Autumn Leaves

Fall really caught me by surprise this year. I remember taking walks in September thinking "I feel the first few hints of fall, it will be here soon" and then BAM, the leaves were starting to fall, a chill was in the air, and I saw chimney smoke billowing over someone's rooftop. Man, I so love that aroma, it's so nastalgic. As Aaron becomes more and more active and LOVES being outside, we're finding more reasons to go outside. Thankfully, collecting leaves has become a favorite pastime! I snapped way too many shots of him playing with leaves and other such activities outside, so I won't post them all but I'm posting a few here for sure. :) In the midst of our "Autumnal festivities" we have also had another bout with an ear infection. Did I mention in September that he had a DOUBLE ear infection? No sooner had we recovered from that, we went back and he has another one. This time, he's on a different antibiotic. Also (this may help other concerned parents who ever notice a similar lump on their children), Kevin and I recently noticed that Aaron had a small "lump" or "nodual" that felt very glandular on one side of his groin area, in the crease of his leg. When I took him in for his ear infection, the doctor identified it as a swollen lymphnode, and said it's not dangerous, it's just an indicator that something is out of balance with the bodies lymph system (why doesn't that sound right, is it lymbic system?) Anyway, she thought it could be connected to a reoccuring diaper rash that might be fungal in nature (I know, sounds pleasant, doesn't it?) and prescribed him an antiobiotic ointment for his bottom. SO, I feel like a walking pharmacy these days, but hopefully things will clear up, just in time to figure out if we're getting the H1, N1 shot or not.

One windy, sunny afternoon, I took Aaron to Burke Lake Park up the road and we played in the grass chasing his big plastic ball, picking up crab apples (and trying to eat them), and blowing bubbles (well, mostly Aaron dunking the wand in and out of the bubble bottle and making a soapy mess of us both!--which is why there are no pictures of bubble time...my hands were too sudsy!). It was a very fun afternoon!

As the month has progressed, we have added some outdoor toys to our leaf collecting and driveway exploration fun. The kiddie lawnmower and wagon provide momentary entertainment for Aaron, but really, he mostly just wants to knock on the garage door, bang on the cars, and make a run for the road. :) I finally decided to take him across the street, where there is a sidewalk, and he LOVES running up and down the sidewalk. He can actually go pretty far before tiring out! He throws a fit (literally) when I pick him up to head home. If I let him walk and turn him towards home, he takes a few steps, then turns and makes a run for it in the opposite direction. No getting anything past THIS kid, that's for sure.