August pictures

Alex doesn't like it when Mama sits by the computer. He either cries or swats at the keyboard, resulting in text like this: ee4y63uirbn argi Since that is rather hard to read, I haven't been updating as much. I can READ other websites & blogs, but I can't write paragraphs. It's too challenging. He's currently playing with my cell phone, so my hands are momentarily free. I started this post on September 3, but didn't get very far. It's now September 10th, and I'm just getting around to finishing this.

Here's the August update...

I picked up this dinosaur toy for Alex at a garage sale. Whoever previously owned it was a very organized, tidy person. The dinosaur ($4 deal, by the way) was in perfect condition; it even had the original instruction manual taped to the back!
Alex loves the lights and music, loves to watch the balls go through the "tunnels", but most importantly - Alex loves to use this toy to pull himself to a standing position. Who stole my BABY?!

This picture was taken at Alex's first concert. (Yes, Angie, that's your arm!) A group from our church spent a day at the World Pulse Music Festival in South Bend. It was an all-day (free) Christian music festival. Our seats were far from the stage, but that was kind of nice - we could still chat, Alex wasn't subjected to overly-loud music, and we all had a great day! We brought our own lunch, so the only cost of the day was a snack & then dinner at Burger King on the way home.
Church kids (and Angie's nephew Cole) with Alex
This was taken at Grandma's house when we celebrated Alyssa's birthday. Poor Alex was not in a good mood that day. Diane had been waiting to see him, as she hadn't seen Alex in...um...2 months? (Bad Aunt Diane!) She really didn't get to enjoy him or see my happy boy, though. Alex just didn't cooperate.
Seth is my neighbor's 4 year old. Lisa just went back to work, and I'm watching Seth when he's not in preschool. We're having fun making playdough, coloring coffee filters, taking walks, having picnics at the park...all sorts of stuff! Alex just loves having Seth around. (Maggie's pretty excited about it, too.) Seth & I took Alex to the park a few weeks ago, and Alex went in a baby swing for the first time. He just giggled, grinned, and had a great time. I hadn't brought my camera, so Daddy & I took Alex back to the park that night. Unfortunately, Alex wasn't really in the mood for it. He cried in the swing, but he had fun in Daddy's arms.

The annual Frieling Family Reunion is held in August. So here we are at the park by Grandma & Grandpa Schurman's house, chatting with cousins & aunts & uncles, eating yummy food, and playing guessing games. Alex actually stayed in a pretty good mood, even allowing a few extended family members to hold him for a while.

What do you do with a cranky Alex? Stick him in something unusual...a suitcase, a laundry basket, a cardboard box...whatever is handy. Nine times out of ten, it results in smiles & at least 10 minutes of happiness.

Grandma Purdy & Nana requested to take Alex swimming, so we went up to Uncle Jim's house in Crown Point one Sunday afternoon. Alex was definitely not in the mood to swim. This is about the happiest face he had while in the water. Poor Grandma & Nana...they got to see Alex in the water, but I can't imagine it was the most exciting thing they've ever experienced!

This is in Uncle Jim's house after Alex got out of the pool. Papa found Alex's smile! :)

That's about it for August. In case you're wondering, Alex is sitting on the floor next to me, holding my flip flop in one hand, my cell phone in the other, and fussing for my attention. Sigh. I'll try to update the first part of September during naptime.