Increased Verbal Communication for Aiden

Aiden is talking more and more!  We traveled to Virginia, another week passed, and I started to notice a marked difference in his efforts at communicating verbally.

Expressed words include, up, more, please (mainly sign language only), truck, dump truck, dog, hot, plane, bye-bye, hi, help, no, hush (thanks to "Goodnight Moon"), Oliver, Mommy, Daddy, kitty kitty, and several more.  And of course, vrooooommmm is heard regularly all over the house.  He also makes the "eeeeeerrrrrrrrrr" sound as he pretends to blend things (yes, we still drink smoothies often!).

Opposite from Oliver, Aiden is not fearful of the loud noises various machines make, including my hair dryer.  He likes to carry it around and make his own vvvvvvuuuuhhhh sound.  One morning, I had finished using it and put it up.  He fussed and I asked him what he needed.  He rubbed the top of his head, pointed up, then did the sign for please.  He was telling me he wanted to play with the hair dryer.  He certainly communicates boldly in whatever way he knows how!

Traveling with the boys

Travel with the boys has changed over the past year.  Aiden is certainly more aware and active.  Oliver remains entertained by looking out the window, telling stories, or watching a show.  Our most recent trip was on a plane and I traveled without Mark.  The way there was uneventful.  The way back, however, we had a long layover that I just wasn't excited about.  However, I had not taken into account the fun and free entertainment in an airport!  During our 3+ hr layover, we had lunch, rode the train/tram all over the airport, ran and walked on the moving walkways, rode the elevator, rode the escalators, met new friends and raced them on the moving walkways, and explore airport maze art.

Tinkering in the Garage

This past weekend, Mark built a "work bench" (pictured behind Aiden) for the guys so they could work while I cook dinner.

We hope one day they will tinker and hammer, etc. while I cook or Mark works in the garage.  I would say it's a success, as they have "worked" on this evening while I've been cooking.  They do prefer Daddy's big bench for now, though!

 Aiden literally "looking up" to his brother.

Dinner Outside

Tonight, we enjoyed dinner outside!  It is perfect weather right now, and the mosquitos are just starting to come out (at dawn and dusk), so we are trying to soak up the last few days of spring.

Walking More and More, and Speaking

Since taking his first steps, Aiden has continued to prefer crawling over walking.  However, starting this past Monday morning, Aiden regularly "practices" and is completely humored by it.  He will push up, take 4-6 steps, then fall forward and giggle.  All day Monday and Tuesday, he has repeated this pattern, even when we're outside.  I'm fine with him taking his time.  At the same time, it would be nice to hold two hands instead of carrying a growing baby, and holding a little boy hand.

Aiden is also becoming more and more vocal with specific words "More more!" and "Dad-dy!" when Daddy comes home (or he thinks he sees Daddy come to the door).  He also says "O-vaaah," which you can kinda hear at the end of this recording.