One Week

Egad, what a busy week! I guess it all started... at the beginning of the week. As it usually does.

On Monday I had soccer class. Wonderful soccer class. Where the rest of the kids and I pretty much ignored the soccer ball and crabwalked around the gym, or played with the curtain dividers, or picked our noses...you know, typical three-year-old sports.

Tuesday I was having a "nap" and daddy came in to check on me and when he opened the door, he startled me and I started crying. I calmed down and rested a bit longer, then when daddy came in later, he apologized for scaring me. I said "yeah, it made me so sad". Which made daddy feel bad.

That night daddy went to the fire station so mama and I went out on the town. We went to the toy store, and got me a smoothie to eat, and then walked around at the Bethany Center. Then we needed to go to Trader Joe's so we headed west. Mama got hungry so we stopped at the Mad Greek Deli. I told mama I wanted a picnic. On the grass. Under the power lines. So we got food to go and went to the park. We had such a nice picnic and a nice walk along the pond. We even found a bridge (!) and threw things in the water. Then we finally made our way to Trader Joe's and by the time we got home it was late and I went right to bed.


Wednesday I had soccer again. But first I went to the dentist with mama. We had been talking about it for a while. I knew he was going to want to look in my mouth. And he takes care of my teeth. Daddy went with us and I sat with him while the dentist counted mama's teeth. The chair moves up and down and the seat goes back and I did not want to sit in it. But when the dentist told me it was my turn I bravely got up and though I was tense, I let him recline the chair.

I was kind of excited to let him look in my mouth. I opened so big and mama and daddy were so proud of me. The dentist counted my teeth and said they all looked good and healthy. I got a new toothbrush and toothpaste and I like the dentist a lot.

I was talking to mama on Thursday and told her that we don't go to yamma and baba's house anymore because "yamma gave her house away. Yamma and baba don't live there anymore. They live with Amy."

I did a lot of playing with blocks on Friday night. I do a lot of pretend play these days and when mama and daddy aren't playing with me I talk for two people. "Daddy, daddy where are you? / I'm coming, I'm coming."

Yesterday morning (Saturday) we got up and went to Great Grandma's house. We saw Aunt Barbie and their little dog Herbie, who really likes to run around and play with me. I had fun, Barbie took me to the bridge and we threw things in. But not trash. I learned a new word, "organic". I had snacks and proclaimed that they made me "so much happy!"

This morning I went on a boat with daddy and some of his friends. There were some other little boys there and they were nice. I had a permagrin all morning. The boat was so much fun - I even got to ride on a tube behind it. When I got home, mama had made cookies. I had a little rest time, then I got to get up and watch some Oswald.





I was hanging on tight!






Boats are windy.





Tonight after dinner, I went for a little scooter ride with mama. When we got back home it was time for a bath. My hair was really long so she decided to get out daddy's clippers. Before I knew it, my hair was falling to the floor. Little curls everywhere. My head looks silly now. It looks like daddy's hair! I held still almost the whole time. I kept telling her it was tickly and asking if she was done yet...


TA DA!!! We like it but probably won't do it again anytime soon. It was fun to do once. And if you're going to do it, it might as well be in the summertime.

Pool boy

On Saturday mama and I went back to the farmer's market. I was prepared this time. We had my swimsuit and a change of clothes and everything. But when we got there the fountain wasn't on. Mama kept hoping it would come on "in a little bit..." but it never did! "What a BUMMER!" I wasn't the only disappointed kid there. There were boys and girls everywhere in swimsuits. And mommies saying "I don't know why it's not on/I don't control the on-off switch." It was very sad and a lame way to save a buck.

But as soon as we got home, we packed up to go to a friend's pool. So the day was redeemed. This is Nicola and her little boy Duncan, who is the master of the pool.



I wore new water wings, which worked great! Now I just need to remember to not run next to the pool...


Jumping into the pool was a great way to cool off and splash everyone.



Aah, all that swimming was hard work and I must relax. Please don't disturb me.


After my nap/rest time we went to dinner at Red Robin just like I wanted. But when we were leaving, I was climbing in and daddy closed his car door right where my hand was. That hurt so bad I had to cry a little.
It was kind of a bad/good/good/bad day.

We also have a pool filled up on our back patio and I've been in there every day because it's sooo hot.




So that's that. What's up with you?

Movie theater popcorn

I got to go to my first movie last night! Mama came home early from work and we went down to the movie theater. I was very excited and made sure to stand right next to mama in line. We got tickets to a movie called Up. I was too excited even to want snacks (even m&ms!).

In the theater, it was a big room with a bunch of other kids and their parents. I picked out my seat and I was on the edge of it watching the previews and pre-movie stuff. The movie was about to start and I finally told mama that I was ready for a snack. So we went out and got some popcorn and m&ms. When we came back, some old guy had taken my seat so we found different ones.

The room got really dark! I mean really dark! But I wasn't scared, not even a little. We had a super fun time, eating our snacks and watching the movie. I hadn't napped yesterday so I was sleepy despite the movie-and-sugar-high and so we left a little early.
Good thing we did because right after we got home I had to poop. Maybe it was that movie popcorn.

I went into the bathroom by myself and a minute later called out to mama that there was something wrong with the toilet. She came in to find poop everywhere...all over my underpants, the toilet, my legs, feet, everything. Yep, must have been the movie theater popcorn. We cleaned up as best we could but mama decided she couldn't get everything off me with wet wipes so she stripped me down and stuck me in the sink. I stood in there and she used the faucet hose to clean me off. It was fun! I didn't stop talking about it all night.

This morning mama was getting ready for work and I came upstairs to check things out. I asked her "you don't have a penis, do you?" and she said no. "Can I see...?" (leaning in)
"I have a penis. And daddy has a penis. Maybe you could get one at the penis store." She said that was a good idea but she kicked me out then.

The following is a message from mama.

Ian didn't realize it, but tonight was his first experience with bullies. My sweet little boy is far too innocent to understand that these boys wanted to harm him.

We were at a play area and maybe Ian did something to set them off, but whatever it was, he had two angry little five year old boys fixated on him. They made threatening gestures and said they were going to "get him" but decided they couldn't just then because "his mom is watching". I waited to get involved, but when they surrounded him on the slide, I gave them a dirty look and simply told them to move it...despite my intense desire to kick some five year old ass. They continued to menace and I continued to make myself very known. When Ian was sitting on my lap and they came and stood next to us and shook their fists at us, I had had enough and went to speak with their parents.

Maybe the thing that bothered me the most was that Ian was clearly oblivious to their intent and yet they persisted. For a short time I wished that he understood and would stand up for himself. But I had to remind myself that his innocence allows him to transcend that situation. I'm glad he didn't understand...that he believes that the world is good. I have my angel who still wants me to kiss each one of his owies. Who really tries to do the right thing. And who wanted ten kisses before going to sleep.

I had fun at the farmer's market.

This weekend daddy went out on a friend's boat to go water skiing. When I heard this I was all a-twitter and stood up in the bathtub and pretended to ski. I really really wanted to go with him but I didn't get to this time. Mama and I went to the farmer's market instead. We got berries and veggies and fruit spread. And I went to the park and then to the swings and back to the park. Then mama said it was time to go.

But we walked by the fountains and that was it for me. I saw all the kids playing and having fun and I was a little torn. I didn't have my swimsuit on and that was nearly a dealbreaker for me. But after a while of standing there in the heat watching, mama finally said that I either needed to get wet or we were going to go. As any reasonable man would do, I got WET!

I ran and ran and played and got soaked. Mama didn't have a change of clothes for me so she took off my shirt in a futile attempt to dry it in the hot sun before we left. As I made my loops around, I always said hi to mama. I also told her that I was playing with the kids! I was so happy to be playing with the kids. And a little proud of myself.

After a long time of playing, I came to mama and told her that I had to potty. And I wanted to do it on the grass, like we do at home when I'm wet from the sprinkler. Mama said that wasn't ok with so many people around, so we got shoes and shirt back on (which hadn't dried yet) and walked back to the porta potties. Mama was hoping that I would dry off a little on the walk but it didn't really happen. I pottied and wanted to go back in the water but mama said that we were all done because she was getting tired and cranky. I said ok but was pretty bummed. We walked through the market and got some chocolate gelato and ate it under the trees. I still hadn't dried out.

We got back to the car and finally mama had to face facts. She was going to put me in the spare underpants she has in her purse, but my juice cup had leaked on them while we were in the market. So zero dry clothes and one wet boy.

Eventually I found myself stark naked in my carseat and both of us were giggling. Mama drove us away and I kept saying to her "this feels weird..."

Soccer Class

Mama and daddy got me into soccer class and I started today. I've been very excited and I was all ready to go today. I was wearing full soccer gear. I am number 25.

First we ran laps.


Then we did some warmup stretching.


And then played! Notice my matching soccer shirt and shorts.


All I wanted to do was score goals but I am learning that there is more to the game than that.



I had a lot of fun and I don't remember my teacher's name but I'm going back on Thursday and daddy says I get to do these classes for the rest of the summer!

What's up buttercup?

Earlier this month mama had a week off from work. She wasn't feeling great so we didn't do a whole lot. But she and daddy went to Seattle for a couple of days and just vacationed. I stayed home and yamma and baba took care of me at my house. It was fun. I was really pumped about staying home without mama and daddy. I practically pushed them out the door.

We've been doing other fun stuff too. For example, mama and I were playing with playdoh the other day and I told her that I wanted her to make me a car. So here it is. With three little people in it. The heads kept trying to roll away but mama said that didn't necessarily mean anything bad.



Then I told her the car needed a roof.
I mean really, it's not like we live in L.A.



I got to go to Carson's birthday party this month too. He had his party at Pump it Up Jr which is a cool place with inflatable stuff to play on. Because we can't all have firefighter daddies. :)

I had a little fun.


Every time I got to the bottom of the slide I would squeal and yell "I DID IT!!!"





Carson's party was superhero themed and his mama and daddy made all of us kids capes and masks to wear. Mama was surprised that I wore mine but she shouldn't have been because I am extremely easygoing and flexible. Wait a minute. That doesn't sound like me...






Mama and I went to the toy store the day before the party to get a present. I wanted to get Carson a dollhouse but mama didn't really think he'd go for that. So we went to the puzzle section and I found a big traffic floor puzzle that I liked a lot. I mean for Carson. I was somehow able to finagle one for myself too. Because I needed to try it out before we gave it to him. One must be sure of the quality of the gifts one gives.
By the way it's a really great puzzle.

Mama and I went to the zoo, um, weekend before last. And we took the max train. It seems like I always have to remind mama and daddy lately of things they said I could do. "Member? You said...we could go to the zoo this morning!"
Mama brought a bunch of snacks and we got ice cream when we were there. Had a nice time as always. I ate some of my 'ring cookies (these are vanilla meringue drops of heaven) and then gave mama back the half full bag because I wanted to save it for the max ride home. She said 3 year olds don't normally do that but nobody said I was normal.

And my friend Mady has had the slip 'n' slide out in her front yard for like two weeks now and I've been going over and getting good at that. All the attention from Mady and the neighborhood girls doesn't hurt things either. Kelly is from three houses down. She's four and she loves me. But I have eyes only for Mady.

I've been growing up a lot. Getting taller but also more mature too. I don't know what mama and daddy mean by that but I hear it all the time now. I hardly ever need time outs and I love helping and I do what they tell me to. Almost always. I play nice with other kids and love running and jumping and almost every sport invented but also need quiet time with my puzzles.

I love to sing, too. Especially the "ABC" song or "twinkle, twinkle, little star". I don't need any prompting to get going on those. Especially ABCs. We think I'm getting close to reading because I point out letters everywhere and try to figure out what the words say. I recognize some words but not many. Mama's been trying to teach me to sound out words but she forgets that I'm a perfectionist and won't do it out loud until I've got it down.