Where are the firetrucks, Ivan?
Right Der! Right Der!
Ivan tries a blue freezer pop. He’s not entirely sold on it. But it is a festive color.
Fourth of July Parade
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Author Archives: amanda
Giant Cow in Wisconsin
This was a popular stop on our trek to Minnesota.
Ivan liked to hug the cow legs and say “MOO.”
Ezri really wanted us to boost her up so she could ride the cow. When we explained the impossibility, she suggested that Eric could build her a ladder. He told her all his tools and lumber were at home.
All of Ivan’s Grandparents Together
A sister and a couple parents too
Backyard wading pool
The only thing as awesome as the wading pool for Ivan today was watching the park district’s mega-mower cruise through the park. The driver even waved to Ivan as the boy pointed and clapped in obvious adoration.
And this made Ivan laugh as much as he ever has. There’s nothing as funny as your sister dumping water on her head. Nothing.
Here Comes Stompy the Bear
Ivan loves the Caspar Babypants song Stompy the Bear with the kind of single mindedness only a toddler can muster.
He also loves the youtube video it inspired.
I decided to try to make him his own stompy.
My version is a different green and not shaped quite right. I gave him to Ivan with my fingers crossed. Ivan immediately accepted Stompy saying “Stompy Be-eh”, hugged Stompy, demanded we play the song, and danced with Stompy.
Here’s the hug:
Here’s their first dance with Ivan making Stompy boogie like in the video::
Craft Project Success!
Ezri now wants me to make her the pink Stompy.
Cheese!
Eric had the camera and Ivan came right over to say cheese.
Eating noodles with Ezri is hilarious.
The photos aren’t the best, but I think you can tell how much fun they are having together.
Ivan speaks
He is coming out with more multi-word phrases.
It is probably good for my sanity that Ivan has starting using these two phrases in almost equal measure. “No-wan-it” and “tank you.”
He has gotten quite conversational. Here are some samples.
Me: Ivan, let’s change your diaper.
Ivan: NO-WAN-IT – (it is loud and strung together into one word)
Me: Do you want a cookie?
Ivan: Goo-Key. Yeah!
(cookie is transferred)
Ivan smiling: Tank You.
Me: Good Morning, Ivan.
Ivan: Oh-meal (oatmeal)
Me: Do you want breakfast?
Ivan: YEAH!
Sometimes, we don’t know what he means, but other times his meaning comes through. He pointed at the gnome decoration on his plate and said, “Gampa HAR-bee At.” Translation: I think this garden gnome looks like my bearded Grandpa Harvey wearing a hat.
He likes pointing and naming objects and people very much. He identified all the stone garden animals on the walk from his childcare today. He thinks a boston terrier looks like a cat. He thinks deer are dogs. He switches between goose and duck with no apparent reason. He uses “Skahl” and “Babbit” to correctly identify squirrel and rabbit statues. He also loves pointing out things in his books and identifying them.
We know a pair of sisters called Kaylee and Pippa, but Ivan calls them both Boopa or sometimes Boopa and Odah Boopa. “Boopa” is his attempt at Pippa, but he’s decided her sister Kaylee is “Other Pippa” for reasons we don’t understand.
He’s gotten very good at singing along on his favorite songs or filling in missing words. If you sing “Twinkle, twinkle little” he will loudly sing, “STAH!”
Ivan has been calling pizza by the name “pizza-GUY” ever since we made a big deal about the fact that the pizza guy had arrived. Ivan says, “Pizza-guy yummy.”
Raise your hand if Pudding Popsicles were a good idea.
Ivan is now at the age where he will want an equivalent snack to all the bigger kids, though he might not finish his.
He is now one of the window gazing gang. It is nice to see him transitioning into being one of the kids, instead of the baby.
Ivan got to participate in a pony puppet theater production.
Ivan in shades. Cool.
