I realize it's been far too long between journal entries so I will try to keep this brief. :)

We are all settled into our new home (still in Marietta) and are enjoying it very much. We love being closer to 'town' and Mason's school is less than half a mile away! Our new house also has a pool so we all had a great time with that this summer, especially Mason!

After a fun family trip to Disney in June, the boys both transitioned back in to school. Matteo is now in a full-day of kindergarten and Mason got to keep his same teachers, which excite us both to no end! :) They are continuing to work on his toileting and he is doing very well with that still. He will always require his pull-up's (diapers) but this keeps him drier through the day which is much more comfortable for him I am sure! Soon we will work on getting the same type potty chair they use for him at school for our house.

Mason is still doing about the same with his walking. When prompted, he will take about 15-20 steps if he has a destination object or person in sight. He is physically able to walk, but still has fear issues with his balance. Which brings me to this morning... :)
I always sit Mason in this one particular chair outside of the kitchen while getting him ready for school each morning after breakfast. It's easier on me for him to be in this chair while I put on his coat and shoes and brush his hair. He will sit there until we see his bus pull up out front. Well, this morning I walk into the kitchen to get his hair brush and see him rapidly crawling down the hall towards the bathroom. So I quickly go get him and put him back into his chair and tell him to sit there and wait for me and for his bus to come, at which point he giggles at me. So I go back into the kitchen to get his backpack, etc. and turn around and see this boy about Mason's height walking past the kitchen door and down the hall. Now, we all know who it can only be, but I think I was in such shock and amazement at the rarity of the sight that it took a minute for it to fully register. So after I pick my jaw up off the floor I realize that not only has he stood up out of his chair alone but that he just took off down the hall...a good 20 to 30 steps... like he does this every day~ giggling all the way! So I round the corner and see he's made it to the bathroom door but his giggling and my cheering has gotten the best of him and I caught him under the arms. The best part I think is that I picturing him thinking the whole time (which was why he was probably giggling), "I'll show you to tell me to sit still in a chair while there's a perfectly good bathroom with water to be played in down the hall!" J

Happy Holidays Everyone!
~The Malchiodi Family~

xoxo