Ethan's Birthday Party

Ivan and I went to Ethan's birthday party today, which was at a farm We got there a bit late so most of the kids were already huddled around animal enclosures, feeding corn to cows and goats. Ivan hopped out of the car and ran to the animals. No trace of shyness, no trace of care where I was.  He's come a long way from a shy toddler who used to be stuck to my side at every larger gathering with many strangers. He still acts like that sometimes--like at Emir's birthday party--but mostly not. I think it also has something to do with being outdoors, in nature, learning about nature-related things. Because the first time he acted like that at a birthday party with kids he didn't know was a year ago at Ethan's birthday party, which was held at a nature center and to which we also arrived late. He was too mesmerized and interested in what was going on not notice or care where I was. Even some of the other moms (Yulia, Beth, etc) took note of such bold behavior last year.

He had fun today. He fed corn to goats and chickens, but was afraid to feed corn cobs to cows. He gave me the cobs instead to feed them.

Then when it was time to eat pizza, he ran off to sit down and wait for pizza, completely oblivious to where I was.  Then, of course, Ethan and he were the first to notice the cake, and started huddling over the cake, examining it. Very Ivan-like of him.

But then since half the kids and people were sitting at the picnic tables, while the other half were playing around the pond, he ran to the pond crowd to tell them that it was cake time and to come to the tables. I've seen him do that before--go and get people to tell them what's going on. He's so thoughtful and considerate. I don't recall ever seeing another child do that.

I think that a lot of this behavior-knowing what the rules of a party are, how to behave, what to expect next, and go with the flow--is something he's learned from going to preschool and daycare.

He was disappointed with the cake. "It doesn't look good," he said when I put a piece in front of him. It was a standard chocolate cake with white frosting. He took a few bites, but didn't eat it, which surprised me, consdering his extreme sweet tooth. At least it's good to know that he has standards and preferences when it comes to cakes.

Part of the disappointment must have been because of his expectations. On the ride up, in the middle of his explanations about how bridges and roads go this way and that way, and how cars do or don't collide, and wires, and all sorts of imaginary mashable tales about brick houses and wolfs and sharks, he said "I think they'll have ice cream at the party. And cupcakes." Unfortunately, there was neither. Just plain old cake.

It's funny, because cookies and cakes and ice cream and other treats never seem to be far from Ivan's mind. Yesterday, on the ride to Didi and Baka's house from the movies (which must have been quite an overwhelming experience for him, considering it was his first time in a movie theater), he told us after some silence that "cake you share.  You can't just eat it by yourself." This cake reference was completely out of context and unrelated to anything that had transpired for a few hours before.

Except that thinking about cake and cookies must often be on Ivan's mind.