Aniol Update

Though Caleb and I have been on quite a few imaginary picnics to Grasshopper Park (via the wonderful world of Kindermusik), today Scott and I took Caleb on his very first real picnic–to Baumann Park. We enjoy living within walking distance of this beautiful park complete with a lake, bike paths, tennis courts, and a playground. Now that the weather is finally warm here, we have been taking Caleb over there to enjoy roaming in the wide open spaces and exploring (and eating!) the dirt, stones, bugs, sticks, dandelions, grass, etc.

For today’s outing we took him to play and dine (Caleb on cheerios) alfresco with Aunt Kathi and his friend Lucy (4 1/2). We all had a wonderful time. Lucy enjoyed teaching Caleb how to play tag, (Lucy, running at full speed: “Catch me, Caleb! Faster, Caleb, faster!” as Caleb totters far behind, falls on his face, and stalwartly gets up again to try to catch Lucy, now just a speck in the distance), how to seed the park with dandelions, how to pump on the swing (Lucy: “Caleb, like this. With your legs. Up. Down. Up. Down. Pump, Caleb!” He just looked at her.), and how to slide down the slide–and climb back up again. He got quite upset that he couldn’t make it back up the slide like Lucy. She is quite the little teacher to her very willing and dutiful student. It was so cute to watch them together.

We got some good pictures of them doing various park things. To view them, click on “At the Park.”

Mother’s Day

At the Park

Here are some new pictures from the spring:

Caleb’s First Hair Cut

Insulation, Ducts, Drywall, and Window

Caleb’s First Bike Ride

Spring

Caleb Enjoys the Spring

Here are some videos from Aunt Kathi. More coming…

 Online Video: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
 Online Video: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
 Online Video: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This morning I discovered that Caleb does indeed understand what we are saying–a discovery both exciting and a little scary. I have had a suspicion of this for some time (we knew he understood the word “no” at least), but an incident with the Legos this morning confirmed my suspicions.

Caleb was playing quietly on the floor with his new Lego Duplo set when he accidentally tipped the box over and Legos came crashing loudly to the floor. This, of course, scared the poor little guy, and he burst out crying. I picked him up, and, comforting him amidst his sobs, I looked at the box of Legos which had scared him, frowned, and said, “Naughty Legos.” His crying immediately turned to hysterical laughter as he heard me reprimand a box of Legos. He looked at me with huge grins and giggles, then at the Legos, and then back at me, laughing all the while as if to say, “Naughty Legos, Mommy? Only you would think of that.”

Now if only I could understand what he is saying…

One Year Old

Caleb’s first birthday with the Aniols

Caleb’s first birthday party

UPDATE: Mom’s pics