He was up just after 7:30. They nursed, then played with play dough. Called the cloud cookie cutter shape a “storm”. Randomly, he started singing “Big snail…is in charge. Big snail…he’s in charge” then ended with “hippopotamus”. He said that Carly’s tree looked like poop, and they also pretended that August was play dough. Carly made a worm, and they played with that: making it fat, exercising, getting skinny, etc. A bit later, August perched on the coffee table while they played with playdough, making hearts. Carly made him oatmeal for breakfast, and made a valiant effort to get him to use the spoon.
I had asked him earlier what he wanted to do today, and he said Children’s Grand Park. Which sounded good, as it was cold and when we had gone earlier in the week we hadn’t gone to the children’s museum. But as we were about to leave (the backpack was entirely ready to go, and he was dressed), he decided he wanted to ride his bike. So then the plan was to do that first.
I took him out, and it was snowing quite nicely. We rode around our side of the park, then he wanted to go over the bridge. That was where we started to actually see snow on the ground. On the other side he noticed the snow in the planters, and got off the bike to touch it. He saw a big sign about keeping your dog on a leash and cleaning up after it, so then he pretended to be a puppy, pooping on the ground. Back on the bike, we head out to the streets, and did a loop around Home Plus. He got off to walk, and liked crossing the streets. He didn’t want to go back to the park, just keep crossing the street, so we turned it into some practice: reminding him to look both ways, etc. Then I would let him walk the last lane or two on his own. We also used the very safe small crosswalk in the parking lot and let him go back and forth a couple times.
At 10:30 I took him back in, rather against his will. I was getting cold and hungry. He didn’t want to go in the apartment though, and we ended up spending well over a half hour playing in the hallway: he sat on the floor, then wandered around and found a little kids bike thing that he sat on a lot, a scooter he stood on, and a kid’s bike that played music.
I got him back to the apartment and made grilled cheese sandwiches for us: with tomato for Carly, and with salmon and teriyaki for me and August.
After lunch, Carly took him to Home Plus. He was recognized by women at checkout who said something about me having him in the backpack. And at the elevator he asked a girl why she had a stick thing. Carly also found out that shopping with the bike is a bit more difficult: he was fine at first, but near the end he wanted to be carried. With the stroller you can just stick him in it, but with the bike he can just get off and lay down on the floor or wander off.
Back at home he watched Puffin Rock, then played with Musyc. He and I then painted. He sort of helped Carly as she made enchiladas. I heated up the pasta with cheese and he ate a good amount of that. We then played with play dough. His water drink spilled at one point. Intentionally or by accident wasn’t clear, but it wasn’t a disaster. We also played with the piano.
About 4:30 he and I headed out again. We first went to 중평어린이공원, the park just west of the pink building. There were two girls on the swings. First he went and rode on the motorcycle thing. He was looking back over his shoulder watching the girls, saying “Wait a minute…” He wanted a turn on the swings, but they weren’t getting off. Eventually, I said we could go ask for a turn, and he wanted me to do the asking. But as we walked over they were getting off. He was wearing his gloves, and spent several minutes on the swing. He then got off, and saw the girls sliding on their feet on the playground surface that was getting icy. He tried that out and squealed with glee. Did that for several minutes, and then wanted another turn on the swings. They were back on the swing though, so we rode on the exercise machine that swings left and right. I then had the idea of going to the nearby playground in the apartment complex. Four swings, and always less busy. So he got back on the back and we headed over there.
There were three boys playing at the playground. August noted how quiet each place was. So we had our pick of swings. Spent the entirety of our time there on the swings. He sang a “I’m a donkey” song, then turned around on the swings and was facing the buildings. So then he did a “The building’s over there” chant. He had refused his hat up to this point (both today, and this winter) but was getting quite cold. Back on the bike, he let me put the hat half on him, then I was able to pull it down fully. Success! He wore it the whole way home. We were back a bit after 5:30.
He played with play dough, then he helped me make banana bread. Randomly, he quoted from Puffin Rock “I don’t know Oona, we’re meant to be getting the seaweed.” He was sneaking licks from the spatula as we mixed it, not able to wait until we were done.
Carly took him in for a bath, but they didn’t get around to that for awhile. They were nursing, then August was on the toilet peeing, then off, then back on to poop, etc. she came out to get her computer to look up why people have gas and why do flamingoes stand on one leg (his pressing questions of the moments). They came it for something, then went in for the actual bath.
I listened to bells of York Minster on a Facebook video – the first time they’ve had bells in three months. Good memories of York.
Pretty straight to bed after his bath, and he was asleep a little after 8.
Playdough:
Snow:
Hllway:
Afternoon walk and playgrounds:
Home. Sneaking a lick of banana bread dough:
