I’m not sure what Micah’s project represents, but I love the serious look on his face.

Ian’s “Serious Book About the Circus”. He worked very intently on this. He was very clear that it is a serious book, not a story. He dictated the text to me, including “Fish jumping out of fish tanks, touching the ceiling, and diving back down,” and “People painting lion’s faces, to make lions look fiercer.”

Chava says hers is “Not a circus.”

Ray made our family stamp. Ian decided that we should have a coyote as our family symbol. I would have written that off as completely impossible, but Ray went to work. He printed a picture, traced it onto the stamp, and cut the stamp. I am extremely impressed with the results.

These pictures were taken early in the day (as you can see, Ian still has his pajamas on…)

The kids were thrilled, of course. They spent a good amount of time watching out the window, and Ian and Chava bundled up and went outside. They thought maybe it would be Christmas, and Chava decided that we must be in Ohio

I set some trays outside, and it didn’t take long before they had a couple of inches of wet snow in them.

(Micah eating the snow)

I meant to get pictures later in the day, but we wound up going to a friend’s house. The kids played outside, but I was too busy chatting to take pictures.

My friend Jen is a talented photographer, and got some great pictures of the snow

I love talking to you, and hearing your discoveries and ponderings about life. You think deeply about everything, and you are always aware of what the people around you might need. I have loved being your mommy as you grew from a tiny baby into a little boy, and I am excited to see how you grow and change from here. I have never been the mommy of a five year old before… I am honored to get the chance with you.

We spent our Family Night on Friday making Valentines for each other, and eating popcorn and ice cream for dinner. Ian declared it the best night ever.

I agree, because my amazing husband sent me Vegan Assorted Chocolates for Valentine’s.

Ian wrote us a thank you note for the night. According to him, the picture at the bottom is “everything”.

Of course, the first thing he did was put it in his mouth.

We spent a little time demonstrating how it doesn’t, in fact, go in mouths. This is him shaking his head “No”.

Then he got down to business. As with everything else he does, he watched the older two closely, and then went to work.

The brush only had water on it, and I taped the paper down, so it wouldn’t slide. This was his first art project ever, and he worked very intently. (Clearly, this was from a bit ago, since he hasn’t had his hair cut yet in these pictures.)

A bit ago, my son asked me to come to play with him. I was thrilled to be invited, because my kids are usually so deep into their imaginary worlds that I am given a side role, if that.

Then I realized that he wanted me to play tea party.

He had the whole thing set up on the couch. I was still feeling honored that he invited me to play, so of course I didn’t tell him that I am not very good at tea parties. As it turned out, this tea party included something else I am really bad at – playing cars. I think it’s safe to say that I am even worse at playing cars, than playing tea parties. Never the less… I did my best.

It’s hard to see in this picture, but there is a little (headless) Lego man, roasting on a fire. The cars are all sitting around, waiting to be served. Ian allowed me to serve the top half, and he served the legs. After all of the cars had been given their servings, we put them to bed. Then we set out art supplies, for them to discover in the morning.

When I was a little girl, I really had no idea what being a parent would bring. I am amazed at the depth and beauty it brings to my life. I would never have dreamed that I would be so honored to be invited to play with my boy. Or that a tea party could include Lego-eating cars. Or that I would ever say, “Are you enjoying your roasted torso?”

So we went to the pet store, and he used his own money to buy a pet that is JUST his. After looking at all of his options, he choose a blue and red Betta.

He has named his Betta “Ian.” He had explained to us that if we want him, we should call for “Ian Person”, and if we want the fish, we should call for “Ian Fish.” That way there won’t be any confusion. In case we forget, and don’t add the qualifier on the end, his plan is to go get the fish and then come – so that all the bases are covered.

Ian seems really pleased with his choice. He’s spent some time talking to his fish, and making introductions. He’s been watching him all day, and even ate his lunch at the island, so he could watch the fish. I think Ian the Fish will fit in beautifully at our house… and I am interested to see what the future holds, now that we’ve opened the possibility of pets.

It is just pure fun to watch Micah as he grows. I am fascinated by him, and startled almost daily by how much he is thinking like a toddler, instead of an infant.

Just in the last couple of weeks, he has started to really play with his big brother and sister. Instead of orbiting them, and observing, he wants to be right in the middle. He wrestles, he climbs, he pushes cars around the floor. He isn’t content to be distracted; he wants to be one of the big kids.

He likes to ‘read’ books, and help me with my chores. He is very good at putting things away – the trick is to make sure he puts away the right things, in the right box. Not, for example, the clean laundry into the full bathtub. His favorite chore is sweeping, and he doesn’t want to just hold the broom anymore. He wants to swish it around, right in my pile of dirt. He gets very offended if he’s moved anywhere else.

He has discovered climbing, and he loves to get up on something, and laugh until I get him back down. If I don’t come get him fast enough, he yells for me.

He is a funny, happy, sweet little boy. He loves to cuddle. He isn’t talking yet, but he has a soft little babble that I love.

This last year, he has been my companion on this journey to take life as it comes, and not miss the little moments. He has shown me, more than anything else, what I am striving for; and he has continually jolted me out of my worry and over-thinking by the everyday, amazing things that he does.

He loves my singing. He likes it even better when we ’sing’ together. What more could a mama want?