As Ethan grew older, Ian began to like him even more, which he did not think was possible. The little boy was not active per se, but he was more alert, and when he was read to, it was almost as though he was attentively listening to what was being said. Sometimes, he would smile, but he had yet to laugh, and since Ian had been the first one to receive a voluntary smile, he felt like he just had to be the first to hear his son laughing, but Ethan was a stubborn child, and no matter how many high pitched sounds or rounds of peekaboo Ian played, he only received a smile and nothing more.