See this image larger.

Exhibit B, re-created for Great Grandma Betty who enjoyed a similar shot earlier. Miss you, Grandma! (This one’s worth looking at big!) See this image larger.

Exhibit C. See this image larger.

Exhibit D See this image larger.

These overall shots are from September 1st; and Melissa took Ian out to a nearby park. See ya, kiddo! See this image larger.

A beautiful shot from Melissa’s phone! Well done, Sweetie! See this image larger.

Alright we’d better get goin and let these two play. See you after your nap! See this image larger.

More Random Stuff

About two nights ago, we asked Ian what we should name his little sister when she is born sometime in January… he said “Tewiffic.”

Today Ian told me that I’m the most wonderful father in the world. I’m not kidding. It’s on a Leap Frog DVD, this little frog enters a contest wherein he has to describe his dad as the most wonderful dad in the world… so Ian obviously picked it up from there. Nice anyway though, isn’t it?

Some nights have been more difficult than others for getting Ian to sleep, lately. Tonight at around 10:00pm I looked up to see his light on, which is not a good sign… and under the door I could see 10 little toes wedged under the door from the other side. I ended up having to wiggle my fingers under the door, push his toes out, lift one foot slightly up… all so I could open the door a few inches and slide my whole arm into his room. From there I was able to bend his leg at the knee, and get his other foot out of the way. I then picked him up and put him in bed, and he didn’t wake up through any of this. Crazy kid.

Can’t wait to share some pictures from the last couple of days!!! We’ve got some good ones! Maybe tomorrow at lunch I’ll have time. Big crunchy deadlines for Daddy.

Bad Mood… And a Farewell to Zooey(?)

I’ll start this by saying that a long time ago, we looked at the two pacifiers on Ian’s shelf. These were his final two. One of them got snipped, and given to him, and he was so upset that, at the time, we gave him the other. But we knew right then, that the final zooey was truly going to be the FINAL zooey.

Fast forward to today…

I took him to a park with the Dads’ group (which I’m about ready to stop meeting with… because I don’t get to talk to the dads anyway, and they keep choosing locations that are 30 minutes from my house) and we had a great time. We headed home a little late, he fell asleep in the car (because, did I mention, the Dads’ group keeps choosing locations 30 minutes from my house?) and awoke in the driveway.

I tried to get him to sleep, but was met with a polite knock “Daddy! My not sleepy!” (possibly “sleeping” at the end there, hard to tell.) He gave me a hug and a kiss when I opened the door for him, so things were still going well.

Later he watched a video with me, it was about 4:30 or so… and he asked for a blanket. Then he was out like a light. I took him upstairs when a car muffler woke him up, and gave him his zooey/pacifier. About fifteen minutes later he cried and cried because he thought he had the “bad” zooey. Turns out, the final zooey had finally given in and produced a small crack. So then things really started going poorly. Upset and exhausted, Ian faced the evening with a frown.

I felt for Ian so much today. None of this was his fault, everything sort of conspired against him. His schedule got so screwed up.

He’s currently making moaning noises in his bed, without a good zooey. But it sounds like he’s doing his best to be brave. I give the little man much credit. When you see him next, give him a hug… and don’t mention the “z” word, please.

Good Mood

Ian woke up this morning, Saturday August 29th, in a great mood. He seems to suddenly know more when he’s feeling well, mostly because he’s just flat-out more cooperative. This is why I think kids appear to learn in bursts and leaps… if they don’t feel like talking, you don’t know that they’re progressing in little steps.

He told me he wanted to watch “the science kid” when he woke up, but “Sid, the Science Kid” is not on… instead we watched Super Why! At one point some “super letters” appeared on the screen… They are jumbled up letters that eventually spell a word. There were two letters: a “D” and an “L.” Ian pointed at the screen and said “D”… (Melissa and I shared a look of “is that new? That’s new!!!”) “and…. L.” (Melissa and I explode with praise and cheering.)

Toward the end of the show they sort of break into a happy dance while singing a “hip hip hooray” song. I mimicked the movements and Ian said “GO Daddy! GO Daddy!”

Melissa asked Ian to hand her a corner bumper so she could put it back on a sharp counter edge. Ian said “I get it.” Picked it up, walked toward the counter, looked around “Daddy, whar you go?” When he found me, he said “Here you go!” handed it to me and walked over to the right spot, pointing at it. “It go there.” Apparently I’m the only one with the magic touch to make velcro stick.

Thank you Aunt Melanie for the awesome care package! Ian grabbed the candy right before naptime, and we told him he’d have to wait until after his nap to eat it. He ran upstairs and came back a minute later “Daddy, whar my candy? I jus’ woke up!” (He also said something about it being Grandma candy.)

Yet Additional Hijinx

EDIT – 8:01pm. Ian has been playing with our names on the way home. When I was taking off his shoes he said “You Dah-wan, Daddy… I’m Ian CHAP-uh-MAAAAAN.” (Imagine each syllable an octave higher than the last.) That I know of, first time announcing his first and last name on his own, out of the blue.

Bath-time, and the fun never ends! Until it does. And then we towel off and go to bed. See this image larger.

Uh-hee-hee! See this image larger.

August 24th. Morning found Ian a wee too early. See this image larger.

What’s funny to me about this picture is not that Ian decided to pretend that a coaster-holding tin was a drum, but that he went to the kitchen specifically to find appropriately tiny spoons to use as drumsticks. See this image larger.

It seemed like only last week he was at daycare… oh wait, he was! Oh that’s right, we just went here to check out their park. See this image larger.

It seems pretty nice, don’t you think? Nice little fortress! See this image larger.

Did I mention we got to this park via bike? It was great getting there, all downhill from the house… cruising through the city of Rockford with Ian pointing out the water behind me, and saying “hi another kitty” to a feline along the way. What was spectacular was drifting down the city sidewalks and hearing Ian giggle at his own reflection in the passing shop windows. What wasn’t spectacular was the ride home. If the condition of my heart was ever in question, it would have gone kablooie on the all uphill trip home with thirty-five extra pounds strapped into the back seat, believe me. It didn’t hurt, so we’re fine. (I even stopped at another park about half-way at home to let Ian run around while I rested.) Incidentally, this was the day wherein Ian started his nap at around 1:15… woke up at 4:15… I carried him down to the couch, and then he fell asleep for another 30 minutes. See this image larger.

Family picture time… I’m staring like a deer in headlights, hurray. See this image larger.

“Cheese!” See this image larger.

More Hijinx

Craziness ahoy! All of these from August 23, 2009…

Ian feeds another coaster into the credenza. Perhaps in his mind he’s shoving quarters in a Wurlitzer. Which reminds me, all coins were pennies until recently, and our little boy upgraded to asking for quarters. Inflation these days. See this image larger.

*I know, let’s take all the toys out of the toy box aaaand… sit in it.* See this image larger.

Just chillin’. See this image larger.

Is this considered rude if we’re only taking it so that we can look at it on the camera and laugh? See this image larger.

Ian takes his guitar playing very seriously. See this image larger.

Seriously. See this image larger.

Fish-lips! (Look over to the left, and you can see why Ian’s making this face — Melissa has a book open to a page with a fish on it.) See this image larger.

*DOUBLEYOU ECKS WHYYYYY….* See this image larger.

*ZEEEEEE.* See this image larger.

Ian and Mommy share a moment before bath-time, to be continued next entry! See this image larger.

Forever Boys…

Does this really need an introduction?

August 14th. Please keep my identity a secret! See this image larger.

Up and away!!! Dun, Dun, Duuuuuun! See this image larger.

Sidekick! See this image larger.

Only Superpup will get us there in time… what? Oh right, that doesn’t make any sense, sorry kiddo. See this image larger.

August 15th. *Very good, Mr. Bond, your cleverness has led you to my lair… while you’re looking around be sure and check out MY GUARDIAN ATTACK DINOS.* DUN DUNNNNN. See this image larger.

Choooooo! Choooooo! See this image larger.

You can’t sleep on a train, people will think you’re a hobo. Plus you’re causing confusion and delay. See this image larger.

*So, you’ve discovered the broadcast monitoring station, Mr. Bond. Have you discovered MY GUARDIAN ATTACK DINO CLONES?!!?* DUN DUNNNNN. *AND ELMO?* DUN DUNNNNNNNN. See this image larger.

Hellooooo Grandparents! See this image larger.

August 16th. On a serious note, Ian can handle entertaining himself from time-to-time… unfortunately he tends to make a mess when this happens. We slept while he napped, and we found his room in a state of disarray. See this image larger.

August 17th. *Wrapped in child safety bumpers, now I can safely jump down the steps.* (No he didn’t say or do that.) See this image larger.

TEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE. VEEEEEEEEEEEEE. (This picture is worth looking at larger…) See this image larger.

AAAH!

I asked him to pose for this picture the moment he came home from getting his haircut on the 18th, and immediately he went into this GlamorShots look. This one’s also worth looking at bigger, he’s a cutie. See this image larger.

*WHOA WHOA WHOA WHOA. ANOTHER kid? Seriously?* See this image larger.

August 19th. Ice cream that followed the celebratory “you’re having a sister” dinner. Haircut still looks cute, yay! See this image larger.

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