Being a Kid

A little while back, we went to the welcome gathering for Ayden's school. There was food for everyone, games for the kids, and, as the event was held at a park, a playground. It was nice to be able to get out somewhere and basically turn him loose. (Being able to do that really has more to do with Ayden's increasing ability than anything else, though it is nice to not be carrying around a package of Clorox wipes. We're starting to think there are several things he can, and does, do at school that we don't know about. We're thinking he's holding out on us.)

Even though we still have to follow him around to make sure he doesn't get a little too ambitious or off balance, he's way more self-sufficient than he used to be. In fact, when he and I went to our local park recently, he decided, without any suggestion from me, to go down the park's tallest slide. By himself. His trip down wasn't the smoothest - he ended up laying on his stomach by the time he got to the bottom - but it wasn't so bad as to keep him from doing it again.

It comes with some scrapes and quite a lot of bruises, and even an occasional mouthful of dirt if a slide's pace is faster than anticipated, but it sure is nice to see him being a kid.

This was the first time I had used this carrier with Brogan. It may not make you feel like the coolest guy at the party, but it's pretty amazing to be carrying around a 21 lb. kid for an hour and not even feel it.