Monkey Rescue

It's been a busy month in the Hong House. We have both been working long weeks and can't wait for a fresh start this coming month. We are grateful to my parents and Jonathan's wonderful nanny for their extra time this month to help us hold it together. Even with the busy schedules, Jonathan's been having a blast being an active 13 month toddler and we're loving every minute with him. Here are a few highlights.

Jonathan's favorite game these days is Monkey Rescue. David puts Monkey at the top of the couch and creates an obstacle course out of the couch cushions while mimicking Monkey's desperate voice: "Jonathan... come save me! Come save me!" Jonathan cracks up laughing, then gets a look of concentration and determination while scrambling up the cushion tower, sometimes with a little assistance. He finally grabs Monkey with a screech of satisfaction, laughing, then clapping to acknowledge the achievement. Any accomplishment... be it getting a taste of yogurt into his mouth with his own spoon or climbing onto the couch, doesn't slip by without a moment of celebration. If we don't clap for him, he'll take care of it himself. Jonathan's so into Monkey Rescue that when David comes home in the evening, Jonathan takes two steps towards the back door, then as he see's the first hint of his Daddy stepping into the house he tears off towards the couch, waiting for David to join him and play.


"Jonathan... come save us!" (Two Monkeys participated in this round, which means the Grandparents must have been around. They always seem to break out all available Monkeys.)


Oops... wrong way, no Monkey down there.


"Gotcha!"


Proudly surveying the room from above.

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This picture pretty much tells it all.
While my parents were down over Labor Day weekend David and Jonathan's Grandpa enthusiastically set up Jonathan's sandbox. A birthday gift from his Grandparents, we were excited to see him explore it. It turned into a classic parenting moment. We broke out the camera to document Jonathan's anticipated excitement and then set him in the sandbox... to his complete horror and panic. Guess Little Dude doesn't like the feel of sand on his bare feet. He freaked out, couldn't get out fast enough. You can see the tears streaming down his cheek here. And the look on David's face pretty much says it -- a mixture of disappointment and frustration. "You've got to be kidding... we spent hours putting this together." So we gave the little guy a respite from the horrors of the sandbox. I've been letting him sit on my lap while I shovel the sand around every so often the past few weeks. Then yesterday Jonathan sat on the side and before he knew it, he was in the sandbox playing too. He stopped... looked down with a worried look, then looked up and started clapping with a look of satisfaction. "Yeah! I did it! This is kinda fun, actually!" After the drama of the first attempt I'm impressed how quickly he's taking to it :) Thanks, Nonnie & Grandpa! I think we'll be having a lot of fun in the sandbox from here on out.

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This weekend we went to the park. Jonathan had a blast riding the train and watching the ducks and the fish.




LOVED the train.





Fish, ducks, people... too many interesting things to see to spare a second for the camera.

Sleepy on Daddy's shoulders after a fun day.