December 9, 2008: The big brother
Ivan is funny. I don't know what goes on in this boy's head or at least how it all comes together but he cracks us up every day. All the amount of words he knows (I'm convinced Veronika is responsible for at least half of it) combined with his toddlerish way of talking (caws/cars, wightnin ma'keen/lightning macqueen, sweepy/sleepy etc) make for wonderful daily commentary. I keep wanting to write them down and I forget. Like I wrote somewhere else... my life is crazy.
He is still very sweet and cuddly and affectionate. The other day he leaned over to give Baka a hug during lunch (hugging during lunch is a favorite) and as he put his head in her lap he closed his eyes and cooed: "nice friends!". He adores Nikola ("Is Niki-Piki awake? I WUV Niki-Piki!"). As often as he can he will come over and lie by him and kiss his head and take his face into his hands... Ivan is full of stuff like that, his emotions just overflow. The same goes for crying. He is easier to calm down than Veronika but has also developed some funny techniques. Every time he is done "cwyin' " he needs to "wipe my teaws on your shuwt, mama". If I'm not available it has to be Hasi (a little bunny attached to a blanket). He takes Hasi's head with both hands and wipes repeatedly one eye over and over and then declares something like: "I'm ok! I'm happy now!" He also shows a lot of empathy. One time when we were playing baseball on the computer (miniclip.com) and as we were losing I said something to the effect. He noticed the disappointment in my voice, turned around and hugged me: It's ok! I love you, mama!
Besides eating and sleeping Ivan does mostly two things: draw baseballs (circle-like things with two stripes in the middle) and play pretend baseball. In pretend baseball he is the batter, almost always. He takes the stance and makes a scary focused face while me (or whoever he managed to grab) pitches the ball. He then swings the imaginary bat (sometimes it's a pencil, which he is not allowed to use really... we've had a lot of debates about this) and then proclaims "strike one!" or "home run!" or "foul ball!" and then depending on what it was runs while I have to pretend to be catching the ball and then tagging him with it. I've learned more about baseball than I ever wanted to know (= which was nothing I have to admit) and I still don't know most of it, but I'm good enough to play pretend baseball. Ivan is obsessed with it. Whenever we are waiting for something or he isn't immersed in some other activity, he will almost involuntarily assume the batter stance, make the face.. etc. It's a riot to watch for everyone who is not completely used to it by now. At least once a day he asks us if we can go to the new stadium (Citifield) and that he wants to run the bases. He still hasn't forgotten the day he met Mr. Met and dreams of a reunion all the time.
I know I'm the mother and all, but I find him to be very smart and very coordinated for his age. He hasn't had an potty accidents in months, he recognizes some numbers and letters (Veronika's influence), he draws recognizable faces and he is verbally very good. Too good sometimes.
He uses very little German, although he understands it perfectly. Occasionally he will repeat something and crack me up, like yesterday:
- Ivan, magst du ein bisschen Birne? (Ivan, would you like some pear?)
- No, mama, some baseball play-uhs don't need any BIENE!! (Biene=bees)
His favorite song is still "Take me out to the ballgame". I downloaded it from ITunes and he will belt out this song on top his lungs with such devotion and excitement that you think his heart will jump out of his throat. It's abslutely hilarious to watch... over and over. (Video coming up). Veronika has also taught him some church hymns she picked up while accompanying Lincoln when he goes to play for the kids at church and so you will find Ivan walking around the living room singing loudly "Hawewuya, Hawewuya, listen to Jesus, do what he tews you, open yo' hawts todaaaaaaay!" Before he knew the exact lyrics it went like this: "Hawewuya... listen to Jesus.. he... has.. somefin... to say!"
Ivan and Veronika are still best buddies. He is a docile follower, but not without his own mind. He will do what she says when he wants to, but if he doesn't, it will drive Veronika crazy. She then will try to discipline, coerce or annoy him into obeying her which in turn makes him scream and screech and then demonstratively hit her while yelling out in this stern and loud voice: "NO! You a-uh (=are) a BAD BOY!" It is the insult of insults. Then Veronika will run to me and gladly tell on him (He called me a BAD BOY!). It's the same every day, but as soon as Ivan isn't home for a couple of hours, she will ask me: "When is Ivan coming home?" It's love.
I could go on and on. I am a fan.
Posted by mama at 11:35 AM