The Peanut Blogger: Playmates

Alex is now 18 months old and more fun than ever at this age! Of course,every age has been wonderful! Some of the things that are particularly fun at this particular age are going places such as the creative discovery museum, the zoo (although we are due for a trip there soon), to gymnastics where Alex loves jumping on the floor tramplines, to music class (Alex loves music), to the train museum or hobbytown where kids can watch the model train and play with train tables, and many more really fun places!

Alex has developed many interests and it is really neat to see his personality and preferences evolve. He loves to open and close cabinets and drawers. He doesn't take anything out of these cabinets but is trying to see how they work. He loves to play with any ball. He can throw it to someone, kick or roll a ball. He loves dogs and cats. However, he is incredibly cautious around animals, so these animals tend to not mind Alex either. He understands the word gentle and can apply it when asked. Alex loves to meet other friends and has made many. He really loves little girls because they often give him kisses and he loves kisses.
Alex has just started going to a preschool morning class twice per week for four hours. So far he has not cried at all. I believe that he really loves the stimulation and interaction. We have been going to classes and different activities since he was 4 months old, which many would disagree with doing, but I think he is better able to cope with going to his class as a result.

As an educator, I perhaps go overboard a bit, but I really wish for Alex to have the best opportunity possible and give him the very best when it comes to learning and experiences.

We were at the blueberry farm in this photo. Alex ate lots and lots of blueberries. While at the farm you are allowed to eat as many as you want and then purchase the ones you wish to take home. It was scorching hot this day, so we do did not pick too many, and Alex ate the ones we picked to we went home empty handed. Alex loved the dog at this farm.

Alex is caught in action eating up the blueberries with his friend Jake. Jake's mom and dad are from the Czech Republic. Alex and Jake have a lot in common and are both learning two languages.

Alexia (photo)is our God Mother's daughter. Her parents are Simona and Cristi. Although they are not related biologically to us, they are family. So Alex and Alexia are cousins. Alex loves Alexia. Alexia is a beautiful sweet well-mannered young lady.

Aunt Naomi is showing Alex how to enjoy a sparkler on the 4th of July here.

Alex loves his Dad, and loves to play tag and chase when his Dad comes home in the evenings. Alex has learned to point objects when his Dad says what they are. He knows the names of many many objects in both English and Romanian. Daniel is a very involved Dad and will be even more involved when Alex can hold a Tennis racket!

Geta, is Alex's grandmother from Romania. She is a teacher in Romania and comes to visit in the summer. Alex has lots of teachers in his family including his great aunt Emi, his aunt Kimberly, his aunt Naomi, and his mom. I was just telling Daniel that our poor kids isn't going to get away with anything. We were recently at a party where kids were tearing the house apart. Daniel and I were spent most of this time redirecting our own kid. However, I must have had TEACHER written on my forehead or something because the kids kept coming up to me and asking me to help out with their social woes. So for the last half of this party, I became the supervisor or all of these kids. I was just very surprised that these kids' parents were not stepping in or having their kids behave at this couple's house. The house was decorated very nicely and the hosting couple do have kids of their own. I told Daniel that if my kid behaved that way, I would have him call the hosts the next day and appologize. Anyway, I really do not want for Alex to behave this way when we go to someone's house...I may be one of the few parents who expects better behavior in this day and age. Alex did start to open and close the cabinets at this house; however, Daniel and I did not let him continue this. I was surprised when some other parents (not the owners of the house) said that they thought this was okay. That is why being the child of a teacher may be interesting for Alex.