Ugh.

I should post another update but right now I'm just constipated and cranky.

Lots of writing

I got to go to the zoolights again tonight. We rode the MAX train down to the zoo, which is the best way to go. Mama brought a travel mug of hot chocolate and I sipped on it while we walked through the pretty lights. There was a big human sized sea otter walking around saying hi to the kids. He was wearing a purple scarf and he waved to me.

We saw the zoo train a couple of times all lit up. I really really wanted to ride it but mama said we couldn't because they weren't letting people on. Which was weird because I saw a really really long line of people stretched all around the zoo starting at a sign which I think said "train". And there was a voice saying "all aboard". Something sounds fishy to me.

Walked around some more, sipped hot chocolate, and saw another animal walking around waving to people. This time it was an elephant wearing a yellow scarf. Elephants are sure smaller up close than you'd think.

When we were done we went back down to the MAX train platform to ride home. I told mama and daddy that I knew the train was coming because the tunnel was windy. Then I called to the train to make it come faster. Hey, come, train! Take Ian!

On the train ride home I was very good and sat on my seat like a big boy. There were some little girls climbing all over and whining and stuff and their mama made a comment about how they should behave well on the train, like I do. She could tell I'm an expert train rider.

By the way, I'm on a politeness kick lately. Thank you, and no thank you, and please. But mostly lots of thank-yous.

Should we go this way and look at the Christmas lights? oh yeah yeah thank you yeah mama
Would you like me to blow bubbles for you in the bath? bubbles oh, no thank you mama

(mama handing me a cracker)
me: thank you, Ian
mama: you mean, thank you mama.
me: you wehtome.

Another thing that's pretty new is I can say the "s" sound now. It comes out like "sh" but it's a start. The same day that mama noticed it, she pointed out that I was making my mouth into a very defined O when I was blowing bubbles. So just getting better mouth control.

I'm saying lots of funny things lately. Something a few days ago that made mama and daddy laugh was in the morning, when daddy was making mama's coffee for her to take to work. He tasted it...and I yelled out Daddy! That's mama's! If I don't point out the small injustices in the world, who else will?

About a month ago, maybe more, mama told me that when I was really really little, I grew in her tummy. That I slept there. That's been on my mind a lot lately. I want mama to know that I am NOT going back there. I frequently tell mama No Ian sleep in mama's belly button. No. I like sleeping in my bed.

Making a list, checking it...once, if I get around to it.

A few days ago mama asked me what I wanted to get daddy for Christmas.

...

...

A sandwich.

Call me Andre.

I had a growth spurt lately. Six months ago mama measured me at 36". I stayed at that height for a long long time after that. Like five months, when I measured at about 37". Then I think two weeks ago mama measured me and I was nearly 39" tall! So if you're walking down a dark alley and see a giant coming at you, don't be afraid. It's probably just me.

Christmas Timing

Mama and daddy and I went up to the fire station last week to take our annual family photo. I did well for a little bit but lost patience pretty fast.















We got home and it was time to "put up Christmas". I told mama where the tree should go. I remembered where it was last year and insisted that it go in the same place. I was very very excited.



I helped daddy fluff up the tree and then mama let me help her decorate it. There are lots of gold necklaces on it and little santas and other fun pretty things. I discovered a little silver horn and fell in love with it. Carried it around with me for a few days.

Daddy put "Christmas on home", so now we have pretty lights on our house. Mama asked me what I wanted for Christmas. I thought about it for a few seconds, then I said "light and home".

Yesterday we went to a tree farm for our "real tree". Mama and daddy wanted to go find one and cut it down and that sure sounded like fun. Yamma and Baba D. went with us.

I picked out our tree!


Here's me helping baba and daddy cut down the cute little tree.









On our way home, daddy carrying the felled tree.



I had such a nice time. The tree farm had big slides and a donkey and bowling. Yes, bowling. "Need play bowlin'!" I love bowling so much. I do it for hours at Yamma's house with my Mickey Mouse bowling set. At home, I love to have mama set up my blocks like pins and then I throw a ball at them and try to knock them over. This is my current passion. So I was so excited to see them at the tree farm. My only regret is that I didn't throw a fit so I could play longer...

Yucky finger paint. Wipe!

Wednesday evening after I got up from nap time, mama said we were going to do some painting. That sounded very exciting and fun. Yes! Paint! Paint now!

We put out a big tablecloth on the floor and mama brought out some finger paints. I was supposed to decorate the tablecloth for Thanksgiving dinner the next day. We had different paint colors and I would make intricately beautiful designs and... wait, what? I'm supposed to paint with my FINGERS!?!?! Yucky.

Mama asked me what color I wanted to use ("red!"), put a little paint on my hand and said I was supposed to wipe it around on the cloth. I seem to remember holding my hand out to her with a face like I just squished a big bug. "Wipe! Towel!" Well, mama wiped it off on the cloth and tried again with a different color ("lellow."). Repeat of last time.


Then she asked if I wanted brushes to paint with. Success!

Finally, we were done with the brushes (I liked trying the different sizes) and mama asked if I wanted to make handprints. YES! What color? "Red!" then "lellow!"

The hand printing worked best of all and the tablecloth looked beautiful and nobody was afraid to spill but the bad news is that silly mama bought washable finger paint...so this isn't exactly an heirloom project.

Past tents

Last week mama was off work for a couple of extra days. She was trying to do stuff in the kitchen one morning and I wasn't not being pesty. So she asked if I wanted to watch a video in my tent. I started heading into the TV room but mama said no, let's go get in your tent. When I saw what mama and daddy had set up (I got a pillow and blankets and a flashlight) I could hardly be pried out of there with an extra large prying device.