Finally it was time for the hayride! That’s one of Ian’s teachers in the background, during the hayride she told me more about Ian opening up socially… Awesome stuff! See this image larger.

All smiles! See this image larger.

It was a little cold though! See this image larger.

We took a lot of pictures, didn’t we? See this image larger.

Finally it was time to pick some apples… One cute little person noticed Daddy taking pictures, can you spot her? See this image larger.

Ian found a good pumpkin, but was not about to wait around to find the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. See this image larger.

Hi family! See this image larger.

Mommy and Nina followed the hay-riding truck in Mommy’s car so that Mommy could split off and go back to work… it wasn’t a Tuesday, after all! See this image larger.

“Land, spreadin’ out so far and wide!” See this image larger.

I admit to panicking a little when Mommy left… Did I have everything I needed to take care of both kids during a field trip?!? Turned out everything went just fine, in no small part to Mommy packing everything I could need! See this image larger.

Ian got to try on a fireman’s coat. It was heavy. See this image larger.

Here Ian poses in the driver’s seat of a firetruck! He was pretty thrilled! See this image larger.

And then Ian got to ring the bell! See this image larger.

Thanks for checking out the blog… more Nina pics next entry, I promise! See this image larger.

NOTE – This post was originally published on September 30, 2010 at 11:43pm. I’ve moved it so that it falls in line with the rest of the timeline.

I’m interrupting our regularly scheduled update for this present-day update… then we’ll head back to August. (NOTE – This sentence refers to original publishing date, sorry.)

On September 29th, Nina and Mommy went to her last physical therapy session. Nina did very well, she was crawling, and climbed up some stacked 6″ thick mats (seen in the background on the right) like they were steps. Also one of the other kids did well and everybody there clapped their hands. And so Nina joined in! First applause, nine months old! There’s still a few things for us to work on, but overall Nina’s doing great!

Later in the day I joined Mommy and Nina for her follow-up visit to the ENT doctor. He took a peek in both of her ears and down each nostril and gave her the diagnosis of “everything is looking great.” Looks like we’re most of the way through this particular pair of hurdles.

Nina apparently chatted and sang all day for the people at daycare after the doctor’s appointment.

That reminds me, yesterday, September 28th, the caregiver at daycare told me that Ian had had an amazing day of communication, that he had stopped being shy and started asking for help, etc. I swear just the other day I explained to him that shyness can get in the way of some things, and that Daddy could have made a lot more friends in his life if he had been less shy. If this conversation had anything to do with his attempts at school to be less shy, I’m ridiculously proud!

NOTE – This post ends the month of September, we begin October next entry… which means we’re almost caught up!

September 23rd, the timeline got pretty messed up in previous entries, I tried to fix it. Somewhere in there I hope I mentioned that Grandma Barn and Grampa Ray flew into town to help us with Ian and meals and whatnot during Nina’s surgery. We’ve had to rely pretty heavily on grandparents, friends, neighbors and more this year… I can’t say thank you enough but that won’t stop me from trying. Thank you! See this image larger.

On this day Nina definitely crawled. No doubt about that one.

Here’s some notes from around this date (September 23rd) that will give you an idea of what has been said recently by our crazy kids:

Nina – “A bah bah!”
Me – “A bah bah!”
Nina – “Dada!”

Ian showed up at the side of our bed two nights ago, standing, but completely asleep – a silhouette of a head and shoulders with a blanket… When we dragged him into our bed he talked incoherently for a few moments, in partial syllables. Much later in the evening he blurted out “those are pictures, those are not videos,” while he was still dreaming… this is something I say to I’m when were looking at pictures on my computer and he wants a photograph to spring into action.

Me – “Ian do you know your street address for the new house?”
Ian – “No.”
Me – “two two four arbor.”
Ian – “two two awbow.”
Me – “two two FOUR.. And it is on arbor.”
Ian – “awbow.”
Me – “arbor.”
Ian – “awbow.”
Me – “What does a pirate say?”
Ian – “Arrrrrrr!”
Me – “What do you say when you are cold?”
Ian – “Burrrrrr.”
Me – “Ok now say both of those together.”
Ian – “Arrrrrrr burr?”
Me – “Perfect.” (proud smile.)

Tv character – “…and I’m still in my pajamas, do you wear pajamas?”
Ian – “Yes!” Ian says excitedly and happily. Then he looks down and realizes he’s in his clothes. Looks a little perplexed and disappointed…. Goes back to watching show.

Grandma Barb – “What do you want for lunch?”
Ian – “PeanutButterNJellyAndAPieceOfCarrotCake!” (remembered from night before)

Words maybe we’d rather he forgot include “bahmma” and “poopy.” I’m not sure what bahmma is but it is more the way he uses it. Example: “You are a bahmma.”

September 25th, Ian helps Mommy with the meal preparation… See this image larger.

A cute shot Grandma Barb snapped of our happy little girl! See this image larger.

Her tongue had been feeling out those gums a whole lot those days and even more when this post was written in October. I bet you can guess why! See this image larger.

Quick everybody roll around on the floor! See this image larger.

(Scroll down, you may have missed “Part IV” which hit pretty close to Part V!)

September 13th, Ian uses a book like a mask to become Robo-Ian! See this image larger.

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BONUS VIDEO! On September 13th, I love how Ian is actually trying to figure out what he did wrong, at first, due to my poor wording. Click here to see the video!
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BONUS VIDEO! On September 13th, I order fast food from Ian, hoping he’ll take the hint that this would not be the best long-term occupation. Click here to see the video!
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BONUS VIDEO! Moments later, Ian and I play a game where I scare him and he throws woodchips at me. (This is a recreation of the first time it happened. It was originally amusing because he was throwing them out of genuine fright… it got less funny the harder he threw them.) Click here to see the video!
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A bit from that park not covered in the videos: Ian and I used these digging toys that are set up like steam-shovels, to excavate dirt. I’d ask if mommy had arrived, he’d spin around, I’d throw a quarter into the newly excavated hole, and he’d turn back around and squeal with glee at the supposedly unearthed treasure.

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BONUS VIDEO! September 14th, Ian waters plants for Mommy and considers squirting us both. I got to play the “pinch the hose closed” game with him, and surprisingly he didn’t actually look directly down the end of the hose. Smarter than I thought! This is also the day we found a genuine stick bug in a plant in the backyard. If you don’t know what that is, it is a bug that looks exactly like a stick. Hence the name. Click here to see the video!
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BONUS VIDEO! September 14th, Nina shows off her reading prowess. Click here to see the video!
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BONUS VIDEO! September 14th, Ian explains all about the safety net… I still don’t get it, but am always game to hear more from his gigantic imagination! Click here to see the video!
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