Maximum Verbosity
One fantastic effect of the trip — over the course of those days, or maybe it was when he got back, I’m not sure which — Ian’s ability to verbalize improved twofold at least. We were both positive he was doing better, but the people at daycare were in shock over how much he was trying to say. We’re very proud!
You can pretty much get him to TRY to say anything, and often he tries very hard to explain things to you from his perspective. New words include Grampa Ray’s name, “RAAAAY” and “bowwie” for berry, “diyishush” for delicious, and as you heard a couple entries ago, “versary!” for “anniversary.” Last Monday Ian said “blessoo” after I sneezed. This is a fantastic time for everybody to cut down on swearing, by the way… seriously!
And then there was the night I got my iPhone out to show Ian a picture or two and he thought I was checking in with Grandma Sue… Click here to hear it, and be careful with volume, it gets loud!
Tonight (the 16th) Ian’s behavior in general was just flat-out smart. He pushed an ottoman across the room so that he could reach some lights and turn them on and off. He did some exercises with Mommy saying “Up!” and “Dowwn!” as he stretched up and touched his toes. He chased the cat around as usual, but tonight added with sincerity “Kitty, kitty waait! Waaait! Wharugon? Wharugon, wait!” And after we put him into the crib tonight he called to us as we were closing the door. “Mommy! Datty! Lavooh. Lavooh. Kitty, Lavooh.”
December 28th… I read Chris scores to the Giants’ game as we headed back north. When we got back Ian needed some entertaining. 
“Have you seen what this speedometer goes up to Uncle Chris?” 
We weren’t getting enough smiles out of Ian at the moment, so I told Uncle Chris to give Ian a toss in the air. Not sure if that screwed up his back… 
… but we did get a nice smile out of the deal! That night, we had planned on cruising back up to Grandma Sue’s, but ran out of energy. Uncle Chris offered up that we could stay another night, and we jumped on the idea. Ian had another bad night… he was so far off routine, you could tell he didn’t know what to do. The next morning we hit the road back to The Villages as Chris went off to work. 
The night of the 29th we went to one of the Squares to meet up with Vicki and Joe, and Grandma Sue got the dance she’d been thinking about for a good long time. 
We only had a few days left with Grandma Sue after our traveling adventures. Here Ian awakens happily at her place and watches a little TV. I think it was this night that Melissa and I got to just sit and talk in the hot tub. That was really great, and relaxing. There was also a night when Ian and Melissa and I got to go out again in a golf-cart and check out the lights. I think Ian will always wonder where all the golf carts are when he sees Christmas lights anywhere. 
His feet are still cute, and I can say that — I’m not a big fan of feet. 
The evening before we had to head back, and Ian starts really boogieing to the band with Grandma Sue! 
It was also great that Ian got to see the whole Johnson/Kunze crew again at dinner that final night of the trip. Here again Ian rocks out! 
Yup, Grandma Sue, Mommy, Daddy and Ian motored south. Ian slept for part of the way, completely off his schedule, and needed to run around a nearby playground to burn off some of that saved up energy.
Give that kid a couple of cars, and he’s good for quite awhile. We opened presents that night, but didn’t actually take any pictures of that for some reason. I did get video, which I will be doing some fun stuff with hopefully in a little while. Chef Chris treated us to an excellent dinner this evening as well, before dealing a humbling game of Texas Hold ‘Em to his victims. That night, Ian slept horribly… off schedule, ears hurting, at a new house whenever he opens his eyes… I hope Uncle Chris and Auntie Anne understand Ian can be a much better boy. (Not that he did poorly, he actually was an amazing trooper, if you think about it.) 
So the next morning we woke up and Uncle Chris drove his exhausted cargo to Naples.
Upon arrival, Ian immediately took inventory… “One fish, two fish… shhh Daddy I’m counting, here.” You may have noticed the blossoming violet splotch on Ian’s forehead… he slipped on a cement lanai a few days earlier, and it became like a living mood ring on his head… purple means he’s feeling sassy and tired. 
Great Grandma Betty knew precisely what to do with her great grandson under the circumstances. We decided to try and either bring food or order it and that was going to take awhile, so these animal crackers came in quite handy… and tasty! 
“Hello Applebees? Yes I have an order for 6 people. I need a cheeseburger without the cheese. What? Yes, FINE a HAMBURGER then… SO BE IT!” 
And then the opening of the gifts! 
Great Grandma Betty gets a kick out of Ian’s insistence that this be opened immediately. 
Ian played “Santa,” distributing the gifts accordingly. It was awesome to see him get names right on the first try for most of us. 
A hug of thanks, and maybe an apology or two for turning the stereo on and off 42 times. 
And a hug for Grandma Sue! Thanks for coming! 
I don’t think I got a good shot with Melissa in it with Grandma, but we did manage to pull off this one and the next. Ian wasn’t even supposed to be in this shot per se, but I think it turned out pretty good! 
Granny and the boys! Well, two of the boys. As you could tell from the pacifier being included in more and more shots toward the end there, Ian was running out of energy fast! 
It did end up being a relatively quick trip, but it was great to see Great Grandma Betty again! Ian called her “Betty” at one point, which was really awesome, and he’s done so again at least once since seeing these pictures. We all had a good time visiting, and look forward to doing so again! (Or hopefully we’ll see you up in Michigan over the summer sometime, Grandma?) 
Ian got to open some presents that Santa left at Grandma Sue’s for him to open… This easel was very cool, and to this day Ian guides anybody who will help to follow Grandma Sue’s instructions for drawing a happy face, whenever we’ve got something to draw with: “Curcle… eyeee… eyeee….” 
Cute little bugger, isn’t he? What if I told you he chased Grandma Sue’s cat K.C. to the far corner chair, where it sat cowering and saying a little kitty prayer that it be left alone? Does that make Ian less cute? Probably only to a cat. 
Melissa skillfully pulled off this shot… if I were to hazard a guess, however, as to how this happened, I’d say Ian chased the cat right through this cube. I’ll take this time to again apologize to the cats of Florida, in this case K.C. in particular. 
Ian tried out Grandma Sue’s cool vibrating chair cover. I’m guessing it made him completely fill his diaper. 
Ian… IAN… um, HELLO? 
Horsey-back ride, and a glance of sheer joy. 
Tried a few shots here without the flash… not too too bad. 
Grandma Sue offers up a bed-time story, so that Ian might sleep well, and he did… as you’ll find out in part VI, it turned out that he’d need it — the plane ride irritated those ears of his, and sleep would be hard to come by for the next several nights. 
“MORE!” (“Say ‘please.'” “Peez.”) The kid knows how to eat! 
At some point it gets difficult to take a family picture, mostly when you’ve got three kids to wrangle… but one thing I learned with this shoot, and the one at Great Grandma Betty’s is that there should only be one camera taking pictures visible from the subject’s point of view at a time. This shot turned out pretty good, though! 
Ian hangs out behind the wheel. At some point Ray or Barb suggested that Melissa, Ian and I do a tour of the lights in the cart, and I think it is one of my clearest memories of the trip. Ian was awed by the golf cart, and the night air on his face, the “pitty” (pretty) lights, the star-filled sky, and just had a lot of fun zipping around. 
“OH. MAH. GAHD. I CAN’T SEE THE FLOOR.” 
Here Ian glares at the camera, wondering if this photoshoot is in any way delaying the opening of the gifts. 
Ian gets a nice book, and the call of the “blankie” is almost too strong… “Don’t fall asleep! GAKEUP! Must… open… presents…” 
Here Ian shows off his practiced unwrapping technique. He just needs you to start a corner and he’ll take care of the rest! 
Kids say a lot of things when they receive the present of their deepest desires, but “I was good enough!!!” has got to be the clincher for best line ever! Congrats Connor on receiving a Wii! 
Ian swipes one of Connor’s presents and wears it as a hat. Can’t help it when he sees a circle! 
Connor be sure and tell your parents that it was Uncle D who told you how to do the Heisman pose. I’m only a part-time nerd. 😉 
Ian stole that present too for a bit, sorry Connor! 
This crazy fold-out city had a lot of fun interactive activities on it, and Ian was mesmerized for quite a while. 
Trying to carry four cars at once ain’t easy, but he pulled it off with a little help loading up. 
If it looks at all like somebody told these two they’ve got to ship all this stuff home shortly in boxes, that wouldn’t be much of a stretch, lol 😉 
I know it looks like Ian is leading Kaylee to the liquor cabinet here, but I think he just remembered where all the toys were. 
About 24 hours later, on the 22nd, aboard the S.S. Rubbermaid, rumbles of mutiny amongst her crew. 
The next day was the 23rd, and it was time to break out and have some fun. “Why’s that camera stuck to your head again, Da?” 
Ma and Ian pause for a brief break and shoe adjustment on the Bocce court. Love those smiles! This one is well worth the wait of viewing larger… click there -> 
This picture is a great representation of Ian at his best these days. He’s a proud, happy, almost unstoppable little toddler on his way to boyhood. 
Check with Mommy about that “unstoppable” part, this is her fourth time around the Bocce shed. 
No idea how or why people get lost in The Villages… say what was that street Grandma Barb and Grampa Ray live on again? 
Now it is Christmas Eve, and everybody’s out enjoying the bright Florida sun! Right guys? Guys? 
What’s this? A secret stash of golfballs Grampa Ray keeps in the trunk of his golfcart? He doesn’t need these, does he? 
Doggie kisses for all! Not sure why you kids always end up getting each other’s colds during these trips. 
This is a picture from Christmas at home, which took place on the 20th of December. Ian received a guitar as one of his presents, and it is pretty fantastic as far as kid’s toys go, I must say. I on the other hand, am sporting a very mature (cough) um… controller for a uh… video game where you pretend to be able to play guitar. 
