Ian is TWO YEARS OLD!

Wow...two years ago today, Matt and I were staring at our brand new baby boy! We say again and again how quickly time has flown by...and that little baby is now 34.25 inches tall and weighs about 27 pounds!

Ian has developed in so many ways over the past year. Day by day his personality and independence blossom into a little man that is loving, determined, playful, and stubborn!

His language is so developed that it would be hard to make a list of all the things he says. Besides, he comes up with new additions almost daily! It's so funny to hear him putting together his own sentences, generate names for things he doesn't know, or babble completely unintelligibly with what must actually make sense to him!

Physically, his growth has been no less impressive. To watch him on the playground now is a wonder...going down the big slide all by himself, climbing up and down, and trying to swing. We can see that someday soon he'll be outrunning us, something Matt is still in denial over. He can open just about anything with those agile fingers...he'll zip and unzip, unscrew, pry, and manipulate with gusto! And, what a water baby! His swimming skills are beyond any expectations we could have for him at this point. Holding his breath under water for longer and longer periods, and becoming more coordinated with his arm and leg movements, we know he'll be swimming before long.

Watching him learn is the most amazing opportunity! He's begun experimenting in new ways with objects, and trying to use others beyond his skill level with determination. Puzzles are getting easier for him, as he's learning to match up patterns as well as shapes - so he can complete not only simple object to object puzzles, but also simple pieced ones. Reading is also developing as he tries to memorize books we have read and then repeat them back to us.

Obsessions with cars, Wall-E, balls, Little Einsteins, blocks, and the infamous Little People have come and gone as his preferences change constantly with his development. Some things have remained a constant...his absolute passion for books, the simple joy of pulling (or pushing) around a little wagon, taking apart anything with pieces, and collecting similar items in piles or any container he finds (including laundry baskets, bags, and the dog dish).

That's Ian...the boy that seems to have energy that is limitless, a curiosity to match, and is truly the most loving little boy I know. I'm so thankful for having such a wonderful son that has taught ME so much these past two years. Of course, that's another story for another day! Happy Birthday, Ian! :)

**(In progress is a list of snippets of his current interests/development! Post will follow when we return from our trip! We gotta hit the road!)**