I BELIEVE

Ian loved Santa this year! He told him that he wants cars and trucks and gave Santa a big hug to seal the deal.

Beach Babe

Ian could not get enough of the sand and sun! A couple of days it was warm enough to really play on the beach and he thought he hit the mother of all sandboxes. He cried when we had to say goodbye to the beach!

Beach Vacation

We took a couple of days off after Halloween to see the SC Gamecocks kick some UT booty and then off to the SC coast! It was such a relaxing week for everyone and Ian has fallen in love with the beach! He also is a natural "sfiwimmer" with no fear of the water!
The weather was so nice and even on the cooler days we were able to sneak out and enjoy the beach!

Happy Halloween

Ian had tons of fun with his cousins on Halloween. He kept up with the big kids and made it all the way around the circle at Mom's neighborhood. He definately thinks that he is 5 years old!!

He is still wanting to ask all strangers he meets trick-or-treat!

Cowboy BABY

Ian really gets Halloween and trick-or-treating this year! He is having a blast even though it took 45 minutes of negotation and promise for a new car when he turns 16 to get him into his costume for the halloween party this year. He is the best little cowboy and thanks to daddy he can recite most of the Kid Rock song... you fill in the rest!

WE love the Fall

It is starting to cool off and the hint of fall is in the air! This is one of my favorite times of the year and I am hoping to pass this along to Ian. We visited the Berry Patch Farms and had a blast picking up pumpkins in the pumpkin patch. Ian had trouble just picking 2!! He had a blast!!

OHHH the things they say...

In the past couple of weeks, Ian's personality has started to really pop out and so have his language skills. The things that come out of his mouth make us laugh so hard and sometimes ask "What??"

Here are some of our favorites:

-While listening to daddy's music in the car Ian informed me that "Mommy -- this is how I ROCK!"

-After finishing a dinner he liked, Ian looked up at me and said "Not bad Mommy"

-When he looked at the baby's 7 week ultrasound he said that "Hmmmm, that not baby!"

-If he doesn't want to go upstairs or do something for me he claims "Oh no, me too old" (I think Nano helped out with this one)

-He found out his shoes were in the car when he wanted to leave the house and right on que he expressed his feelings "Oh damit"

I'm going to be a BIG BROTHER

It's official !! Ian is going to be a big brother in May.

Marco and I are so excited about the new arrival--we are 8 weeks into the pregnancy. Marco has decided that he will take a stand in wife for the next 7 months. I am feeling great and this baby seems to hate sweets but loves chips!

Ian is so excited and we have been explaining everything to him bit by bit. He said he wants a baby sitster! He decided the baby's name would be 'baby sister' too. He has also decided that he has a baby in his tummy! This is going to be so much fun to share with him.

Our new cat... MEOW

While Marco and I were working in the garage, Ian found a new play toy. We had a kitty condo set up which of course the cats don't care a bit about but Ian thought he was our new pet saying MEOWW MEOOOWW. We are not sure how he squeezed into the tunnel but he had a tough time getting out. He was very determined to get out himself but decided that he was "TOO BIG" and "STUCK before asking dad for help.

Little Chef

Ian's new favorite hobby !! He's such a great helper

Pictures before leaving for school

It was raining so hard on Ian's first day of school, all the pictures had to be taken inside. He is showing off his super cool baseball lunch box and his elmo raincoat.
Can't wait until Thursday--Day 2

First Day of School

Today was fantastic... our little guy is growing up so fast! The first day of school went great and he told me today that he wants to go back in the morning. That's a good sign.
He painted a picture, played with a parachute and even went pee pee in the potty!!
Pictures to come soon!!

First visit to Ian's new preschool

Ian had a blast with Papa visiting this week even though Mommy was kinda grouchy. He has had a blast over the past weeks with Nano and Laura here last week and then Papa this week.
We had orientation for preschool yesterday and there were a couple of tears when I first left but they were quickly gone when he discovered the play ground and fish tank. He was having a blast when we picked him up an hour later. His teacher, Miss Angie, seems to be great with the kids and Ian can already say "Ms Anthee"! Tuesday will be his first full day. I think he's going to love it!!

The Sandbox is finished

Marco added the last bag of sand (still don't know who won the bet but we are at over 30 bags today) and Ian loves his new sandbox. Marco really did a great job and it can easily fit 5 kids. He has buried dinosaurs and his cousins, Mia and Eli, already! His favorite activity is throwing sand out of the box... still working on this one.

More great picts from this busy week...

Backyard fun

At playgroup Thursday Ian joined all of his best buddies in our backyard and we all had so much fun!!!

Here they are splishing and splashing - swinging and sliding - and going nuts.

Splishin' and Splashin' at the Lanier Water Park

Ian and his friend Brandon had a blast at the water park today!!

The boys couldn't get enough of the water. We spent the entire afternoon beating the heat at the water park. It was so much fun and they went until they were about to drop!!

Between the wave pool and the kiddy fountains and the water slides Ian must have dunked his head over 1000 times. He is my little fish!

You have the right to remain silent...

Wow.. we have had a busy couple of days. We had such a fun on Tuesday at the Forsyth County police station where Ian attended the Stranger Danger class! The deputy taught us about good strangers and bad strangers and made a big impression on Ian. He was "cuffed and stuffed" -- the picture of Ian being handcuffed is priceless. His eyes were as big as saucers while the officer had him in the handcuffs. It had better be the only time he's handcuffed by the cops!!

I PeePee in the Potty

Words we didn't think we would hear for a long time but after a week with Nano and Papa it's for real. Ian thinks he is such a big boy now and LOVES his big boy undies.. well actually "commando" is his favorite but big boy underware is a definate upgrade from pull-ups. He is doing fabulous and has mastered the pee pee. Number 2 is a little more of a challenge but I'll take anything I can get! Nano still has it!!!

Ian riding his Trike

Well--Ian did it!! After some practice, he has mastered riding his tricycle and likes going backwards as much as forward! The faster the better in true Ian style!! He is crazy. Honking the horn always makes it more fun and he loves to fill the shelf in the back with rocks and dirt! Ian is a boy through and through!!

Now he enjoys riding around the garage for hours (if I would let him).

Train Museum, Saturday July 12, 2008

Ian loves anything that moves fast--trains, cars, buses, bobcats... you name it! We took him to see the tractors, trains and buses at the Southeastern Train Museum and he had a blast. He drove a tractor, walked through old train cars, took a train ride (his first) and became the driver in all kinds of old buses! He was in heaven and we could hardly get him away from the engines despite the +90 degree weather that was burning up Marco and I.