Ivo Is So Lucky to Have Ryan for His Papa

On Saturday morning at 7am, Ivo opened his eyes and asked, “What in my brain?” My eyes weren’t quite open-able yet, and Ivo asked again. Ryan and Burl (who is usually the first up) were stirring as I searched for some child-friendly answer in my brain. None found, I sputtered, “Neurons…” No, he doesn’t know neurons. “Chemicals…” He’s heard of chemicals. Ah! - “…electricity.” Ivo knows what electricity is… and what’s wrong with getting your head around the weirdness that electricity which runs through wires also powers your brain?

Ivo just glared at me.

Thank g-d, Ryan had the presence of mind to offer a waaaay better answer, “Ideas, memories and stories.”

Yea. That.
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Just a couple days earlier, a post bath, nudey-body Ivo, was busy conducting stress tests on his penis and scrotum when he jumped up and ran into the kitchen, “Papa, Papa! What in my scwotum?!?!?”

“Chemicals, neurons…” No, no... Ryan told him about testicles.
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In more scrotal news, at the science museum on Saturday, Ivo noticed a simulated CT scanner that runs over a model of a prone man from head to foot like a pair of X-ray eyes, illuminating the innards, section by section. Ivo watched patiently while an older girl used the machine. After 5 minutes I nudged Ivo toward the mini-zoo. Ivo refused, fascinated, waiting and said “What in da penis?” Finally the girl left and we checked it out. The penis disappeared, but we could see the testicles.

Science, so cool.

Burl & Ivo Videos from a Sick Day

Almost everyday Ivo asks me or tells me, "You love me so much?"

Yep.

"You and Papa love me like cwazy?"

That's right.

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These vids are from yesterday.

Ivo and Burl had been launching balls from these plastic lacrosse nets. Burl upped the ante with a wooden block. In the vid, I ask Burl if he's having a good time. He responds with a long nod - typical Burl fashion. Seems like VIDEOS AREN'T EMBEDDING AGAIN!!!! BOO HOO!

Click here for Burl Lacrosse.


Ivo likes KISS. Who doesn't? He can often be overheard singing "call me dr loooove, call me dr looove.." This is his reaction to seeing a video version. The video's a little long - most of the fun stuff occurs in the first 60 seconds. You can see Ivo's a little puffy, a little sicky.
Click here for Ivo Dr Love.




Burl enjoying a spin with Papa and then Ivo. When I was little, my fam had chairs from Taiwan very similar to these and we used to spin each other around and around, like cwazy. As this vid is beginning, Ivo says, "Ow! I hurt my own arm!"

Click here for Burly spinning.

Home Sick

Burl plays catch, blows hilariously exaggerated kisses, gives some real kisses and knows what he wants. He loves balls, dogs, teletubbies, dancing, going for walks, and using the computer mouse. He really really loves Ivo. He says "Dye" for bye.

Ivo was sick today. Dr said he shouldn't go to school, so the boysand I stayed home. Ivo's mostly ok, if the dr hadn't said stay home, we would've gone and probably would've been ok.

We played, rested and ate. Sadly both Burl & Ivo slept thru our fish and veg noodle dinner. Ivo's still sleeping at 8:20pm. He's probably out fr the night. Burl probably has another 30 minutes in him. He's playing with Ryan right now.

Ivo spent most of the day as a superhero, either Superman or Batman - in each case calling me Lois Lane.

While drawing with his markers, Ivo poked Burl with the back end of the marker he was using. I told him not to poke people with markers. It happened a few more times, me telling him that the marker was gonna be timed-out. Finally, an exasperated Ivo told me, "I twying a erase him!" What?

Burl had his very first time out today. He sat for 30 seconds on the stairs. I can't figure out how to get him not to pull Ivo's hair. Everything I do/have done just makes Burl laugh. And I can't control Ivo's often over the top responses, I try to play it cool and just say NO! But it seems to make Burl's fat fists clench tighter...

You shoulda seen Ivo's face when he realized Burl was timing out. Unprecedented sheer mischievous joy... He looked like there might really be justice in the world after all. Then Ivo proceeded to explain to me why Burly was timing out and how we can't pull people's hair.

It's a new day here.

Tuesday in the Park with Ivo and Burl

Today we met Krysta, Shea, Alison and Tessa at the science museum park. It was a beautiful, blue-sky, not too hot day.

However, there is a lot of plant matter, fuzz-encased seeds and the like floating around (along with all the less natural particulate matter). This seems to be causing Ivo some discomfort. He's runny-nosey and under-eye-circley. But otherwise happy.

The kids drew a small crowd of what I'm guessing to be unemployed junior high school drop-outs, with cameras.

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I think Ivo is pretty polite for his age - without seeming like a cowering automaton. He says thank you and you're welcome without prompting in non-stressful situations. He needs to be coaxed when supermarket clerks and other people outside the house give him stuff, though. Sometimes he refuses, sometimes he whispers his thank you, under duress or pain of not getting to eat/open/keep it. Sometimes he's feeling groovy and outgoing, engaging with all and sundry, employing all social niceties.

Still, Ryan and I are are working on teaching and encouraging nicer requests. Ivo's old enough that the novelty (although not the cuteness) of his speech isn't enough to excuse the rudeness of the endless blunt orders. It's hard not to feel put-upon while being dictated to by a mini-general who just doesn't know better yet. Whether delivered sweetly sing-songily or alarmingly declared, these skeletal constructions, this ur-language has got to go; "I want apple juice!" "I've got a boog!" "I want more!"

So, gently we've been encouraging more socially acceptable phrasing, telling Ivo that being polite makes people feel happy. He usually will go for it and take a verbal stab at the corrected-suggested rephrase. But tonight after happily eating half a toasted cheesy ciabatta, a cup of peas and a strawberry yogurt, Ivo bellowed from his booster chair "I'VE GOT A BOOG!!!"

I asked him if he needed help. Yes. Then you say, "Mama, please help me wipe my nose." Ivo: "Uhh... I don't like dat. I will just say 'I got a boog.'"

Ivo & Burl at Dinner Monday Night

Burl loves lentils. He has not once refused a mixed lentil dish.

And, drum roll please... Burl can use a spoon!!! Not even a baby spoon, a real regular tea spoon!!!

Burl can also use his hands.

It's the bowl he can't quite be trusted with, however. No pics, cuz we want to be asked to eat at decent people's homes.

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Ivo has the fine motor ability to isolate anything remotely green from any one-dish dinner we have. It's quite a skill. Tonight at dinner, Ivo said he was a carrot "I have gween ha-ir and a owange body." Ryan claimed to be a MANgo but Ivo told him he was a banana. I wasn't anything exciting cuz I can't remember what I was assigned. When asked what Burl was, Ivo said, "I think he something gween... he a gween pepper."

Ivo does not cotton to green anythings, peppers least of all.

Later he said Burl might be a tomato - also not a fave...

Ivo Overheard b/w More BBQ Pics

Ivo Overheard:

• "I want to ride a tractor and Grampie Doug have a tractor."



• "What you doing?" Making a list. "I wanna make a list too." With pen to paper, "Dear Grammie Gail, I go on a airplane, I coming your house soon."

Somehow Burl always manages to get his pants off at parties!