Late October 2013

I continue to be amazed by Aldo's rapid development.  In the past few weeks I feel as though Aldo has come to grasp even more words and how to respond to them.  He clearly understands that coat, shoes and socks mean its time to go outside; and so he no longer fusses when I need to put them on him.  His pushing and pulling is an obsession; he walks the stroller and the cart and pulls his scoot wherever I let him (pictures below).  When I ask if he wants to hold my hand, he gives me his hand.  He responds to these words; leaf, steps (even says step), water, nose (touches my nose), change your diaper and poop come to mind.

We are both enjoying Fall this year.  The weather up til now has been wonderful, reaching the mid-60's each day and with no, or only a slight, breeze.  We've visited the lake on numerous occasions, even getting into the water knee deep (Sally reports they have also gotten into the water).  What a lucky kid!  We've also been taking walking excursions into the Nordic Center.  I always start us off at the same point and try and get Aldo to walk farther each time.  We got out with the backpack carrier twice - once just the two of us, and a second time with John, Heather and the dogs.

We made it to one storytime reading at the Tahoe City branch library.  Aldo did very well but when his time came to leave, it was really time to leave.  He was asleep within 15 minutes after getting home.  He's been trying new foods, mostly from my plate.  He has eaten egg, bran cereal, and tangerines.  He had a dinner meal without a jar (cheese, fish and sweet potatoes with butter, followed by yogurt).  He still wants to nurse but he takes a cow's milk bottle from me once each day.

We moved the books in his bedroom to a more accessible location and now reading has become a regular part of the bedtime routine.  I even organized the books to help me find ones appropriate for his mood, and it has helped (bedtime, songs, inter-active, simple stories, word-heavy stories).  I moved his more educational books to downstairs for daytime use.  Now I can appreciate what we've got (since almost all of our books were gifts or hand-me-downs).

The nights are cold enough that we are back to using the bunny blanket from Tina.  Also, both Sally and I are hiding one of Tina's gifts to Aldo, from him.  It is a puppet ladybug that uses your fingers for its legs.  Aldo loves it so much that he will bring it back to you when you take it off.  So it must be hid.

Last weekend was the Fall Festival at Rideout, put on by the TCPUD.  Aldo rode a pony - but without much emotion.  He picked for us a nice little pumpkin.  And we walked around enjoying the bigger kids until Aldo's need for a nap became apparent.  Around north shore and Truckee there are many Fall Festival events but this will be our only one.

Halloween is coming soon and I'll update the blog afterward.  Aldo has a great costume (another hand-me-down) but you'll have to wait to see.