{"id":2088,"date":"2016-09-04T21:21:23","date_gmt":"2016-09-04T21:21:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/family.manandyak.com\/?p=2088"},"modified":"2016-09-04T21:21:23","modified_gmt":"2016-09-04T21:21:23","slug":"spring-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/family.manandyak.com\/?p=2088","title":{"rendered":"Spring 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"

Springtime brought an explosive growth in Josef’s physicality and dexterity. \u00a0As the weather improved and invited outdoor play, he began honing the important boy skills of climbing trees, swinging on ropes and jumping off of things. \u00a0He also took his continual love of roughhousing to new levels–now our battles have become quite pitched and frenetic. \u00a0He really loves to clamber and leap all over the place.<\/p>\n

He has also finally begun handling self-care activities that require a little more dexterity. \u00a0He can put on all his own clothes and shoes he can adjust his covers just the way he likes them. \u00a0He can put toothpaste on the toothbrush and things like that. \u00a0Sometimes, when he is not quite ready to sleep, we will find that he has slipped out of bed and gone and grabbed a book off his shelf and is reading it quietly to himself (looking at pictures). \u00a0After all the struggles to have peaceful bedtimes, this little bit of self-management goes a long way!<\/p>\n

He is also better able to clean up spills and messes that he has made, and can now helping me with yard work in the form of operating the leaf blower to clean up lawn trimmings and such. \u00a0All of these new developments have made him all the more delightful to be around. \u00a0The scales are beginning to tip from burden to companion. \u00a0I am so proud of the little fellow he has become.<\/p>\n

During this time he has become very aware of the concept of “good guys” and “bad guys.” \u00a0This seems to be the main game he plays with his friends in preschool. \u00a0There is always a jail, and a guard, and various evildoers and lawmen populating his world. \u00a0He is also now aware of the concept of “first” or “best.” \u00a0It’s interesting how these things creep into the psyche… \u00a0I like to utilize his desire to be first as a tool for getting things done quickly! \u00a0Heaven forbid I am the first one to get the box of Legos cleaned up!<\/p>\n

With the end of Winter finally came a nice extended period of good health, which was most welcome after such an extended period of illness for us all, but especially me! \u00a0There was a week or two in April of glorious warm sunny days and it did wonders for my spirits. \u00a0This winter seemed especially dark and wet and I was glad to see it end.<\/p>\n

I finished my first tax season and it was a blast and a wonderful learning experience. \u00a0Since I still have my old job, I was only working 20 hours\/week on taxes, so I never got burned out or overwhelmed. \u00a0It was a thoroughly positive experience and I feel like I have chosen my new profession wisely. \u00a0I continued to take a weekly tap dance class with my mom. Tai Chi classes from my brother-in-law, as well as my regular game-night sessions, so there was lots of amusements to look forward to during the week. \u00a0Rachael and I got away for a long overnight trip in Portland that was incredibly joyful fun, and romantic. \u00a0With all that is asked of us as parents, it is easy sometimes to forget that we are best friends. \u00a0A couple days away together was a great reminder of how much fun we can have together.<\/p>\n

The Spring was closed out with a trip to visit Oma und Opa in Florida. \u00a0I think that trip is deserving of it’s own post however.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n