Today, it was a good day.

A top-twenty day! My friend Kobe came over this morning with his mama, and we decorated a gingerbread house for him and my gingerbread train. We ate lots of candy too. Then we ran and played a lot. They stayed for two hours and we had lots of fun. Mama told me I was a very good host. Kobe got me wound up really good and I went upstairs for my nap early.

Mama woke me up early from my nap so we could go to a Christmas party at her school. I didn't want to get up but she bribed me with m&ms. I got dressed and told mama that Rudolph was going to come with us, and she was ok with that. When we got out to the car, I wanted Rudolph to ride in the back cargo area so mama opened the back door so he could get in. We went to McDonalds first for a quick dinner and then off to the party!

There was a clown there making balloon shapes and the first thing I wanted to do was get a balloon. At the last second I decided that I wanted a red and green sword. It was super cool and taller than I am! Then we looked around and in the big classroom they were playing christmas movies. So I sat for a bit and had some punch and a cookie. A bunch of other boys had swords too so I ended up running around with them for a long time and play fighting. Mama disappeared for a while talking to her friends but I was ok by myself.

I wasn't ready to leave but it was getting late so mama tore me away from all that fun.

Mama let me talk her into three Mario Kart races when we got home, then we went straight up to bed. I was kind of tired and cranky and wound up so was a bit naughty and ended up losing both of my bedtime stories. But mama said I could earn one back if I would be a delightful little boy for the rest of getting-ready time. And I was so I got to hear one story. But then I was mad that I didn't get my normal two stories so I told mama I was sad and that I don't love her. And she made me hug her and then we snuggled and after a while I felt better and told her that she makes me happy. So it ended up being a good and happy night after all. Sweet dreams!

New Toy

I love daddy's new iPhone. It has lots of toys for me and fun things to do, like this toot machine.


Go see the video on my blog.

Christmas fever

Mama's caught me with the light on twice tonight. I'm just having a hard time sleeping. The last couple of days I haven't felt great but at least no fever.

I'm really excited that it's Christmas time.
I've been loving to wear the Santa hat all the time and make everyone call me Santa Claus. And I have mama and daddy sing "the Rudolph reindeer song" and then I pretend to play the reindeer games (soccer), which summons Rudolph to our house.

I'm also excited that my friend Kobe from school is going to come over on Saturday and we're going to decorate gingerbread trains. He's my best friend not counting mama and daddy and grandmas and grandpas and stuff. I can't wait, I'm so excited...

Little Buddy

I'm very excited about having a baby brother. The other night, mama and I were talking about babies and how they cry sometimes...I said to mama that the baby would probably want its mom. She said that the baby might want her sometimes, but that the baby would also want me sometimes too. That little brothers love their big brothers very much.

So I leaned over to her belly and yelled, "Hey! I'm gonna love you, buddy, so see you soon!"

Merry Christmas!

I can't wait.

Please put your papers down for an administrative announcement.

One last thing for tonight, I've added something new to the blog, it's called "Fun things I say" and it's on the right side of the page. We decided I needed a place for the fun things that I say.

IREALLYLIKEHOTCHOCOLATE

Mama made me some hot chocolate tonight, while she was getting dinner ready. She told me I could have marshmallows in it. I told her "two marshmallows, no more, no less." That's what Henry the penguin says whenever he has hot chocolate.

She put it in a snowman cup for me, which I liked. I decided that I would drink it in my tent.



After I had my hot chocolate, I was IN THE MOOD TO DANCE!









Here's a video, for the full effect. If you're on the email update, remember you'll have to come to the blog for any fun dancing action.

Zoophile

Went to the zoo on Friday afternoon, but the zoo was closed. I was so sad. But I think mama was even sadder. So we walked around the parking lot instead. We found some fun things to see.

They have a train up there! But you can't get on it, you can only look at it. And stand in front of it looking kewt.

Walked on what I call "train tracks", which are, like, raised things that I can walk on.

So, in closing, I had a nice time even though we didn't get into the zoo. Mama promised we could come back in a couple days when they would definitely be open.

I got some new jammies recently. I was so excited when I saw that mama had gotten me Thomas jammies! They're really cozy and warm. I like to sleep in them all the time. After I put them on for the first time, I had to run down and show daddy.

Mama got me ready for bed and when it was tuck-in time, she asked me what I was going to dream about. I told her that I would dream about the zoo. And my favorite zoo animal, the sea lion.

On Sunday I got to go to the zoo for reals! First thing we did was visit those sea lions!

Then I wanted to go see the lions and giraffes. So we stopped at the new Predators exhibit which was very cool.

This is me standing next to a sleeping lioness. It's that furry thing up against the glass.


On our way to see the giraffe! Coming, mama?


Got tired of hearing mama say "stop running, the ground might be slippery!" Stopped for a picture...then ran off.


Posing next to the hippo enclosure. The hippos were very active that day. Can you see it back there?


Here's the giraffe. I call him Melman.


Then a quick stop at the polar bear, and off we go!

Halloween

Did I really let Halloween go without an update? Rowr, I was a tiger! Yamma and Baba came over and we put them to work. Yamma painted my face and daddy made Baba carve our pumpkin. Nice going, daddy!

Mama got me a pumpkin bucket for my candy and we went out and got me some sugar. We walked all the way up the street and back. I knocked on people's doors and then when they answered, I would say "trick or treat!" and then they would say "aw you look so cute!" and give me some candy. Then I would say "thank you", then I would stand there and stare at them until mama said
to come on.

I had a really fantastic time. I didn't end up eating much candy though, maybe just a few chocolate ones and some smarties.

Daddy recorded a halloween tv special for me, it's something like "attack of the killer mutant pumpkins" or something like that. It's the monsters from "monsters v aliens" (the big lady movie) and they're saving the world from alien pumpkins. It's a little bit scary but I like it a lot and still ask to watch it.

Learned a new word

Come to the blog to see the video.

I'm very proud

I learned to put on my own jacket. Come see!

Go to the blog to see the video.

Nice wake-up time

When it was time to get up this morning, mama climbed in bed with me and we talked for a little bit.

I sat up and mama said "Hey there!"
"Don't say that."
So mama said "Howdy, dude!"
"No, don't say that, either."
So mama said "Hi!"
"No, don't say any 'hi' words."

Then she kissed me on the side of my face.
"Don't say any kissing words either! I just want you to talk to me."

So she asked me about my dreams last night. I dreamed about one of my shirts. Not my pajama shirts, one of the ones in my closet. But I don't need to wear that one today.

Time to turn on the light! Click.
"Ow, my eyes!" and mama said "ow, my eyes!"
"No, not your eyes, my eyes. Say 'ow, your eyes!'"
Mama 'splained that I could say 'my eyes' and she could say 'my eyes' because the light hurt both of our eyes. So we tried it again.
"Ow, my eyes!" and mama said "ow, my eyes!"
Yeah. That works.

Got all dressed (wanted to wear my ghost shirt today and my giraffe boots) and got ready to head downstairs.
"Can I watch some Noggin please? That's what I'm going to say to daddy."
And I did.

Happy bike riding, in the dark

After dinner, it was dark but mama said I could go for a bike ride. Yay! I now like to be Toad, a friend of Mario and Luigi, when I'm riding. His head looks a little like a helmet.

We got out my bike and mama put the bike light on it. I rode happily down the street.

We got to the next street over and I looked back at mama and said "No, I love you!" and that made her happy and she said "No, I love you!" and I said "No, I love you!" and she said "No, I love you!" and I said "Oh, ok, I'm sorry".

Then a minute later I put on my brakes (which I have just recently learned and at which I am already quite adept). "Oh! We fohgot my helmet!!!! We better go back home!" And mama was so surprised but realized I was right. And I felt very bad for forgetting my helmet and I apologized. Mama said "it's not your fault".
To which I replied "Oh, it's your fault!"
Mama just said that it's nobody's fault, it's just that neither of us remembered.

But I know that really means it was her fault.

Tigers and Giraffes

A couple of weeks ago my Hallowe'en costume arrived in the mail. I am afraid of tigers, so I decided to confront my fear and be a tiger this year.



ROOOAAARRR! I love being a tiger! I want to wear my costume all the time. I especially like running at people and watching them freak out...like I used to freak out when I saw a tiger. The best part is when they scream and yell "AAAAHHH! There's a tiger in my house!" Heee heee heee, it's just me.




The night the costume came, I was so excited about it that I didn't want to take it off, even though mama was going to take me up to the Bethany fountain and toy store. She could tell I wanted to be a tiger, so she let me leave the costume on while we went out! Daddy doesn't like people looking at us but mama doesn't mind and daddy wasn't with us so off we went. The fountain wasn't on, but we went for a nice walk and went to the toy store and got a smoothie and then some Subway sandwiches for dinner. A lot of kids were really excited to see tiger-me, and I bet more than one went home and wanted to get into their costume.



The other day I posted a video of me goofing around before bed. I was wearing my new pajamas. Mama had to make me let her put them on me, mostly because I don't really like new things. I'm very very particular about clothes, even though I've gotten better over the last year. There are things in my closet that mama loves and keeps trying to sneak on me but I am much too smart for that, thankyouverymuch. These pajamas were one of those things for a while. We had quite the debate before I finally deigned to allow her to put them on me. And once she did I complained that they were too warm, too hard, too anything.

She distracted me with silly face time.




And then, time for more new stuff. She pulled these silly giraffe boots out of my closet. She bought them a while ago but they were too big for a long time. They fit me now. And I like them! Hurrah!

Their name is Melman. We did our yoga.



The giraffe boots are now a staple of my pre-bedtime routine.

Video: Goofing around before bed

Early mornings

This morning, mama came in early to wake me up but I didn't want to move. So she says "The sun is up, everybody up! Wash, brush, comb, dress, get up!"
I looked at her and just said "I don't want to do any of those things. And I'm not everybody, I'm just one person."
So she finally got me to turn on the light, and she opened the window and I was rotated on my bed with my face down 'cause the light was bright and I still didn't want to get up yet.
And she says "If you want me to help you get dressed, you'd better get moving".

I start wiggling my bottom and mama asks "what are you doing?"
"Moving!"

Doody

Last Monday mama and daddy and I went to the doctor's office because the doctor was going to take some pictures of the baby that's in mama's tummy. I don't like the room they take the pictures in; last time, it was too scary and daddy had to take me back out to the waiting room.

We talked about it quite a bit this time, and I was ready. I knew mama needed me to be brave. And I was. I was still wary of that table that mama had to lie down on but I sat with daddy and watched the tv screen where they were showing creepy black and white pictures of something they said was a baby. And after a while I let mama hold my hand. I was brave.

So ok, I was wrong, no baby sister, it's a little boy in there. The lady working the machine said "yep, that's definitely a boy" so I guess the baby must have passed her a note or something.

Daddy took me to school and I made it there for gym time. After mama got home that night, I told her that in that scary doctor's room..."I held your hand and it made me so much happy!"

Mama read me some books before bed that night. I picked out the "Inside Mommy" book about babies before they're born. At the part where the doctor listens to the baby's heartbeat, I wanted to listen to the heartbeat so I put my head on mama's tummy to hear it. But that baby kicked me in the head! I jumped up, a little confused. Mama said the baby was just saying "hi". But she must have forgot..."babies can't talk, mama."

Now that they know it's a boy, they're looking for names. Mama asked me the other day what we should name the baby. I thought about it and said "How about Doody?" That made mama laugh so much she made me go tell daddy.

Now let us end this baby-centric post with a reminder about what's really important in life.
ME!


Mama got out her camera tonight...


...and I said "how 'bout I show my belly?"


...so I did!



Then before brushing teeth, must make SCARY faces!


Oooh, this one is scary.


Grrrr.


Yowza!

I'm also Luigi

Last post I said I was grandma. I didn't mention that sometimes I'm Luigi. As in Mario's brother. I like to put on my hat and pretend I'm Luigi.


Mama let me ride my tricycle one last time on our street with just my hat. I was a mailman, bringing the mail back home!

That's great and lots of fun except it presented a challenge when it came to riding my bike, because Luigi rides his motorcycle on Mario Kart and he never has to wear a helmet, he just wears a hat. That logic was completely escaping mama and daddy, who were insisting that I wear a helmet if I was going to ride my bike. We compromised by my leaving the bike at home.


My last cycling adventure sans helmet, after dropping the mail off with daddy


Yesterday I decided I could pretend I was Ian when I am riding my bike because while Luigi doesn't wear a helmet, Ian does. So I got on my bike (with my helmet) and did a lot of bike riding.




Come to the blog to see the video.


Today I rode so so far! Now that I'm on my bike, mama has to walk a lot faster to keep up with me. We went all the way to the end of our street, down the next street over, then turned around and came back! Then I dropped off the bike and took my tricycle on a ride in the other direction! Mama and daddy are so proud of me and I'm so proud of myself. I couldn't stop beaming when I got home. I wanted to go out for another ride after dinner but mama said no because it was dark and I was looking sleepy.

I'm a grandma

Don't call me Ian. Call me Grandma! I make everybody call me that now. Well, for the last five days. I call mama "Ian" and like to put her down for a nap in my room. I think she's sleepy; she doesn't mind too much usually.

I mentioned the other day that we had a surprise party for yamma. Here are a few pictures. The whole album is here, if you wanna see it.









Mama and I were sitting down on my bed to read a story last night and whoa, all of a sudden I just had to say "what's going on there?" and mama wanted to know what I was talking about. I told her her tummy's "getting so big!"

I have a yoga routine that I like to do before bed. I stand next to my dresser and have mama stand at the opposite wall. First we do "warrior pose, and now the other side!" Then we'll do "tree pose, and now the other side!" We'll do triangle pose "I look like a triangle!" and touch toes. Then we get down on our bellies (well, mama used to) and play mama and daddy to my stuffed deer. I make mama put it under her shirt and I help it be born. We tell the deer "hello baby deer, we love you!" and snuggle with it for a minute. Then it flies into the air and I'm off down the hall.

Mama thought it was funny yesterday, we were sitting at the dinner table eating, and I look at her and say "so...how was wuhk?" I've also been making mama and daddy (and myself) laugh another way. I'll give mama a kiss and a hug and while I'm squeezing her tight I say "aw, I love you!" Mama and I both broke up laughing when I first did this. Daddy showed up a few minutes later and mama told me to give him a kiss and a hug. He was extremely suspicious but I made him laugh too by saying "hi, honey, I love you!"

Big Brother

I got some new books a few weeks ago; they're books about babies and being a big brother. I have learned a lot and am very excited about this big brother thing. Did you know that babies can't walk or talk at first? I know that! Did you know that babies can't eat pizza? I know that! The "Big Brother" book is my favorite. The day it came, I had mama read it three times. Then we read two other books. Then we read the Big Brother book again twice.

I am very careful with mama's belly and take very good care of her. I make sure she drinks water and keep her covered up with a blanket when she's lying down. If she tells me her tummy hurts a little, I kiss it and say "there, now the baby feels better." I tell everybody that her tummy's going to get bigger and bigger (there are hand motions that go with this...) and pop and the baby's going to come out. It's a little fuzzy in my head what happens after that part.

Mama keeps asking me if I'm going to have a little brother or little sister. I keep telling her little sister, but she keeps asking. The doctor will tell them in a couple weeks anyway. I bet I'm right.

I'm going to be a great big brother.

School and September Stuff

I started school up last week. We had an open house the week before it started and I think mama was really excited about my going back to school. After the open house we went home and mama couldn't stop talking about my new teacher and new friends and school clothes and she just kept talking and talking. Finally I looked at her and said "please stop talking to me." She looked a little bummed out but finally there was quiet.

School is good, though. The first day of school was actually my day to bring snacks for the whole class. Mama and I went to the store the day before and looked for the perfect snack. Finally we found it, Teddy Grahams in individual packages. They were a big hit.

I have a new teacher this year, Teacher Jenelle. I really miss my teacher from last spring, Teacher Jo. But some of the kids are the same and I have fun and get to show off my counting and ABC skills. I have even been counting with ABCs lately. Like if there are four people at the table, I say there are "D" people at the table. It keeps people guessing.

I have also been singing a lot and complimenting a lot. We were looking for the lid to a game yesterday and I decided to sing the "lid song" to help us find it. It worked! And the complimenting is real nice and gets me lots of hugs. Like when mama helps me build a tower I tell her "you're a real good tower-builder, mama!". And tonight I put all my toy cars away (without being asked, btw) and mama pointed out one under the table that I missed. "You're a super finder, mama!"

I get called articulate a lot. When someone asks if I want to do something in particular, I usually say "yes, I do", or "oh, that would be poh-fect!" Nothing wrong with that!

This weekend was Yamma's birthday and daddy and Auntie Amy made a surprise party for her. It was a surprise to me too...they didn't tell me, I guess 'cause they thought I'd spoil it. Mama left really early on Friday morning to go to school and wasn't back on Saturday and Yamma came over and watched me while daddy went to get things set up. Mama finally came home after my nap (she came in and I said "I missed you!") and then took Yamma and me over to Auntie Amy's for the party. I was surprised! Yamma wasn't, too much. There were lots of my favorite people there and I got so much love and attention it's not even funny. We ate lots of food (I ate a sausage and a half all by myself...) and I helped open presents. When it was time to leave I went around and gave each person a hug and said "thank you for the party". They thought that was funny for some reason. I was very serious, though. I had a wonderful time. I will post some pictures sometime.

Babies

My friend Carson just got a baby brother. I haven't seen him yet but babies really aren't my thing anyway. I'm going to have to learn about them, though, because mama and daddy say that I'm going to be a big brother. I've seen the pictures that they took inside mama's tummy. It looks like there's just a little squid in there.

Sometimes I push on mama's tummy a little and tell her that I'm squishing the baby. And she tells me not to, because that would make the baby sad. I don't think I care too much about how the squid feels right now.

But I know that mama's tummy "...is going to get bigger and bigger and then the tummy will POP! and the baby will come out." I hope I'm there when the tummy pops, that would be cool.

Air Show

Yesterday we had a fun day! We woke up and watched some Saturday morning cartoons in mama's bed, then got up and ready to go watch us some air show. Daddy was going to find us a field or something to watch the planes fly around. We ended up finding a spot near the freeway and across from the airport. I was in charge of the binoculars.







I got to potty outside twice.



We saw some planes and it was kinda fun. But then it started raining and we headed off to lunch at my favorite place, Red Robin. Baba met us there. I had some chicken strips and then we went home. We played Mario Kart and cars and megablocks. Then it was time for my nap. But I didn't sleep and so mama let me get up after a short rest.

We played again for a while but then it was time for the air show finale so we all ran upstairs and climbed out the bedroom window and onto the roof to watch the last of it. We didn't catch very much but hey, I got to sit on the roof. All in all, not a bad deal.