Sleeping Beauty

Allen put Liam to bed tonight. It gives me a nice break when the house is quiet and I can do whatever I want. Usually, though, I just play Facebook games. I am exhausted most of the time, to tell you the truth. Lately we've all had colds, which doesn't help the tiredness.

For a while it seemed like Liam was giving up his afternoon naps altogether. I used to be able to lay down on the bed with him and get him to go to sleep, but then he decided he rather climb all over me and play in the bed. I couldn't hold him down and just got frustrated. So I made up a "special bed" in the living room hoping that he would fall asleep there. Now if he isn't falling asleep I lay down on the special bed and try to get some rest while he plays. Often he falls asleep between four and five p.m. This week he's taken some very long naps starting at that time. Makes for some late nights!

Often when he does fall asleep it's not on the "special bed, but somewhere else on the floor. Bumping into toys as he scoots around in his sleep doesn't seem to bother him.

Projects

You will not find this recipe in any cookbook! This is what happens when you combine lots of CSA veggies with not much time or energy. Helps to have adventurous eaters. It's curry made with leeks, beets and tops, coconut milk and black beans. That's what was handy. We have been enjoying our fresh organic vegetables, but they have often been more than we can eat. I would like to have done more preserving, but just wasn't up to it this year. Liam is often not up for new veggies, but he will at least try most. Often they come right back out, but at least he tries.

Liam has been working hard at learning to use the potty. Just yesterday we went several hours and several trips to the potty without having to get new underwear! The downside is that Liam still refuses to poop in the potty, so he can get a little behind in pooping when he's working on potty training. He gets to watch extra TV, though while he's waiting for developments.

Liam's big passion lately has been tunnels. Allen was dubbed "Tunnel-man" because he built some big 'pooky tunnels out of the big blocks for Liam. This track has survived much longer than most tracks do around our house. The tunnels have been modified and become parking spaces for small cars as you may be able to see in the picture.

We have also been continuing our project of learning Chinese. This has mostly involved play dates with Chinese friends, but we have also been watching a few online videos. This morning Liam was looking out the kitchen window at the neighbor's fall decorations. When he said, "Beaufitul flowers" I said, "Can you say beautiful in Chinese?" He said, "Beaufitul in Chinese."

Toledo Zoo

Last Wednesday we went to Toledo Zoo. It was sure different from last year's zoo trip when Liam thought that everything was a "doggy." Now he can say the names of the animals and even sometimes had special greetings for them. When I said, "Oh look, you can see the rhinos," he said, "Hi! I'm so glad to see you!"

He also enjoyed climbing on some rocks. He did a lot of walking around the zoo and actually got mad at us when we made him ride in the stroller on the way out.

Another big favorite was the elephants. I didn't know he was so interested in elephants, but it was the one thing he specifically asked to see.

He also had a close encounter with some ducks. I think that they were technically "wild" ducks that just happen to like living in the zoo. They aren't very afraid of people, though.