Chair Fascination

Linus has become very interested in sitting in chairs. This strikes me as odd since the kid has never been interested in sitting and has always wanted to be on the move. He has a little red plastic chair that I junk-picked (also known as curb shopping) and his way of getting into it is to climb up on it into a standing position and then he tries to maneuver into a sitting position. The chair is too small for him to do that, so I come to the rescue each time. Then he sits there swinging his legs and looking very pleased. I hand him a book sometimes and he looks at it while sitting there.

His interest in chairs has even led him to stand at his high chair and gesture and grunt in a way that tells me he wants to be lifted up into it. So I put him up there, whereupon he sits for a minute or two looking around and then wants me to lift him out. He also likes rocking chairs and uses his whole body to get the chair to rock. Yesterday his great aunt and uncle Martha and Bill watched him for me while I got my drivers license and car emissions checked so I can register my car here. They pulled out Thomas' chair from childhood and Linus enjoyed sitting in that. In the afternoon, we all sat outside on the breezy deck, each in our own chair, and enjoyed ice cream sandwiches. I gave Linus a third of mine and he gobbled it right up.

Linus Meets Margaret

We had a great trip to Virginia and D.C. over the weekend. It meant a lot to us for Margaret and Linus to meet one another. Linus was interested in her cane and walker. After he warmed up to her, he liked handing her things through her walker or playing peekaboo. Actually, he'd act like he was handing her a book and then pull it back as she reached for it. He really enjoyed going up and down the stairs with our help and he liked carrying around a stuffed tiger he found in the girls' room. Another activity that entertained him was playing with the gravel in the driveway.

Margaret told Matthew she wasn't going to try to hold Linus, but when we were saying our goodbyes, she did. I stayed right there by her side to make sure that if Linus lunged, I could help out. It is interesting to think about how Margaret and Linus are 100 years apart and all that Margaret has seen and all that Linus will see.

Summer Fun

We went to the Museum of Nature and Science right away this morning before it got too hot to walk there. I like taking Linus in the morning because the museum is pretty quiet and he can run around the exhibit halls without annoying anyone. Other stay-at-home parents are there and Linus usually makes a friend each time we go. When we left, the H2Odyssey was on. This is an interactive water feature; basically it is a fun fountain that people of all ages enjoy. It shoots up sprays of water, starting out with only two sprays and working up to all 30 or so going at once. People run through it squealing. We joined some other kids down there playing and they lent Linus this blue bucket to play with. The water felt so good in the heat.

We leave tomorrow for D.C. to visit Matthew's grandmother and to see some sights. Linus and I return home on Monday and Matthew will be gone all week.

House Hunting and Books

Yesterday afternoon Linus and I went around with a realtor for some preliminary house hunting. Linus was a good sport about getting in and out of the car so many times and not getting to walk around much. Of five houses, only one was good and it was so cute I was ready to move in right then. And the neighbors have a goose!!!! A perfect fit for us! Our Green Bay realtor said a family went through our house for the second time. I hope they make us an offer.

Since last Friday Linus has been looking at books on his own, as well as bringing me the same book over and over and over again to read. It is kind of cute, but tiresome, too. His room here is large enough that we put a book case in it with most of his books on the bottom shelf. There are two large books that don't fit on the shelf so they are in the living room on the coffee table. Those are the two that he tends to have me repeatedly read. One is a Little People on the farm book with flaps to lift and the other has photos of animals.

Table Manners

Recently at the Indian restaurant the waitperson gave Linus a little melamine bowl for his food. He did a good job with it and didn't toss it on the floor. I decided he was ready for his own plates. We went to Target and I got him some fun melamine plates from the summer/picnic aisle. One has fish, another has suns, one is gingham, and one is shaped like a strawberry. They are lots more fun than the plates in the kid department. That night with dinner he used the strawberry plate. We've started giving him his spoon, but he mostly just plays with it. Once in a while, when his food is gone, he puts the plate up to his face or on his head. For the three weeks when we wouldn't have our things here, I got Linus a travel booster seat. We now have it at the dining table and he eats dinner at the table with us instead of in his high chair. Breakfast and lunch tend to be in the high chair in the kitchen.

A few evenings ago I asked Linus if he could give me a hug and kiss. I hadn't done this before and didn't know what I'd get. He leaned in close and put his mouth on my nose. I thanked him and then asked if I could give him a kiss. He leaned in and put his nose in my mouth. So sweet and goofy.

A Boy and His (Neighbors') Dog

The people on the other side of our duplex have this cute little dog. Her name is Diva and Linus adores her. He gets so excited and squeals when he sees her. Sometimes he even drools, which is a sure sign that he is really excited. Diva was out in the back yard the other day when Linus and I were back there playing with his new sand and water table. (We just have water in it.) He kept offering her his wet socks. She is the perfect size for him to get comfortable with dogs and to learn how to gently pet an animal.

Some of Linus' new skills or interests: good at climbing stairs, eating off of a plate, closing doors, carrying things from one place to another and then taking them all back again, starting to push his corn popper toy, looking at books on his own. He also now has six teeth

Having Fun in Denver

We are all doing well and getting settled in. I have lots to update you on, but will start with these pictures of us visiting Matthew's workplace, Denver Botanic Gardens, for the first time. We went in the late afternoon on Memorial Day and then went to dinner at an Indian restaurant, which Linus really enjoyed.

Since moving here we've been working on teaching Linus to touch plants nicely instead of bashing them or pulling them. We say, "Gentle touch," and demonstrate. He has been nice to plants for over a week now.

We really love Denver for the friendly people and the fun things to do, like the awesome Denver Zoo and the Museum of Nature and Science.