Suspender boy

Aaron likes to climb up on my stomach whenever I'm laying down and jump up and down. He really has a good time and as long as my bladder isn't full, I'm willing to comply.

Laughing

Aaron has taken to throwing away his own diapers. After we take it off, he stands up, takes it, and walks it over to the nearest trash can.

Another diaper dump, from later in the day

Hmm... I wonder what he could want?

Aaron's little busted lip

Pictures

Saggies but the program I use to post pictures hasn't been working and still is not working. So no new pictures for awhile, until Hello gets its act together I guess.

China Change

Well, in case you haven't heard, the free year in China is off. The lady in charge of the fundage said that the healthcare there is not sufficent for babies so Aaron is forbidden to go. So sad. It's turning out to be not such a bad thing though the more we learn about it. Apparently there is a giant lead plant in this town, which of course pollutes the air and water a tremendous amount. Not too good for anyone, especially babies.

We've been thinking about going to Beijing instead but the biggest problem with this is that it is not funded. So it would cost us about $6000 for the year to go, which isn't much as far as living for a year goes but it's more than we have and can make in the next three months. So there goes that idea.

Anyone out there have any brilliant ideas about what we can do with ourselves this upcoming academic year? Our most recent idea is to live for a year, somewhere, while I work teaching Mathematics at a school and Ben manages an apartment and takes care of Aaronchik. Being an apartment manager seems like the perfect job because it takes care of the rent aspect. The only problem is finding an apartment to manage somewhere. I don't think that finding a school to teach in will be a problem. We figure if we can find somewhere to live, we'll be set.

We're thinking that if everyone we know keeps an eye out for apartment management positions, we're bound to find one somewhere that wants to hire us. So keep a look out! Who knows, if you find something, you may just get to live near Aaron next year!

Here is a picture of Aaron's first drawing fatality. Kelcie left her school project out the other day. I saved it once from the Aaron-meister, but the second time she left it out I wasn't aware of it. I was working at the desk when I realized that it was strangely quiet... I turned around and found the damage. It's amazing how quickly he has picked up drawing. Not bad stroke action there, wouldn't you say?

Aaron is good with helping around the house, or in the courtyard as it may be.

Aaron has recently discovered the scoot aspect of this toy he got for Christmas last year from G&G L. The toy was outside in our courtyard and he just went over and sat on it and started having a grand ole time (as pictured).

Shifting into the correct gear.

Trying to get the pen cap on. Aaron has been a lid lover for awhile now but he just recently mastered putting lids on small things, like this pen.

Success

Who, me?

Aaron whistling.

China?

In case anybody out there is not aware of this fact, Ben and I are seriously considering moving to China for the next school year. We would be going with a program called VIA (Volunteers in Asia) to teach English in a small town called Xin Ting, which is in the Hunan Province. Ben unofficially received a full scholarship for the program. They're still trying to figure out how to fund me as well. (I'm not eligible for the same fellowship Ben got because I am not a Stanford student.) I actually haven't even been accepted to the program yet--my interview is next week.

BUT,

If I get accepted to the program and they find funding for me and we talk to more people and feel reassured about Aaron's position and safety, then we will probably go. Maybe probably... perhaps.

We had dinner today with Vicki, who is the other person who will likely be in Xin Ting with us. (If we go and if she goes... are you noticing a lot of if's?!) She seems really cool and we're excited because she seems to have the same basic goals as us: learn Chinese, help the people, and travel a bunch.

We feel sad about taking Aaron away from his extended family members who all love him so much but we will do the best we can to keep up the digital pictures and blogging. The people who now live in the apartment we would be living in have a DSL internet connection, so as long as we have a working laptop, we should be set as far as keeping digitally-connected goes. Also, we will have an extra room (three-bedroom apartment!) so anybody who wants to come visit is welcome! Please!

Ready to go play some ball. (Hat provided and placed by Kelcie)

Aaron has this thing now with checking out people's stomachs. I guess we have given him so many raspberries that he has decided it's his turn. Here he is giving Ben raspberries. He usually pokes at and stares at the stomach in question for a while, then dives in for a blurble, then laughs hysterically while looking at everyone else's reaction. He's such a ham.

Checking out Ben's stomach

Laughing at his raspberry skills

Uproarious laughter

Ready to go running with ma. (Thanks, Brother, for the very cute shirt!)

We got Aaron some swimming goggles so he can match everyone else in the pool. We took him to family swimming day at one of the Stanford pools last week and he loved it! He has really taken to the water (which is a big improvement from when he was scared to death of it last summer).

posing for the camera

teeth

Aaron's top two canines came through this last week. He officially has 14 teeth now.

I don't know how the bottom canines are going to come through because there's no room for them. I think he must have his mother's teeth size but his father's mouth size. Orthodontics, here we come!

weather

The weather out here has been so great! It has been raining all night and sunny and warm all day. If I could pick the ideal weather, I think this would be it.

new trick

Aaron has taken to blowing on his food. We have been showing him how to blow on his food to cool it down, so now he blows on his food voluntarily, if we tell him it's hot. It's really cute. This morning he was blowing on his oatmeal but often it would fall off his spoon before it got to his mouth so he would end up blowing on an empty spoon. So dutiful.

See pictures below with captions to find out more about our favorite one-year-old.

Lil cutie

We went to the temple today. Ben and I went in while a friend played with Aaron on the grounds. Isn't the Oakland Temple gorgeous? It has an incredible view, too. (Not pictured: view)

Sharing his mud discovery with me (and you!)

Aaron loves pinecones.

On the swing that is in the same courtyard where Ben used to play when he was a kid. (Is it the same swing? Doubt it.)

Here he is tramping off to explore on his own, but still turning around to wave goodbye.

Here's a (bad quality) close up of Aaron waving goodbye from afar

swingin'

The characteristic lower-lip-tuck. (For about the first five months of Aaron's life, he had the habit of biting on his lower lip. It made his chin even more non-existent than it already is.)

Contemplating the road less traveled

Ready for puddle-stompin in the sunshine