The beginning of September brought many changes to our lives. Kathy returned to teaching full time at Walnut Hill School and Aurora began full time day care in Wellesley. While Aurora still hadn't figured out how to crawl forward, she was able to get up on her hands and knees and push herself backwards. She had much better balance when sitting, even putting out her arm to catch herself if she leaned over too far to one side. She could go from sitting, to almost lying down on her belly, to sitting again. This was a useful skill in reaching things that had previously been out of her grasp. In fact, Aurora was getting quite nimble about grasping things that she shouldn't, such as Kathy's glasses, Jon's keys, and any sort of paper she could get her hands on. Aurora continued to progress in standing, and was even able to pull herself up from a sitting position by using Jon's legs or some cushions at day care. The biggest change is that Aurora got her first tooth on September 13th (at least that's when we first noticed it), and her second one just one week later. No wonder she'd been extra cranky and needy the last few weeks!

Over Labor Day Weekend, we made two trips to Newton-Wellesley Hospital. When Jon and Aurora joined Kathy for lunch at Walnut Hill on Saturday, Aurora had the beginnings of a rash on her upper thighs. 24 hours later, it had spread down to her lower legs and from her upper arms to her hands. We called the pediatrician on Sunday, and were quite surprised that Aurora's own doctor was in the office that afternoon! He diagnosed her with a viral rash, possibly hand-foot-mouth disease. If it was hand-foot-nouth disease, it was the mildest case he had ever seen, since she only had one blister on each hand, and none on her feet or in her mouth. Plus, she didn't even have a fever! Thank goodness for Kathy's strong immune system helping Aurora out! On Monday, Jon cut his knuckle while installing the chimney cap, and off we went to the ER. Again, we were very lucky - the wait was less than an hour and depsite getting 3 stiches, Jon did minimal (if any) damage to his nerves.

Throughout September, Aurora continued to work her way through solid foods. She enjoyed sweet potatoes, peas, bananas, pears, and apples. She wasn't too thrilled about green beans at first, but she eventually decided that they were OK if nothing else was offered.

By her third week of full time day care, Aurora seemed to get into a cycle of "day-care-itis." For several weeks in a row, she was sent home early at least one day due to a fever. She also spent a few partial days with Kathy at Walnut Hill after a morning with Jon at home. Aurora attended her first Academic Heads meeting, where Kathy stated her number 1 goal for the school year was to find a healthy balance between home and school. On the evening of September 25th, her fever spiked up to 103.7, prompting a call to the 24 hour pediatrician hotline. We were told to bring her to the ER just in case. And it was a good thing, since her fever had spiraled up to 105 by the time we got to "triage." We spent the next several hours in the pediatric ER, in a chilly room. Aurora was given double doses of Baby Motrin, Baby Tylenol, had blood and urine tests done, and a chest X-Ray to rule out pneumonia. We were relased around midnight with a diagnosis of "fever."


September 5: Looking cute.



September 6: Getting better at playing with the octopus.



September 7: Aurora is really playing with all the parts to the Exersaucer now!


Aurora has real tears when she cries now...and they look adorable!

Aurora enjoys her books.


That night, after grocery shopping, Kathy's car battery dies.



September 8: Aurora and Jon enjoy the weather outside. Notice the bandaid on Jon's knuckle - that's from his chimney cap injury.



September 13: In Yorktown, Wai Pao gives Aurora a morning bath.


We had dim sum for lunch that day.


That night, Jon and Aurora accompanied Kathy to her 20th high school reunion.



September 14: Back in Newton, Aurora enjoys her toys. She also (angrily) shows off her first tooth.



September 16: Aurora finally likes her pacifier - as a chew toy!



September 17: Aurora tries out her new Bob stroller for the first time (thanks Wai Pao and Wai Gung!). She was a bit upset at first, but she now really loves to ride facing fowards.


Later, Aurora and her Daddy bond and play together.


September 20: Aurora does not like to match up her Daddy's socks. But that's OK, since Kathy doesn't like to do it either.



September 21: Aurora plays with her rattle.


She also enjoys typing on the keyboard.


Aurora has a dimple the same place her Mama has one.


Thanks Wai Pao for all the great fall and winter clothes!



September 22: Another view of her tooth.



September 30: Aurora came to school with Mama. Here she is exploring the math office.


Mama's coworkers chipped in and got Aurora lots of clothing, which came in this giant gift bag. At home, Aurora is concerned that Baba might give her away.


Aurora is excited to help make apple bread.