"So hot in herre."

(One of Nelly's numerous cultural contributions: a variation on the spelling of "here.")

Yesterday was another scorcher in Middle Tennessee. Typically, this would dictate staying inside to escape the heat. Unfortunately, it was so hot inside yesterday, we set up Ayden's kiddie pool out front, in the shade, late yesterday afternoon. (Our AC was having some technical difficulties, such as not being able to keep the inside temp under 85 degrees. One day, and almost $200, later, the problem appears to be solved. It could have been worse, I suppose.)

 

This is the first time we had set up his little kiddie pool. The water from the hose was a little cool for him at first, but once he adjusted, he enjoyed the diversion from the heatwave going on both inside and out. We gave him one of his favorite pool toys to play with. As you will see in the video, our little water baby is not deterred by a good water-spraying to the face.

The water wasn't the only thing serving as a distraction. Ayden also found entertainment in interacting with some of the local flora.

Ayden also decided to bring some of the flora into the pool with him.

"I think something's wrong with this water. It's got stuff floating in it. And look what it did to this fish!"

Moving Day

No, we aren't moving. (We wish.)  But Ayden is.  A few days ago, Ayden took his first couple crawling "steps" (is there an actual term for that when it comes to crawling?).  He doesn't go very far before he plops back down.  Nonetheless, he is officially on the move.

I'm staring to get the hang of this crawling thing.

Watching him learning to crawl is really amazing. Over the last week and a half, each day he has seemed to figure out the next little step. Now, we have reached the point where his play blankets are essentially obsolete. We knew that time was coming. We are prepared to make the necessary cleanliness changes (keeping the floors vacuumed and mopped, not walking around in our shoes, etc.).

"Mom, Dad, these blankets you've been sticking me on just aren't going to cut it anymore."

One thing we didn't plan on: we need to either get away from the chocolate flavored - which is to say, chocolate colored - formula or we will be replacing our living room carpet (at least) at some point. No play blanket means it'll be a lot harder to keep his various throw up/vomit incidents off the carpet. And chocolate colored throw up doesn't really mix all that well with light carpet. One can only hope that he'll get this eating thing worked out - and thus be able to move beyond a solely liquid diet - before our carpet is completely ruined.

This is my new kissy face. Dad is not a fan.

Temper that Temper

Allison has mentioned Ayden's tendency to get frustrated when things aren't going his way. For a while, this trait manifested itself when Ayden was trying to (unsuccessfully) accomplish something. In the past, that usually occurred when he was attempting to manipulate one of his toys in a particular way. Of late, it's been clear to us he is frustrated by not being able to move (though he's getting there - see here) and by not being able to communicate (there have been times when he really seems to be trying to tell us something). This is understandable, of course.

I've had two (maybe three) more teeth come in. I'm now up to at least 10.

 

However, Ayden's frustration at times has turned into tantrums. Not only are those not understandable, they are not acceptable. Unfortunately (for all of us), Ayden's more extreme temper tantrums have started to end with him vomiting. For example, a few days ago Allison needed to put his shirt on. He was doing his own thing in the floor and did not appreciate the interruption. He threw a fit and then threw up.

All these tubeless pictures, like the ones from the pool, are because I keep throwing up my tube.

We had the same problem over the July 4th weekend before we left for the pool one morning. He was not pleased with the sunscreen application process, got mad, and threw up. That time, he threw up his feeding tube - i.e., the tip of the tube, which is supposed to be in his stomach, comes out his mouth - in addition to his formula.

I wish I could say this throwing up the tube business was an isolated incident, but it's not. It's probably happened close to five times in the last two weeks. To be fair to Ayden, not all have been a result of his temper. Most have been directly attributable to him gagging himself with his finger because he's teething again. Others are due to his newfound mobility. Yesterday, he was up, down, around, over, etc. in such quick succession, he shook himself up a little too much (remember, all he gets in his liquid, which just sloshes around in his stomach as he moves), and up came the tube.

The teething seems to have subsided, so the frequency of these incidents has thankfully decreased over the last few days. That doesn't change the fact that he has received several "talkings to" regarding his temper and how to appropriately react to something he does not like or want. In other words, we have been telling him he needs to temper his temper.

A Holiday and a Visitor

Over the July 4th holiday, Gran made the long drive from Maryland to visit Ayden.  As always, he enjoyed having someone different to play with and keep him entertained.  And, as always, Allison and I enjoyed getting a break from having to be the only ones to play with him and keep him entertained.

Dad gave me some Kleenex to play with after he had to wipe my nose (again).

Gran brought me some new toys to play with, including this cool school bus. I've already ripped the door off several times.

Knocking over the blocks Gran has stacked sure is fun.

I don't know what this thing is, but I like it.

Pool Party

Over the July 4th weekend, we visited Uncle Jesse and Aunt Sherry's pool a couple of times. Ayden got to enjoy the water, and spend some time with family.