End of summer

Last week we got tickets to the local baseball game. We got to sit right behind home plate and had a blast. We get the tickets for free because one of the doctors I work with is the team doc. The stadium is amazing. They have a pool in the outfield, and playground, a grass hill in left field to sit on, tons of great seats (shaded), and a lot of AC areas. Apparently they consistently win awards for having the best stadium. Lil M loved the music played when everyone goes up to bat. He would dance and get confused when it stopped. He also thought everyone was clapping for him. He would look around, like he was thanking his fans, then laugh and clap too. By far the most interesting thing was watching him discover foam fingers. There were some kids behind us with them and he couldn't stop staring. I think he though they were their real hands and it amazed him. Little M and I have had a great week this week. Mario is smack in the middle of back to school season which, believe it or not is bigger than Black Friday and Christmas. He has been at the store nonstop and he started a new class in his MBA program. With him being so busy Little M and I have had some great mommy and me time. Last Sunday we found a park on the running trail that has a splash pad. I got a good run in and Mario got to play at the end. It worked out really well. Previously he had not really liked splash pads. They are the cement areas with multiple water spouts, sometimes trees and buckets that fill up and fall over, etc. He wasn't a big fan of getting wet, but this last time I couldn't keep him out of it. He kept going right up to the water sprays and letting it hit him in the face. He would wait till I pulled him away. Then he would laugh and giggle with snot running down his face because so much water went up his nose. Yes I am the mother a little boy. He is also not shy. He kept walking up to other little ones and talking away. They usually just stood there and stared at him, but he didn't seem to mind. Except for one little girl who kept running back to her mom. He didn't let that stop him though, he tried to talk to her 3 times with the same result. On the topic of girls, I think he might have a little girlfriend at school. A few weeks ago I noticed he had a big red spot on the back his hand. It was red and swollen, but there was a distinct ring around it. I was worried it was a spider bite and we would wind up in the ER. When I picked him up at school they were outside playing so I called the school to see if they knew anything about it. Low and behold there was a note in his cubby saying he got bit by a girl. The teacher was in the office writing it when I picked him up. I have also noticed that one girl gets excited when I drop him off. She is always like, "Mario" or "Hi Mario" and pointing at him. I think it is cute, but I'm so not ready for girlfriends. Hopefully I can convince him that cuties exist for another decade or so. Lil M has also been talking more. Not great pronunciation, but I can understand him. He says "daw" for dog every time we come home and they are barking at the door. Today I asked him to say "please" for his cup. I had to repeat it a couple of times, but he finally said, "eeese" so I counted it. I have been pinning alot of holiday decorations this year. The last 2 years we haven't done much decorating for anything. The first year we were moving and the second we were still trying to keep Lil M healthy. I am so excited to decorate and have a ton of things planned. I will try to share links and pictures as I get things finished. This has been kind of a random post so I hope you stayed with me through it all!

 Staring at foam fingers

 "Dad, bite my finger"

Clapping mommy's hands

Mario's Progress

I realized I haven't posted much about little man's progress lately. He is doing so well I don't even think about posting. I feel like we finally are feeling like a normal family with a healthy baby boy. He is eating regular food. I have tried keeping him away from hard things: like taco shells and chips. But we store the potato chips at the bottom of the pantry and one day while I was cooking he got into them and was chowing down! I initially panicked, but he was ok with it, so I let him go. He had no problems. He is also drinking regular liquids. Yes, no more thickened liquids. He is drinking water, milk, juice, everything. I love it. I love not having to mix everything he might drink for the day, pack it to stay cold, and carry it everywhere when we go out. I love just loading a cup and going! On that same note, we are trying to get him to use sippy cups. Before the OT wanted us to use a straw cup for his muscle control in his mouth and throat. Now he is doing so well, we are trying to get back on track to using a real cup. We started with sippy cups and he is not adjusting well. He just holds it against his chest and sucks out the air. Then he cries and holds it to you to tip up for him. This has been going on a week and I just now got him to hold it while I hold up his arms. He has even started having us hold other cups, disposable, etc. while he drinks from the straw. We will keep working on it, but this is definitely the hardest transition he has had so far. I have given him real cups with a little water in them and, when he gets it to his lips, he does better with them.

We have been swimming more with him lately and he loves the water. I found some arm floaties to use in the deep end, but he still puts his face underwater on his own. Then chokes and coughs. He just hasn't quite figured it out yet. He loves being pushed through the water on his tummy, in a superman pose. He is also getting used to bobbing under water. When we get more settled I want to put him in a more formal swimming class, but for now I am following advice I found online about teaching babies to swim.

He is also loving school. Every day I stop at the window sneak a peak at what he's doing. Lately he will look up at me and give me the biggest toothiest grin ever. It makes me want to go get him so I can see that grin all day long, but I know it is a sign that he is happy and feels comfortable there.

 Cuddling with a very patient Malaki

 Wanted to nap with his new cars backpack.

Climbing on the ottoman