Welcome to WinklerWorld Online

This little house that we got for Alexander has undoubtedly been his most favorite toy since he first laid eyes on it back in August. For the first while he would watch eagerly as Mama or Papa played with the people and they did routine things around the house that he was used to doing. After a while he would make the people do some things himself- go to bed, go potty, take a bath, cook in the kitchen, answer guests at the door. But the past few weeks with the initial help of a grown-up he's exploded into a creative little world of imagination making the people do all of his favorite things from playing hide and seek, to swimming in a big tupperware "pool" and wrapping up a towel when they're cold. They go to the park or church on little drawings by Nana and Mama and well, everyday at least once- someone has a birthday and we have to play "cake." He loves these little people of all shapes and sizes and species. Animals have birthdays too, you know.

He's also decided that it's fun to share snack with his favorite monkey, Zoobot. And the most recent play-by-himself activity is to play "cooking." A dash of this, two spoons of that. Some eggs, celery or carrots from the "store" at the sofa. (It's always at least three or four trips). He's been known to stir, measure, pour, and stir some more for nearly an hour. His favorite concoctions are soup and spaghetti. He likes to serve whoever will "pwe" with him. It might be too "hot" and need ice and blowing. Or maybe you'll get a stone in your soup in which case a loud "blech! eew! There's a stone in my soup!" is in order. In the end it's always "so very good." And he'll pour his portion back in the big bowl to tell you that it's all gone. What little delights he brings with his latest inventions and happy giggles.

As of Mid-October, we are pleased to announce that Alexander is now a "Binky-Free" boy! We'd been thinking and praying about how to go about it for a couple of weeks, and felt that between his increasingly stubborn demands for it outside of cribtime and the funny shape it's been giving his mouth that it was time for it to go. We talked about it with Alexander for a few days, 'On Sunday, we're going to put the binkies in the trash.' And he was getting used to the idea and even talking about it to us. On Sunday before snack-time we scavenged the house for binkies and Alex put them in a very special heart shaped box, and he dumped the box in the garage dumpster. We also trekked to Nana's to get her binkies. It took about two nights of adjustment to learn how to re-settle himself (especially if he woke up during the night), and a bit longer for naps. But he's back to his normal routine and if he ever asks about his binky, he'll tell you himself they're in the "Tash." He still checks his diaper bag pocket each Sabbath in case one has magically grown back, but he's been a great sport. We tell him that he's becoming such a big boy.

The day we got rid of the binkies, we went to Toys R Us for some fun playtime, and he was having a lot of fun with the train table. In the past he's been more interested in rearranging the track, but this time he was quite intent on running the trains around, so he got his first "Big Boy" Train- (yes, a Thomas the train- we gave in, sigh...) He's carried it around for quite a while. He was so excited about trains, we even did a week of 'lessons' about them and went to the train station to watch a real train come and go while he clutched Thomas and giggled excitedly. "Choo choo!" said Alex as the train light came down the track. He flapped his little arms as it rushed by quite loudly and "chhhhhh" as it stopped. The "do" opened and the steps came "don don don" followed by baggage and all the people coming "ut" of the train. There were lots of hugs and kisses as everyone greeted their friends. We watched the 'Conductors' as we called them (they were really the hosts/hostesses) help new people all aboard, and the train made another "choochoo!" before it left the station. It was quite the adventure for a little boy- er .. a big boy, that he chatted about for quite some time. Oh, Alexander- the adventures are only beginning!