Obsessions

I know most toddlers go through stages of being totally in love with one certain item or toy, however, I haven't seen anything that compares to Aaron's tractor obsession!  This little boy is completely obsessed with tractors, or anything resembling one!  Lucky for him the neighbors on both sides of us own one, but that's where the problem begins.  This little guy's obsession has quickly turned unhealthy, even dangerous! Here's the story:  One morning I'm in the shower with Aaron upstairs with me.  Peter was downstairs watching t.v. and Jacob was at school.  As I got out of the shower I realized that Aaron was no longer upstairs with me so I wrapped myself in a towel and went down to check on him.  Peter was still watching t.v. and Aaron was no where to be found.  I asked Peter where Aaron was and he simply stated "He's outside."  "What?!?" said I,  "Did you let him out???"  "No," was Peter's response "he got out his self."  Well, I had no idea that he figured out how to open the door to the garage!  I was expecting to find him playing in my car, but quickly found out that one of the garage bays was open.  I was yelling for him, thinking he was just out back, but I heard him call back from far away!  I instantly thought he was in the woods by our neighbors house and was worried because there is a pond back there.  I nearly ran out, but then remembered I was still in just a towel!!  I thought better of streaking down the road and ran up to grab my big robe (I know, that's not much better!)  As I ran outside I remembered the TRACTOR.  The day before Matt had used our neighbors machine and when he drove it back and parked it Aaron had gone with him.  So, there I went, running across our neighbors large yard in my robe (thank goodness they were at work already!) and found him sitting on the tractor in his bare feet and pajamas feeling very happy with himself.  That little boy remembered EXACTLY where that tractor machine was and walked all the way over there to sit on it.  Our neighbors house is not right next to ours, so it was quite the walk.  After I got over the worry I found this incident very funny! Aaron can disappear so fast.  Twice since then I have found him in our other neighbors garage on their tractor, luckily their house IS right next door.  We have now installed door locks to keep him inside when needed.  He sure is keeping us on our toes these days! 

Another ongoing obsession that has recently heightened is Aaron's binky obsession.  He will put one in his mouth and then carry as many as he can around the house.  In this picture he got smart and put them all in the shopping cart---much easier to carry a bunch that way!  I love all his cute little quirks and as busy as his funny habits make me, I know years from now I will find myself missing them.