Ivan believes that he can do anything his big sister can. And he’s ready to try.

Yesterday at the park, Ezri was on the swings. Ivan was in the baby swing and was getting fussy. He pointed at the empty big kid swing next to Ezri. Eric held him on the swing and his smile got huge. He wanted to swing in the swings Ezri uses. It did not matter that he would fall out if an adult did not hold him there.

Here he is on Ezri’s stepstool helping with the dishes.
He loves climbing and he loves climbing this stepstool because Ezri uses it all the time. If she can climb it, so can he.

Ezri was picking grape tomatoes from our garden and eating them.
Ivan crawled over and into the dirt and picked a green tomato and proceeded to eat it.
If Ezri can do it, so can he.

Ezri was throwing the target ball of our bocce set.

If Ezri can do it, Ivan wants to. Here’s his attempt.

Here are Ezri and Ivan working on a crayon project together. Ivan was actually holding crayons and making marks. He is smart and talented and as the second kid is trying things earlier than our first did.  There are two reasons for that.  This first is that we already have the things for a toddler in the house like crayons, sippy cups and stepstools.  The second is that he has Ezri as his example of what is possible.  Seeing me do something does not convince Ivan he can do it.  But if Ezri can do something or eat something, Ivan wants to as well.

This crayon project time fell apart when Ivan started eating the green crayon and Ezri got upset about the possible loss.  The green crayon still works with teeth marks.