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Elliot and I went hiking at Corwina Park (between Lair ‘O the Bear and O’Fallon Park). I walked an hour in and it took maybe 30-45 minutes to get back. We had lunch 1/2 way (salmon pouch, biscuits, and water), but Elliot was asleep in the backpack and didn’t eat.

Some of the trail follows a stream, and all Elliot wanted to do was get down and throw rocks and sticks and things into the water — his favorite thing to do anytime, anywhere. He points at the water and say, “PHI! PHI!” (for fish, his favorite animal next to the “RAY! RAY!” — sting ray).

When I didn’t stop, he cried, but I told him we’d play in the water on the way back. He didn’t understand, of course, but we did play in the water after the hike, and he loved it. The hike? He probably got bored and that’s why he fell asleep. But he did point out a plane in the sky and other things on the way.

Since we have to stay home during the Corona virus shutdown, Elliot’s speech therapy is done through video conference with his therapist, Carrie Quimby.

A couple of weeks ago, Elliot was on-camera during his session. He ran off-camera for a moment and came back with this:

Saying, “PEW! PEW! PEW” and shooting Carrie.

I’ve been concerned that Max isn’t getting the same quality of education at home as with Google Classroom. So we scheduled a meeting with his teachers, who insisted on including Mark. One of the teachers didn’t make it, but Tiffany Fitzwater and Hannah Joslin did.

Karolina talked me out of saying anything substantial since Ms. Fitzwater is a nut-job — she wanted to include the school psychologist and the principal, Ms Ellen Hall, in the call. We talked her out of it.

I’m not in the screenshot because Google Hangouts doesn’t show an image of yourself on the screen.

The meeting was helpful in that they told us Max is attentive. I’m still concerned about the quality of what’s going on; he seems to have lots of breaks and very long ones, and school ends at 2? or so. There’s not much I can do about it.

Another day staying at home because of the Corona virus.

I went outside at 5 PM with Elliot, & we went to one of his favorite spots: the puddle crossing the stream on the way to the playground.

We spent 25 minutes doing nothing but throwing rocks and two tennis balls into the puddle. This is one of his favorite things to do. I sit patiently, handing him rocks to throw (the bigger the better) and retrieving the tennis ball. He claps for himself after throwing a large stone.

I love when Elliot falls asleep for the night clutching a favorite toy. Here he is with an Imaginext sawtooth shark (he loves fish and anything aquatic).

Havern School asked the kids to take a photo of themselves holding a “thank you” sign and then email it to teachers. I did this with Max. We sent it to several of his current and past teachers, and even the librarian, Mandy Piscopo. This one was to Jill Hoylman.

Last night, April 5 2020, Elliot slept alone for the first time. He was in his room, in his crib. I slept in the neighboring “toy room” in case he woke up during the night, but he didn’t.

The corona virus is raging!

Elliott loves plain ice and asks for it all the time, “Aye! Aye!” The only ice we have left is that which the previous homeowners left since we turned off the water to the freezer months ago.

I have to buy ice trays for him.

When Elliot is in Karolina’s arms, and he does not want me or Max to touch him or be near him, he says “away! away!” and pushes. He’s not even two yet.

The two photos with the milky were taken tonight, but the three with gee giraffe are a little older.

Karolina explained to Max that because of the corona virus, all toy stores are closed. So we won’t be able to get a toy for Elliot for his birthday (not sure why online ordering like Amazon was ni ot mentioned, but that is beside the point)

“I’ll give him one of my toys”, he said.

Today we got two Sponge Bob ice creams from the ice cream truck in front of the house. When Max and Elliot were eating them later, Max leaned over pretending to eat Elliot’s. Elliot made a gun with his hand and said “pew pew pew!”