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Chef Alex

Alex is becoming quite a helper in the kitchen. Last night we had chicken, white bean, and kale soup for dinner, and Alex helped with the prep. First he helped Mommy peel the carrots. If any piece of peel missed the sink and landed on the counter, he immediately picked it up and dropped it in the disposal. Then he helped Mommy open the cans of beans. Each time a can was opened, he uttered an "ooooh!" of wonderment at the pretty white beans that were revealed. He helped hold the strainer while I poured in the beans. He also served as bean taste tester. Then he did the most fun job ever -- MASHING the beans! I showed him how to use the potato masher to smoosh them down, and he smoosh, smoosh, smooshed them on his own! We got some video of that process, to come. Overall, a lovely cooking experience.

I think we have to make cookies this weekend or something....

Big Boy

People have been saying Alex looks like a big boy quite often lately, and I have tried to take the intended compliment graciously, but also pointed out that he is in fact rather small for his age. Well, looks like I am wrong and they were right -- Alex had is 15 month doctor's appointment today, and he is in fact a big boy! He's now 32 inches tall and 24 pounds, which puts him in the 75th percentile for height and the 50th percentile for weight. He really has grown! And they were so worried about him being a peanut when he was small... He had his last shots until he hits four years old, too. So it was a happy appointment.

Reading is fun!

Alex has really started to enjoy reading, to participate in the stories we read, and even to exhibit a preference for certain books over others. His two favorites right now are The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton and Old Hat, New Hat by the Bearnstains.

For The Going to Bed Book, Alex has learned to make the sign for "bath" when we get to the scrubbies on the page that says "to take a bath in one big tub/with soap all over, SCRUB SCRUB SCRUB!" He also makes a tooth brushing motion with one finger when we get to the "brush and brush and brush their teeth" line. So cute!

Old Hat, New Hat is a very recent addition to our repertoire, but he just goes gaga for it, and seeks it out to ask me to read it to him. The words are very simple, but the photos are very detailed and colorful and he giggles like mad as we read through it. The story depicts a young bear with an old raggedy hat spotting a haberdashery and going in to find a new hat. None of the new hats offered meet his exacting specifications, and after running the shopkeeper ragged he finally finds and leaves with the hat that is JUST RIGHT -- his own old hat! We talk about what is going on in the pictures, and when the bear walks into the store and points to his head as if to say "I want a new hat, please!" Alex points to his own head. The other milestone with this book is that it is a paper book rather than a board book, and Alex can now be trusted to page through it while sitting in my lap without destroying the pages.

I really hope we are teaching him to be a little reader!

What's Cookin'?

Meatloaf! Alex helped Mommy make meatloaf today. After I had put the ground beef and eggs and cheese and breadcrumbs and onion and other seasoning in the bowl, we pulled the two-step step stool to the kitchen counter, and Alex helped me mix. First, of course, we rolled up his sleeves and washed his hands. Then, I stood right over him and his little hands and my big hands all squish-squish-squished the meat to get a good mix. He was a little hesitant at first, but then I could practically see the lightbulb as he realized "hey! this is fun!" and he went to town. When it was time to put the meat away (I was mixing a LOT and freezing for future meals) he helped me put handfuls into Ziploc bags. Miraculously, only a tiny bit hit the floor. Then we washed hands really well again and put the stool away together. This boy is going to know how to cook before he knows how to speak, at this rate!

Wet and Wild!

Our block had a cul de sac party last night to celebrate Labor Day Weekend. What a great time! Everyone brought a dish, we had three grills going under the car port at the home-base house, the kids ran around playing tag (some in costumes, just 'cause!), and the adults chatted. One neighbor is a A/V buff, and set up a great sound system under a tent smack dab in the middle of the cul de sac. IF the weather had stayed clear, we would have had an outdoor movie. It was sad that the rain precluded that. Still, we had a grand time, even when the rain started coming down. Alex just loved running around in the rain, splashing everywhere, and dancing! At one point, a really great latin song was playing, and I stood in the middle of the cul de sac holding my little man and just danced, while he laughed in my face. That is a memory I will always cherish. Alex and daddy did some dancing, too. We got exactly one picture to commemorate the occasion. I give you, my wet and wild boys: