Baby No Longer!

I continue to be amazed by how time flies by and somehow Ian turned three on Saturday.  When we got home from China with Leah he immediately seemed so huge and grown up compared to her and abruptly lost his place as the baby in the family.  I have to admit I felt a little heartsick about that for a few days.  Those first few days Ian was adjusting to having us back after such a long time, and he had accidents and tantrums that were very unlike him (not that he's above throwing a good tantrum) but this was different.  I spent several sleepless nights hoping we hadn't somehow irreversibly upset the family dynamic, and I'm so happy to say that after a few days he realized mom and dad were back to stay and became the Ian we know and love again.  This kid has a personality (and hair) that's larger than life.  We couldn't love him more.  He lives life big.  He's loud, crazy, funny, and incredibly loving.  We love this guy and are so glad he is ours!  His life was created in a miraculous way, and he continues to amaze and fill us with love.  He is truly irresistible once you get to know him...which doesn't take long because he is one of the friendliest, most uninhibited kids around.  Now with that said, he's no angel.  He's got spunk enough for ten kids and Jer and I have already voted him most likely of our kids to land us in the principal's office but to know him truly is to love him.

Ian is a child of many hairstyles.  There's the feathery bed head...

The wet mop that he hates to have dried...

The huge, static trampoline head...

The freshly washed, curly (dare I say almost girly) do....

Now on to Ian's birthday.  We kept things very simple this year with everything we've had going on, and I think Ian had a great day.  He stayed in his jammies all day, opened a present, jumped on the tramp, and ate giant sugar cookies for lunch.

After a nap we headed to the park for a summer-themed party in cold spring weather.  Ian loves sliding and playing at the playground more than almost anything else right now, so he was in heaven despite the weather.  With his brothers and cousins to play with he had a blast.

The preparations for Ian's birthday were made very last minute.  As in the night before and the day of last minute.  I've always made my kids' cakes, sad as they are, and I hated to give up the tradition quite yet.  Before it was finished Ian guessed both dinosaur and then beaver.  Beaver?  Really?  Throw me a bone Ian.  The third time was the charm, and he loved his shark cake.  He especially like the mouth, which he called the tongue, made from a fruit roll up.

We ate pizza and fruit, played, sang happy birthday, and opened presents.  Ian loved every minute of it and was so gracious and thankful for all of the presents he got.

I had to peel him out of this Cars shirt a few days later for a much needed washing.  Ian's other favorite activity right now is riding his two wheel bike.  It has no pedals so you just glide.  He has become quite skilled and very fast on it.  Sunday night he tried out his new birthday bike helmet for over an hour and right before coming in spun a super tight, fast circle and ate the pavement with his face.  His teeth did quite a number on his lip leaving it very fat...nothing a little ice cream couldn't fix though!

One last Ian story:  Last night Seth had a soccer game.  In typical Ian fashion he was socializing with everyone around him.  He is not afraid to get right in your business, stranger or not.  He eventually got very chatty with a mom of one of Seth's preschool friends that he doesn't know at all.  He then proceeded to repeatedly tell her the "joke" Luke taught him (until eventually threatened with time out in the van).  It goes a little something like this.  Ian asks you, "Guess what?"  When you innocently reply "what," he goes on to answer with a naughty grin "chicken butt!"  He just can't get enough of that one.