What's new with Ian?

While not nearly as much has changed with Ian's development as with Ryan's, Ian is certainly growing right up. Relatives and friends alike have commented recently on how "old" and "mature" he is looking. He is quite tall -- nearly a head taller than many of his preschool friends -- and is acting more mature, too (at least on some days - ha!).

Ian continues to be a sensitive little boy -- understanding others' feelings and wanting to please adults. He's a perfectionist with very high expectations of himself. While he still does his fair share of testing the rules & limits, he gets upset when he even THINKS that he is in trouble, whether at school or home. Mainly, he is a rule follower and is still obsessed with knowing what any sort of warning label says. At times, he's a pretty serious little kid!

He is curious and inquisitive, always asking for explanations ("What is that water tower used for?") and exploring things on his own. He absolutely loves turning his bike upside down so he can spin the pedals with his hands and watch the gears/chain in action. He still loves building things and putting things together.

Ryan and Ian had fun playing in an igloo we created

Ian's fine motor skills are improving. His handwriting (both lower and uppercase letters) is getting smaller and more legible. He actually LIKES to write now! He was thrilled to address Valentines to the other 14 students in his preschool class and 2 teachers. He's much more likely to stay inside the lines while coloring, and it's easier for him to maneuver a scissors. He loves gadgets like the stapler and hole punch and enjoys doing crafts.

writing the names of classmates on Valentines

He loved putting a lollipop inside and then licking (and also taping) the envelopes closed

Ian seems to love being a big brother to Ryan, who he calls "Nonny" (what Ryan calls himself) or "Little." It has been fun to see the growth in Ian's and Ryan's relationship. Ian speaks "Ryan-ese" while they play together (calling cars "tahs" since Ryan does, etc.), and he can usually translate what Ryan is trying to say. He can easily make Ryan giggle (usually by saying silly words) and can convince Ryan to do most anything. Ian has trained Ryan to say that the bad part of his day is "up-puhs" (pick-up trucks) when our family describes Good Thing-Bad Thing over dinner. They will both laugh and laugh at their ongoing private joke. While Ian at times will have issues with invading Ryan's personal space, overall he is very tender and loving toward Ryan, anticipating what Ryan might need and giving him kisses. One of the cutest things is when Ryan sits on Ian's lap while Ian "reads" him stories.

Ian's love of words continues. He still shows an interest in reading short CVC-type words and sight words (as long as it's on HIS time). He loves knock-knock jokes and even tries to make up his own (really lame, not-even-making sense) ones. He thinks it's hilarious to change the first letter of words and will often change EVERY word in a sentence or song to start with the same letter -- often "P" so that there's a chance that he can say the word "pee" a few times since bathroom humor is also hilarious to Ian. He still loves being read to or listening to books on CD. Recently, we've enjoyed some longer chapter books like the three books in The Mouse and the Motorcycle series. Ian was a very attentive listener and seemed to understand and enjoy the plot! Ian also likes telling his own elaborate stories to himself, especially during his "rest time" each afternoon. He seems to have a fascination with long words and phrases and will use many of them ("water filtration plant" and "awkward" were two that he used today) in his conversations -- completely out of context.

Ian is a social boy and talks a lot about his friends. He gets VERY excited to go to birthday parties and is really enjoying being a part of his first organized sports team -- blast ball. While he is still somewhat shy and tentative around adults (even those he knows well, like his preschool teacher), he will strike up a conversation with any child that he'll see out in public. He's starting to tell Momma more about preschool on the drive home, though most things he remembers involve what he built at the building center or what game he played at recess.

Ian gets a lot of pride and confidence from being able to do things all by himself. He recently discovered that he could pack up all of his belongings before leaving his preschool classroom (instead of bringing his empty backpack and all of his cubby contents separately out to the hallway). He loves helping with cooking and is getting really good at being able to measure ingredients all on his own. He loves it when we give him small tasks (like replacing the batteries on a toy) that he can complete independently.

Ian looks forward to going to school but also looks forward to staying home. He has all sorts of suggestions on how we can spend our days (the children's museum, Bouncin' Bears, Chuck E. Cheese) and can remember places we've been a long time ago! Some of Ian's favorites include playing the tablet (especially Where's My Water?, Angry Birds, Fruit Ninja, or Train Sim), riding his bike, driving the Pink Mustang, climbing up the slide & sliding down in various ways, drawing with sidewalk chalk, playing with water of any kind, operating his remote control train, and playing CDs. He loves most foods, most especially pizza, ice cream, pickles, or ANY kind of dessert.

playing in the sandbox

One night, both Ian and Daddy fell asleep while reading bedtime stories! So cute! :)

Ian was really proud to bring home this prayer pillow he made at preschool. I love how it turned out. He finished the prayer starters and then drew a picture of each one.
Thank you, God, for ... the sun (that helps the grass grow).
Please take care of ... Daddy while he is at work.
I'm sorry for ... tripping my brother, Ryan.
Help me, God, to ... ride my bike without training wheels.
Ian loves using the prayer pillow during his nightly prayers and will often finish the prayer starters in the same way as he did on his pillow.
(The bike-without-training-wheels prayer seemed to come out of nowhere. Soon after he brought the pillow home, we asked him if he really wanted to try riding a bike without training wheels. "YES!" After trying it just one afternoon, Ian asked if he might be able to put the training wheels back on for a while longer. "It's a little wobbly," he explained.

Ian had to test out his pillow immediately upon bringing it home -- on our kitchen floor.

Here's a little "interview" we did with Ian ....

We love you, sweet boy!