Funeral

We had to drive down to San Diego for the funeral of Danny's step-father of about 20 years (well, former step dad). It was a small, very beautiful service in a Jewish cemetary. Myron was Jewish and as we're not the boys were given yamakas to wear. It was a graveside service so everything you'd expect to happen did. We saw the coffin being lowered and we participated in shoveling dirt into the grave. It was solemn but happy at the same time. We let it all happen and felt that if AJ had any questions we'd just answer them. After all, death is a part of life. We didn't really say much figuring he'd ask and we'd tell him. On the way home we asked him if he had any questions about anything he saw. We figured he'd ask about the "box" or the shoveling. He said no but understood that Zaide went to live with great-grandma in Heaven. Earlier this year he went to the funeral of Danny's grandmother. About 10 minutes later he announced, "I do have a question." I braced myself for something big.

"Why did I have to wear that little hat?"

Fall Family Picnic

AJ's preschool had their annual Fall Family Picnic tonight. Grandma Yvonne, Aunt Kelly, and Granny Mimi were all in attendance. It's nice to be able to see AJ's friends and see him "in his element." We just got Subway sandwiches and played on the playground. They also had activities set up on the patio like pumpkin painting, pumpkin hammering, and other things.

Aunt Kelly and AJ in the sandbox on the school playground.

Pup and AJ in the playhouse.

It's very therapeutic to hammer golf tees into pumpkins. You wouldn't think so, but it was!

Granny Mimi and AJ

Pup did some walking while we were there too! He just needs to learn to get up by himself.

Let's Go Yankees!

Here are the boys celebrating the big win! The Yankees are off the World Series- their first since 2003! Go Jorge #20!

Today was also Pop Pop's 60th b-day celebration. Al, as always, enjoyed helping to blow out the candles on the cake and being the boss of all play. It was so nice to see all the kids finally playing together as they are old enough. It is now noticeable, though, that Pup is not quite there with the other kids- even Danny (who NEVER ever says anything) said something today about it. It's a bit painful to hear my sister and friend Tracy talk about the boys (who are all born 3 months apart- Worf [20 months], then Pup [17 months], then Bubs [14 months]) growing up driving, playing ball together, because I know there's a big possibility Pup won't be able to. I don't want to, however, spend his life wishing he were like the other kids. I just want to accept him for who he is, but it's hard. AJ is like the other kids so I guess I have the best of both worlds, right?

Here's Pop Pop opening some gifts.

I am watching him right now and he's FINALLY able to push the ball popper toy on. He gets that if he pushes on the lever the music will start. It's the first toy he's "gotten." Yeah Pup!

Walking, Sleeping, Pumpkins and Other Fun

Ok, I know I haven't posted the video of him walking yet, so I'll do that now as promised.....Weeks later he is FINALLY (as of today!) starting to walk across the room ON HIS OWN! So first steps at 16 months.....he just turned 17 months, but I'm calling it at 16 months. Woo Hoo! I have a walker.

So this video is of his VERY first steps and was taken about 3 weeks ago during his EI session. I've also bitten the bullet and am on day 3 of putting Pup in his crib (awake) to go to sleep. The first night was bad. Lot's of crying. I would go in there to hug him or rub his back but never picked him up. The second night was a little better. Still crying, but there definitely wasn't as much. Tonight he cried very briefly and fell asleep. Now- if only he stayed asleep all night! I for sure thought he wasn't going to bed because of a sensory problem or fragile x or something like that. I realize, however, it's simply because I wasn't making him go in his own room. I sometimes forget that he really is JUST a baby, too, but it's getting easier. Now that he's walking more, and I see him bouncing in the bounce house at the pumpkin patch I realize he is just a happy kid.

We've had a busy past two months. Lots of trips to the local pumpkin patch and a trip to the Apple Festival in Oak Glenn. We also took Pup for his very first haircut today. He slept right through it. Here are some pics.

Pumpkin Patch

We've made quite a few trips to our local pumpkin patch this month. Here are some pics of the trip with my sisters, nephew, brother, and mom. We've also gone with Danny's mom and sister as well as our good friends the Worfords.



The cutest in the patch! Pup, Bubs, and AJ!
Uncle Gennaro and AJ- I was completely shocked he wanted to go on this ride. He went by himself twice and then once with my brother. I remember when he was afraid to go on anything. He wouldn't even go in the bounce house by himself. He's so grown up now.

At the Apple Festival at Oak Glen. We went with Grandma Bebon and Aunt Kelly, but I realize I didn't get any pics with them!

Our local pumpkin patch has a bounce house/maze thing that Pup LOVES. He loves to bounce and go down the slide. He shows no fear at all. Here's Danny with Pup in said house. The pic below is of Pup and Baby Worf.
I remember when AJ was little, he would NEVER get into one of these by himself. Pup is so different, and as my brother said.....at least we know he's advanced in the "having fun" department.



In other fall events......

AJ, Danny, and Pop went to the Dodger game.
I love this pic of Danny and AJ.


We went to our town's carnival. AJ wanted to go on every ride.
We found this great children's museum in Irvine called Pretend City. It's literally a pretend city, and there are many areas for dramatic play. There's a grocery store, a bank, a fire station, a fake beach, and even fake ATM machines that spit out play money.

Here's AJ in Pretend City pretending to be the cashier at a grocery store (It's actually a miniature Ralphs), and being a construction worker
.

Here, he is acting as waiter in a pretend Thai restaurant. Very exotic for a children's museum.

AJ has been taking piano lesson since January and is getting really good. Pup LOVES to be at the piano with him.

My good friend Tracy took this picture when we went to the mall. I think Pup looks so sweet in it. He showed no hesitation in wanting to crawl through the tunnel.

And in big news...we got Pup his first pair of shoes.

BIG NEWS

I will post a video later once I get it uploaded, but yesterday was a HUGE day! Pup took his first REAL steps! I actually got it on video!!! It was during his early intervention session. Pup is balancing pretty well on his own if he's "placed into position" and using my car keys as motivation, his EI dangled them in front of her slowing scooting back. He took one step, then another. I think there were about 5 or 6 total before falling! So....I'm calling it at 16 months. I have or will soon have a walker!!!

In AJ news: He had his first picture day at school on Thursday. I was so excited and hope they turn out well. I really want a class picture. I'm also trying to get him to try t-ball or soccer, but at the moment he's not showing any interest. He does want to do gymnastics, however, so I will put him in that. I told him he's not allowed to say no until he tries it. He then decided he would try other sports. He definitely is stubborn.

For those of you who don't know...AJ has "worked" at many places and has a boss named "Tim" who seems to follow him to all of his pretend jobs. He has been a dentist, a waiter at Don Cuco's, a plumber, and his longest job was working at Macy's. If you ask him what he does he says, "I make money so we can eat." He has currently switched jobs. This week he has become a firefighter.