In early September, Jon had knee surgery to replace the ACL he tore playing basketball in April. Since Kathy
had to work over Labor Day weekend,Wai Pao and Wai Gong came up and stayed for almost a whole week, helping
everyone out. Aurora had a ton of fun with Wai Pao and Wai Gong, and Jon was able to rest a bit more because
there were two other people around to help take care of our very active toddler.
Aurora continued to be a bit wary of going back to day care full time. She still remembered her teachers
from the infant room (especially Helen and Barbra), and was excited when they helped out with the toddlers.
One afternoon while they were out on the playground, Aurora kept running over to Helen
and hugging her legs every few minutes! Aurora also came down with strep throat towards the end of the month,
which may have contributed to her being sleepy and needy, making her even less eager to leave Mama and Baba each day.
We spent a Sunday morning at the Museum of Science for Educator's Day. Aurora did not really enjoy the 3-D movie
(she didn't like wearing the glasses). She had fun in the butterfly exhibit, but again got very anxious
if a butterfly came to close to her. We ended the month with a trip to Drumlin Farm, where Aurora got to go
on her first hayride. She learned to recognize and identify "real" owls, sheep, horses, and chickens.
Aurora has always been very adventurous, opening cabinets and drawers, climbing up on whatever she can, and
insisting on walking up and down stairs with as little help as possible. She really worked on learning
how to jump and by the end of September she could reliably become airborne and successfully land on her feet.
Her verbal skills continued to grow by leaps and bounds as well. Here's an almost complete list of words that Aurora
could say by the end of the month: up, down, in, out, hat, hot, that, towel, apple, 'nana (banana), dog, duck,
hoho (monkey), ow, moon, ball, all done, choo-choo (train). She could also make sounds for cow ("moo"), pig (snort), duck (quack),
lion (roar), snake ("sss"), cat (meow), and elephant (bwoo). Her baby signs include frog, cat, bunny, drink, eat,
milk, stars, bath, water, fish, tired, and nap/sleep. She has made up some signs of her own, including snack,
bird, turtle and horse. Thank goodness Jon can usually figure out what she means when she invents a new sign for
something!
September 5, 2009: The day after Jon's surgery, Aurora and Baba sleep in. It appears that Aurora is a bed hog, just like her Mama.
September 6, 2009: We spent most of the day at home.
Uncle Anthony came over that evening.
Video: Aurora plays.
Video: Aurora plays more.
September 7, 2009: We took a trip to the Newton Center Playground.
Video: Aurora rocks Uncle Anthony.
Aurora likes doing what we do, even if it is housework! Here she is Swiffering the living room (rug).
Video: Swiffering!
September 13,2009: Since last year, Aurora has often studied the earrings or necklaces Mama wears. Over the
summer, she got into putting things around her wrist as bracelets. More recently, she has been
trying on our shoes and walking all over the house with them on. Here she is proving that women can do
anything in high heels!
For the past several months, we were debating what to do about Aurora's baths. She had outgrown her
baby bathtub and we don't have a tub in our unit. For a while, she took showers with one of us. While
we were in Asia this summer, she had the opportunity to take her first baths in a tub - and she loved it,
asking for "more water" (by sign language!) when we tried to drain the water. Well, we finally bought an
underbed storage box, and tried it out for a bathtub. It was a hit!
Video: Aurora plays in the bath.
Video: Aurora tries to make a tidal wave.
September 14,2009: Aurora goes to school with Mama.
"mmm - 'nana!"
Getting ready to go home...Aurora must check to make sure her belly button is still there. Aurora will often lift up
her shirt to look at her belly button and then ask each of us to do the same. Lindsey was a good sport that day and
complied when asked by Aurora!
September 19, 2009: First hair cut! Kathy's hair has not been cut in over 3 years. Even though it is now longer
than her waist,
there just never seems to be enough time to get it cut. Aurora had her first professional cut at SnipIts that day.
Overall, it was a good experience (stickers, cookies, and a balloon helped make the process more fun).
Aurora's first experience with a balloon that gets away. She was a bit upset when we could not catch it in time.
Aurora helped Baba finish the backyard patio project. She brushed more sand into the cracks between the bricks.
Video: Aurora's patio.
While Mama raked leaves, Aurora helped Baba pick apples from our trees.
Video: Apple picking in the front yard.
September 20, 2009: Educator's Day at the Museum of Science. Here we are checking out the butterfly garden. Aurora
got a bit freaked out when a butterfly decided to rest on her shoe.
Lunch at the Museum cafeteria - chicken fingers and french fries - mmm! (OK, she mostly ate french fries)
From the MOS, we rushed to a baby shower for Ariana Wood. Aurora had her first cupcake, then tried to steal Mama's.
The best part? The yummy frosting!
Video: Aurora can't wait to dance!
Video: I can do stairs with a balloon!
September 21, 2009: After work, we took Aurora to a playground in Watertown. Here she is demonstrating how
comfortable she now is on a jungle gym.
Video: Sliding
Video: Dangling
Video: Climbing
September 26, 2009: After more than a year of waiting, Jon's iPhone finally arrives! Aurora quickly learns to
use several of the apps.
We went out to Drumlin Farm that afternoon. Although we were unable to hike up to the top of the drumlin (due
to Jon's knee), Aurora enjoyed her first hayride and seeing the different farm animals up close. She
was hesitant to pet the sheep and goats though.
Here's Aurora checking to see if she's fattened up enough to be sent to market. She's relieved that
she's still a piglet.
On the way to the parking lot, Aurora gleefully points out two cows in the field.
