Today it was hot in the Northwest. Like, 95 degrees in some spots. And for those of you who say that 95 isn't that bad -- Seattleites do not have air conditioning so SHUT IT! Moving on.....
Since I knew this week was going to be warm I had been thinking of activities Aaron and I could do outside - even if it was on our little "stoop". I had been actually thinking of sidewalk chalk for awhile and yesterday I went to Safeway and lo and behold -- there was sidewalk chalk for sale right in the front of the store in a summer display. So today I swept our stairs and little entrance area, put the baby gate up at the end of the stairs and introduced Aaron to sidewalk chalk! Hooray!!!
Aaron loved it. Ulrich loved keeping Aaron company. And I loved being outside for a change without having to restrain Aaron in one way or another (hand holding, stroller, babe in arms). He spent a little over an hour outside coloring on the walls and ground. It's like he's a baby Picasso. I sent a photo to my mom's phone and she said "He is going to become a graffiti person now!". Yeah, I'm pretty sure sidewalk chalk does not lead to a life of crime, but I guess you never know. Of course she thought it was totally adorable anyway.
Recently Aaron, Josh and I went to The Hi-Life (for their awesome $5 breakfast) and Aaron dropped his cup on the floor when a nice woman who was waiting for a table picked it up for him. I said thank you to the lady and Aaron turned around and looked at her and said "thank you!" and the woman just started cracking up. She thought it was the cutest thing. And it was. Score one for teaching baby good manners!
We're also trying to get Aaron to say "help" when he needs it instead of screaming (loudly) in frustration. When Aaron can't get a toy out of his toy box he screams. When he's sitting on something and doesn't realize it and can't pull it out from under him, he screams. When he traps himself behind a piece of furniture and the wall, he screams. So we tell him that it's inappropriate to scream and then we ask him to ask for help. So far he still yells at first mostly, but when I look at him and say "Aaron, what do we say when we need help?" he says "heeelp". On rare occasion he uses it all on his own. Like when he's screaming his head off because I'm changing his diaper and he hates it and is trying to roll over and yelling "HEEEELLP" at the same time. Yeah. Awesome. I'm just picturing having to change his diaper in public when he starts that up. Score one for baby on this one. (sigh) You win one, you lose one I guess.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go stick my head in the refrigerator. And if you happen to see some sidewalk chalk tags in your neighborhood, I swear -- it's not my boy!
1 comments:
Yes, I can picture him having a good time outside with the chalk - and you too. Eva told us about the "help" word she overheard when she was talking to you. We all laughed and still laugh. Every once in a while your Dad or I will say "help" - and we crack up. Try to see if he picks up another word.
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