Shhh...

You might think that libraries are just for books. Not for Aidan, he goes to play with the toys. And eat them. Although he is going to the library's story telling hour tomorrow. We'll see what he makes of that.

Aidan updates - 8 months in

'He's now crawling, Jay,' Erin's just said to me.

He took about six movements before the lunge that he's been working on for a few weeks kicked in. He's getting quicker and quicker now and will be moving around on all fours without falling, I predict, by the end of next week.

Since I got here almost three weeks ago he's just been going from one trick to the next. The first one I noticed was while he was in his crib. In one swift movement he whipped his legs round and with his arms he pushed himself up and sat that there grinning. This has become a regular feature in Aidan's repertoire, even during the middle of the night. It's fun to put his dummy in his mouth and hold his back while he nods back to sleep and lies back down. It's not so fun if he just wants to play and doesn't go back down...at 3am.

Feeding times are now more than just giving him milk. We feed him the food we've cooked, blended and frozen but he now likes to feed himself. Starting with cheese sticks he moved on to Cheerios, peas, carrots, apple, pears and broccoli - which he hates if it's blended. It usually ends up on his bib, the floor or between his legs in his high chair but its a start.

He's also getting more vocal with the mmm of mum forming this weekend. Does that mean I don't have to see to him when he shouts this and I'm on my own with him?

My favourite, though, is either washing his face or simply rubbing his lips up and down with our fingers. If he's in the right mood he'll sing a fun tune.

Trip to Grandma Char and Grandpa Bud's

There are many ways to entertain a little one on a four hour road trip when he's just woken up cranky. This is just one of them.

We're going to test his words-per-minute on the way back.

Simple pleasures

Aidan was a bit grumpy before we entered the grocery store this afternoon but that all changed when we got to the fruit section. Dad flicked the plastic bag open so he could put some apples in and the little lad started giggling. Then dad did it again for the pears. The giggle got louder. Dad ended up walking up and down the aisles waving a plastic bag.

I'm not sure what the other customers thought but we had a lot of fun.

Monkey magic

Aidan and I went to Madison Zoo on Wednesday. As you enter the lions are on show. The male pranced around a little then moved on the peak of the rock formation and started roaring. Aidan didn't seem all that bothered and decided he could be louder. The other visitors around were impressed, but didn't seem too intimidated.

We then moved on the the chimps and orangutans. Aidan was in his element. I think he was let down after that with the giraffes, sea lions and bears. The only thing that perked him up was a wild ostrich. Wild? It looked livid and scared both of us. As did feeding the goats. They came from nowhere and almost jumped the fence.

Enjoy the random photos from the day:

The chimp actor's retirement home?

(click on link if you're American or don't remember the PG Tips advert)

Never ask a fellow zoo visitor to take a photo of you, your son and a lion. You will be disappointed.

Cheeky monkeys

A&E

Before anyone reads the next sentence don't worry he's fine.

We had to take Aidan to A&E on Saturday night. He woke up with a nasty rash all over his face after his afternoon nap and we gave it some thought before deciding to go to the hospital, but thought it was for the best.

Now, we've taken him to the children's emergency ward before but in the UK. Here's a little comparison.

In London we called a cab and waited 15 minutes for it to arrive. In the US we called the insurance company and waited 15 minutes for them to give the go ahead and tell us which hospital to go to.

When we arrived at the hospital in the UK, children's A&E was very crowded but as Aidan was only a few weeks old we were ushered in to our own room. This wasn't as salubrious as it sounds as it was a cubicle that could have done with a lick of paint. In the US we registered, waited a few minutes while we filled in a few insurance forms and were then given our own room. Very nice it was too.

In the UK we saw a nurse then a junior doctor. In the US we saw two nurses, then a junior doctor then a senior practitioner - with a student doctor who'd come to 'check out the cute kid', then came the official who collected our insurance papers who told us our insurance company was very good as they had delivered all the necessary information by fax. (15 minutes well spent then).

In the UK Aidan was checked over, we were given some verbal advice and medicine to go home with but they couldn't conclusively say exactly what was wrong with him. In the US Aidan was checked over, we were given verbal and written advice to follow, some medicine but they couldn't conclusively say exactly what was wrong with him.

Just subtle differences apart from the state of the wards and ratio of staff to patients, I suppose.

This was taken two seconds after we'd got his hospital robe on. And it shows the general mood he was in with all the doctors and nurses who came to see him. His rash had got a lot better as we were going to the hospital but we just wanted to be on the safe side.

Daddy daycare - Day 2

The second day was a lot better than the first.

I dropped Erin off at work and Aidan slept on the way back. So the 1st sleep was no problem. We walked around the neigbourhood and went on the swings in the park before his lunch and nap. And again went down very easily, but this time in his bed - some would say like a baby.

In the afternoon we went swimming. The highlight of the day. We splashed and had fun. He had all the mothers saying how cute he was and how well he was doing. I just wonder if they thought the same of me. Thankfully this time, unlike others, I didn't forget anything so hopefully, yes.