Stuff Ian Says

Our jaws dropped this morning when Doug (after Ian was randomly singing Happy Birthday) mentioned that we should have an actual party for his birthday next summer. Doug said, "we should have it somewhere cool, like the m-u-s-e-u-m". Ian: "I wanna got to the museum, Daddy!". We presume that he hasn't actually learned to spell, but it sure sounded smart! A test later in the day did not produce the same result, so we think it was just a coincidence.

However, things Ian says intentionally are almost as interesting. This week he's talked about two new things that I've noticed. One is negotiation about the series of events. Like this:
me: "Ian, it's time to change your diaper."
Ian: "First I will finish my tall building, then you can change my diaper Mommy."
Oh. That clears things up.

The other is observations about his phase of life. He has done this in several contexts in the last few days. Before bed the other night he said, "Someday I will be big and I will be a Mommy". Me: "Only girls become mommies." Ian: "Oh, someday I will be a Daddy, but now I am just a boy." On the way home from preschool Friday he said, "Someday I will be big and have big hands and I will drive a car with the wheel and the keys." It's interesting that he understands that he is in one stage of life, but that he will grow up someday and that will allow him to do things he can't do now.

He also likes to ask about our days. Every day in the car after I pick him up he asks me, "So what did you do at work while Ian was playing at school today?". I try to explain my workday in a way he can understand, and usually when I'm done he asks me to repeat it. It feel like he's turned the tables on me!

We're constantly surprised by the new things he's thinking and it's really fun to talk with him. He seems like a thoughtful kid. Sometimes he is compassionate, like last week when I was putting him to bed, and sitting in his room knitting while we did the story of Ian's day, "Mommy, it is time for my bed now, but when I'm done with my bed I will help you with your knitting because it's tricky so I need to help you with it." It's the thought that counts :)