Mommy's sick

I finally broke down and saw the doctor this afternoon. I have a sinus infection, fluid in my ears and pink eye! Yikes! No wonder I've been laying on the couch all week!

Ian is such a trooper. Having a sick mommy is not very fun... we don't leave the house, and the house isn't a very fun place without a playmate! He has done a great job playing on his own, though. He can spend almost an hour with his train set, narrating the entire time. He's been putting together puzzles, and reciting lots of his books.

On the phone today he told Nana and Papa, "I'm sick because I'm coughing, Mommy's sick, and Daddy is healthy as a horse!" Hopefully Daddy will stay that way!

Ian's prayer for Emma

Ian's cousin Emma broke her foot last weekend. Ian has been concerned about her, and last night he prayed and asked God to give Emma a new foot. What makes it extra sweet is that we didn't prompt him at all... it came straight from his heart. (I also think the fact that Nana has gotten 2 new knees recently, he thinks if something hurts, then you get a new one!)

Let's eat cake!

Yesterday, Ian officially completed his first potty chart! (I'm realizing as I am typing this that it's my 2nd entry about the potty, but it's a big part of our life at the moment, so bear with me!)

We are using a train track chart, and filling it with stickers as he "goes." His grand prize at the end of the first chart was cake and ice cream, so yesterday we made cupcakes! Ian is always so cute about how much he wants to help in the kitchen. He pushed his chair up to the counter, and wanted to help with each step. As I was getting ready to crack the first egg, he said, "Mommy, can I hatch the eggs?"

Don't get me wrong, we are a long way from big boy underwear, but at least we're heading in the right direction!

Storytime

Ian loves storytime at the library! We go once a week, and he always looks so forward to going. It is cute how his little personality reacts to the things the librarian has them do. Last year, he was so shy that he wouldn't participate in the singing and choreography. This year, he is singing along and doing all of the goofy motions with the rest of the kids. (Maybe not with gusto, but at least he is trying!)

Last week, I had a bit of a revelation. The librarian asked for volunteers to help hold signs for a song, and while all of the other kids ran forward to grab a sign, he and his friend, Megan, sat on their mats and raised their hands. (I know what you're thinking... he's the child of 2 teachers... but where do you learn that!?) It just made me realize how grown-up he is becoming, and how much he will LOVE preschool in the fall!

Let's Pretend!

Ian is really into pretending to be different characters. Fortunately (or unfortunately), he can't do this by himself, so we get pulled into his scripts. "Daddy, you pretend you're _______. Mommy, you pretend you're _______, and I'll pretend I'm ________."

Today's cast of characters:
Joseph, Mary and Baby Jesus
Man in the Yellow Hat, Professor Wiseman and Curious George (in front of the salesman at the furniture store)
Steve, Blue and Joe (from Blue's Clues)

(Another favorite is Uncle Andy, Aunt Kathy and Emma!)

Not only are the characters assigned, but we are also fed lines along the way. Although he can be a little stiffling in the fact that we can't do much ad libbing, I do appreciate the creativity he shows. Maybe we have a budding director in our midst!

Potty time!

Ian's finally showing a little interest in potty training! He has gone at least once the last 4 days, so I decided to try the doctor-recommended method this morning. Ian is sitting on his toddler potty in the living room while watching TV. (Every little man's dream, right?) I told him when he woke up today that he could watch as much TV as he wanted this morning, as long as he was sitting on his potty! He avoided it until about 11 a.m., then finally decided he would take the bait. Nothing is happening, but in his words, "You have to WAIT, Mommy! You have to be PATIENT, okay?" I wonder where he's heard that before... In the meantime, a tall, endless glass of ice water should help things along!

Back in the swing of things!

Well, we've been a little busy (or maybe we were busy being not-so-busy)! Daddy went back to work yesterday after 2 weeks off. It was nice to be home together, and we did lots of fun things:

1. We celebrated Ian's birthday with a party with both sides of the family. Even Charlie the Cougar came for a visit!

2. We celebrated Christmas with both sides of the family!

3. Ian had his three-year-old doctor's visit, and passed with flying colors. He's in the 75th percentile for height and weight, and talked the doctor's ear off!

4. We made a visit to The Children's Museum (thanks, everyone, for the membership!), and we spent most of our time with the dinosaurs. (Next time you talk to Ian, ask him about his "euoplocephalus." If you can't pronouce it, just ask him for help!) We're all becoming dino-experts!