Vocabulary Lesson

Dear Ian,

Remember that post from a while back when we celebrated your first "meaningful" word? (By the way, it was "bubble.") Well, at that time, we were hoping and praying that you would start communicating a little more with us, and I must say, you have really stepped it up lately in the vocabulary department. Now be aware that a lot of your words are only intelligble to your Daddy and me, and they are kind of "our house specific," but here is a list of your current words.

Daddy
Mama (and you say this like CRAZY now,)
Papa
Diaper
Poo poo
Boo boo
Glasses
Bowl
Bubbles
Imola
Boxster (you actually say Doxster; for some reason, "b" words start with "d.")
Bye Bye, (pronouced by you as "dye dye")
Hello
Step Stool
House
No, (oy, do I hear this a lot)
More, (the way you say this is a hoot: it's like a "Moooowwwwwaaahhhh")
Ball, (again, with that b and d thing, it's "dall")
Moo
Shoe
Banana, (In Ian-speak it's Nalna)
Door
Tractor
Waffle
Clock
Juice
Yeah!

There are a few more, I think, but these are the ones off the top of my head. Then there are your signs, although you only have a few of those. To date, you can sign more, eat, please, and light. You would rather take my hand and show me what you want than sign, and that's ok. Especially now that you are vocalizing more words. And those words have really taken off during the last few weeks, proving yet again that you will get around to doing things on your own time. I'm just glad that you're able to tell me about the things you need and want more than you used to, and I look forward to having little conversations with you.

I love you, Mommy

Home Is Where The Mommy Is

Dear Ian,

First I must pay tribute regarding this title of this post. I have to admit that I borrowed it from a book that I just finished reading about loving your family without losing your mind. It was the title of a chapter, and it really resonated with me.

Your home definitely is where the Mommy is. Our existence is linked and twined in a way that I couldn't begin to imagine before I became a mommy. Miss Molly, the lady that ran our breastfeeding support group used to say that the first three months of an infant's life ex-utero was considered the fourth trimester, as the infants don't realize that they have been evicted from their tummy apartments and continue to live as if they are part of our womb. On one hand, I agree. On the other hand, she hasn't spent a day with you lately.

I can say, quite honestly although a bit guiltily, that I day dream and fantasize about checking into a hotel between the hours of 7am and 11am. This would give me the opportunity to attend to my toilet, shower, dress, prep and eat breakfast ALONE. I vaguely remember my own mother exclaiming in frustration about how all she needed was "FIVE WHOLE MINUTES TO PEE IN PEACE!!" I'll admit, at the time I thought it was funny. I mean, seriously, who needs five minutes to pee? Oh my, how this has turned on me. Yup, I now need those five minutes. It's not just about the peeing part; it's more about the time away from having someone asking, pulling or calling at me. Without making this too embarrassing for either one of us, today's visit to the potty had me blowing bubbles for you at the same time. And no, it could not wait. Daddy was still sleeping, and I was doing my best to keep you on the quieter side so he could accomplish this, and so therefore, bubbles were needed to avoid klaxon-like hollering.

I know that it's because you find security in me and because you find everything I do completely enthralling, but like I said, there are moments where I miss the days of cooking breakfast without having a three foot tall person pulling my pajama bottoms down. I sometimes envy the old days of showering without an audience or a participant (you have, as of late, discovered that you love taking showers.) I can now set land speed records for washing my hair, self and shaving my legs. I can do it in under 4 minutes if need be. And lately, need be...

That being said, on days when you are off playing with grandma, or if I manage to "hold it" until you are napping, I sorta miss tripping over you or fending off your curious little hands. It's the mantle I have taken up; I am, for the most part, the end all-be all of your little world, and it makes me feel like a superhero. And Daddy isn't immune either; he's had his share of partner showers with you, and he's cooked a couple of meals with you sitting on the counter "helping." This new life isn't one that we don't enjoy. We love having you around, and with me in particular, we are using these moments to teach and guide you. Dual bathroom trips are now learning experiences for potty training and good hygiene. Cooking together teaches you monumental math and vocabulary skills, and let's not forget that a woman loves a man that can cook. See? Life skills all around. Being a parent is being a 24 hour a day teacher.

But then again, I occasionally envy those teachers for spring, summer and winter breaks.

Love always,

Mommy

Let it Grow, Let it Grow, Let it Grow...

Dear Ian,

We have been working together on a "Growing Project." A few weeks ago, we planted seeds for some marigold flowers and some cone flowers. Now, you must understand that we are tempting fate here, because Mommy has the blackest thumb known amongst the land. I killed a lucky bamboo plant. What does that tell you? But, so far, so good, and we've managed to keep them alive, AND they have grown to the point where it was time to re-pot them. So here, in picture, is our growing project...

Freshly planted seeds, and then, Holy Moly! They sprouted!! No one could have been more surprised than me when we saw those little green shoots. It motivated us to get those little buggers to LIVE! So, we have been taking good care of them. You have become quite the professional at watering them; and because of your affinity for watering them, I'm sure this is why they are alive. You point and ask for "wal-dur" every time we go outside. Those plants are lucky they have you.

Soon it became time to replant them, as they had started to grow out of their tiny little pots. So, after our cruise (Grandma and Papa Davis babysat our plants for us while we were gone), we headed out to the farm to pick them up, and Grandma offered us some of her pots so we could replant them. While doing so, you decided to try out the taste of the Miracle Grow soil. I guess you figured if it was good enough for your plants... Anyhoo, the next time we go to the pediatrician and you are in the 90-something-ish percentile for height, I'm showing this photo to Doctor Martin.

Now our little plants have nice, new homes in which to grow, and now they look tiny again surrounded by all that space, but they grow bigger every day. While re potting, we got the bright idea to try to grow other stuff, too, so now we also have a zucchini plant and some baby's breath that we are now attempting to grow. Maybe we'll be having fried zucchini for dinner soon! That would be yummy!

Also in the photo of your little plant collection is the Christmas cactus that Great Poppy gave me this past December. I figured that since I'm trying to keep it alive, it would benefit from your devotion to watering your plants. Thank you for your help, Little Buddy!

I promise to make another post about your plants once they start to blossom. In the meantime, we'll just keep on keepin' on.

Love,
Mommy

Discovering Mommy

Dear Ian,

Just recently you discovered that I have a "name" and you are determined to call me ALL THE TIME! This realization occured on the way to Port Canaveral for our cruise, and it happened to coincide with a bout of seperation anxiety.

Whoa. Pretty much all I heard the entire seven days was some version of panicked "MAMA!"

Don't get me wrong; I waited forever for you to realize that I was Mama and to call me by name, but as of right now, you are saying it every 2.5 seconds! I know it will pass, but at the moment, the video posted below seems to be my life.

You keep calling me, though, Little Son. I love it, no matter how crazy I get.

Love,
Mommy

The Love Boat

Dear Ian,

Whew. We just got back from a family vacation on a cruise ship, and wow, what a trip. We went on the Carnival Dream for a whole week to Belize, Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexio, and to Roatan, Honduras with your Grandma and Grandpa Brooks, Uncles Kurt and Ryan and Aunts Andrea and Stacey. Aunt Andrea's parents came, too, so there was a big group of us.

I must say, Little Man, that for a sixteen month old little dude with limited running around space (Mommy was terrified of you falling off the boat, which would have been a feat), you did extremely well. You had a few moments where I wanted to jump ship, but really, it went amazingly well.

Like I said, we sailed on the Carnival Dream, and it was huge! Our stateroom was number 2284, and we took your pack and play as your bed. That worked out great, and of course we had Warty and Loveys with us. Your first job in the room was to explore EVERY cabinet and drawer. You especially liked the cabinet with the push-button safe in it. Even though I had tried to secure the doors with a rubberband, you could still reach a bit into the cabinet and push the buttons. Oh well.

By far, your favorite part of the cruise was all of the food. Holy moly, it was everywhere. You tried Indian food, the 24 hour pizza place, lobster bisque, ice cream and everything in between. Breakfast was your favorite meal; on average, every morning you ate scrambled eggs, sliced ham, some form of potatoes and fruit. Usually an orange, which I got the priveledge of peeling everyday. But who could refuse the little guy that asked while pointing to oranges, "ball?" To the right is a photo of you eating one of your huge breakfasts.

At the other end of the day was dinner, and these were a little rougher. Normally, your dinners last about 20 minutes, and then we clean up and get ready for tubby time. These dinners started at the right time, but then they lasted about an hour and a half. After your 20 minute window, you had just about enough. It was time for something else. I eventually got smart on night two and remembered Lovey and some books, and that helped, but it was still a bit rough. You ate like a champ, though, and the wait staff was really kind and helpful. They even had your chair and a glass of milk waiting for you every night.

Other fun stuff: You went swimming in the ship pool (which was sort of a no-no, but we did it anyway...), and you got to go to "baby camp" a couple of times. The first time you went you liked it. Time number two, not so much. We got off the ship in Costa Maya and Roatan, and you went swimming at the beach! That was a lot of fun. Playing in the sand was the best!

All in all, it was a great trip, and it was so nice to spend the time together all three of us. Having Daddy around ALL THE TIME was, I think, your very favorite part. You woke up every morning, stood up in your pack and play and said, "Daddy?" So sweet. I cant wait to take another family trip, especially now that you are growing up more and more every day.

Love you lots,
Mommy

Quarantine

Dear Ian,

Sweet Baby Bear, you have had quite a week. Actually, you have had quite a month or so, but back to this week. You have been a sick little bear as of late, with a fever reaching as high as 105 degrees at one time. Can I just tell you how much this terrified me? You seem to be doing a little better now, and that is a huge relief. We have been to the doctor twice already, had quite a few tests run, and according to all of the findings and what's going on around us in the community, this is apparently just a virus. But it has been icky, and I hope you don't have to go through that ever again, or at least for a long time.

You and I have had lots of snuggle time together this week, and that has been the silver lining to this illness. We have napped on the couch together and snuggled under blankets to watch the Sunny Side Up show with Chica (that's a picture of her there on the right.) Despite the fact that holding you when you were feverish was like snuggling with a space heater, it was what you wanted and needed, and I was more than happy to oblige. Your Daddy was so helpful, too. He brought you water, snuggled you when I needed to do something, and was there for me to vent fever stats to the split second he walked in the door after work.

Like I said, you are starting to feel a little better now, and that's a good thing for lots of reasons. The most obvious one is that I hate to see my boy sick, and I'm thankful that you seem to be on the mend. We're also supposed to be going on a family vacation cruise in two days, and we want you to be completely healthy if we go. We were all looking forward to this adventure, but your health (and Daddy's too, since now he isn't feeling well either) always comes first. I am thankful, also, for the fact that if you are indeed feeling better, then we don't have to call or visit the doctor again for a while. I think they are getting a little tired of hearing from me.

Right now, you are resting peacefully in your bed, and hopefully you are kicking the pants off this virus that had such a hold on you. If not, Mommy and Daddy are right here with Tylenol and love to help you feel better.

Love always,

Mommy