Ian Turns 4!
// September 1st, 2011 // No Comments » // General
КартинииконописIan’s 4th birthday has arrived, and none too soon, as he’s been relentlessly questioning us about where his birthday presents are stashed. I think he’s guessed every part of the house, so when I finally told him I’d hidden them in the sky, he replied, “Tell me for real, Mommy, are they in the basement? They are, aren’t they!”
All of this stems from his complete love of Legos, in particular the Ninjago sets, which he was promised more of for his birthday. It doesn’t matter that he already has bins full of Legos, he always wants more. His favorite line seems to be, “Hey, Mommy, I have an idea – let’s go to the store and buy Legos!” We oblige these requests probably more than we should, but the fact that he plays with Legos for hours without making a peep, doesn’t seem like a bad thing to encourage. In a recent Ianism he even professed that when he’s older and has money, he’s going to buy a house and fill it full of Legos.
That brings to mind two of our other favorite Ianisms, which are: 1) “I like you and I love you!” (It’s never just one or the other…), 2) “Mommy!” What Ian? “Nothin’!” (Hysterical laughter ensues and he will do this several more times, getting to the point where he doesn’t even wait for me to say what…).
Despite his newfound interest in Lego Ninjas, Ian continues to think pirates are cool, and dresses up like one when Ally and he play princess and pirate together. He also still loves swords, and the crock full of them is firmly rooted by our front door, as full as ever.
When Ian was born, I was determined to never use the line, “You are such a boy!” But I’ve found myself using it more than I care to admit as he gets older. I guess I’m just at a loss to otherwise describe his boundless energy, refusal to sit down to pee, and general love of causing “non-premeditated” mass destruction. His favorite form of play is wrestling, and we spend untold amounts of time with him trying to body slam, squish and pin us. I guess some things really are innate, because we’ve never let him watch wrestling on TV. He’s still a peanut, so for now, it’s all good, but one day I know that will change.
His size is the only thing about him that is small – he has a rather deep voice compared to other young boys and packs a wallop of a personality, which features generous helpings of mischievousness, playfulness, and silliness. But there is a softer side to Ian as well, a side that can be very sweet and gentle. He is big on snuggling when he first wakes up or sleepy and loves it when I yank him back and forth as he tries to kiss me (and gets frustrated when I don’t let him win a kiss). And what a kisser he is – cupping your face in his hands and laying a huge lip locker on you – lock up your daughters!
Ian’s favorite lullaby is “You are my Sunshine,” and he always points out that he is my sunshine and I’d be sad if he was ever taken away. Maybe that’s why one night as I was putting him to bed (rare since he usually prefers Eric for bedtime), he said, “Mommy, I want to keep you forever.” My response was, “Little man you can, because you will absolutely own my heart forever.”
And that has been true from the moment he was born. Because even though he’s officially made me the “Executive Director of a Madhouse” as I like to joke, that’s life with Ian and just the way we like it. Happy birthday, Ian!
