Game On!

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Burl can crawl up the stairs!!!!!!!!!!!

He followed me up on Friday before we left for Baby World. So after story time yesterday, we went to Toys r Us and got a gate for the stairway.

Burl can stand up, gingerly, without holding onto anything, for a few seconds. For over a week, he's been able to walk when Ryan or I hold his 2 hands. Yesterday, he walked when I held only 1 hand!

When Burl gets very frustrated he bounces and jumps. If he's in his high chair or being changed, he throws himself backwards. Under less terrible straits, Burl fake coughs - making a throat-clearing sound - or fake laughs when he requires a bao bao. And finally, Burl will verbally appeal, kinda ahe, ahe while reaching up with his hands.

As of this morning, Burl began physically and verbally protesting, merely cuz I was holding his clothes!

Burl talks a lot - very important stuff. He giggles and laughs. This past week, Burl has started playing a chasing game with Ivo. It starts with the boys sitting together looking at each other, then Burl crawls away baiting Ivo to chase him. Burl abruptly stops, the boys sit together laughing until Burl crawls off again and they repeat. They have played this game for 20 minutes at a time - running up and down the length of the tatamis in oue family room. The laughing is HILARIOUS. It's amazing because Burl is definitely the leader in this game - Ivo's a cheerful, willing player - cuz he loves to play.

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Ahoy!

After the toy store, we all went to Feng Le Staue Park with a loaf of bread and a jar of peanut butter. The weather was wonderful. Burl napped while Ryan took Ivo around on rides. We picnicked by shallow water full of ducks and kid-friendly hand-paddle boats. Ivo resolved immediately that he would ride a boat. He didn't get scared or shy-away. While waiting his turn, he explained how to paddle and practiced air-paddling.

It was amazing - Ivo did it! At the age of 2 years, 10 months, 3 weeks and 3 days old, he piloted a boat, the likes of which he'd never seen before, by himself, in a place with which he is unfamiliar.

We are so proud of him! While Ivo was on the water, a kid twice his age screamingly refused his parents' efforts to force him into a boat - this didn't phase Ivo. He took running into rocks and other boats in stride. While paddling, at no point did he smile, he was focused and 100% serious. And while everything about the endeavor was new and a guy would have every reason and right to be hesitant - if not downright scared - Ivo acted like piloting a boat is what he was born to do. As soon as he got out, he said he'd do it again!

Ivo is growing into a big boy!!!! Such a cool guy. Ahhhm, happy tears.

Ivo Overheard:

• (On meeting my eyes after he hit Burl's back) "Dat called a massage."



• Ivo now uses "fella" quite a bit. "How you doin' little fella?" "You ok, little fella?" "Aw - poor fella!"