10 Reasons Ian is the Coolest

1. He got his first skinned knee this week at the park. That seems to seal his arrival to toddler-boyhood.

2. He calls out for "Mom" now when he needs somebody. (You were right Tori! Though I still cease to exist on Saturdays and when Scott first gets home from work.)

3. He just fell out of his Tonka Truck (because he was standing in it) and then scolded the truck, "No-No Truck!", complete with finger wagging. He also pretends his Tonka truckbed is a recliner.

4. He strings together several words to make mini almost-sentences. Like "Yunch, Jelly, Iiiit, Okay!" ("Let's go eat peanut butter and jelly for lunch") And he says many of his words sorta jumbled and backwards, like Sit Down = more like "Das Sown!" And he always says that one like it's a command.

5. He announces every burp and toot by saying, "Bup!" and "Toot!", respectively. I did not teach him this. But at least he is now ready for Cub Scouts.

6. He grunts "Umph!" along with me as I lift him over the baby gate, or as he leans over to pick something up. I do accept responsibility for teaching him this.

7. Ian punctuates many sentences with "Okay!", especially if he is requesting something. Like, "Shoes, Go, Outside, Okay!" It is very persuasive.

8. He can identify a tube of "Gas-gar-a" (mascara) and even prefers to play with a tube of the good kind.

9. Ian says "Thank you!" and "Mmmmm!" when he takes the Sacrament each Sunday.

10. Today a gigantic wasp flew by him, and he gleefully began yelling "Birt! Birt! Teet-Teet!" and chasing after it. I stopped him and explained that it wasn't a bird, but a very nasty bug. However, he picks up any bug he sees, so I may have made it worse.

Ian really is the coolest little kid. I love being his mom.