Walking Backwards

Amazing. I went into my backyard today and there was a baby slide in it. Apparently Nico's uncle Jon brought him home a plastic Fisher-Price slide and didn't feel the need to tell us. Nico was in heaven. He kept going up the back of the slide on his own and sliding down. He didn't seem to be able to keep from hitting his bottom on the ground, though. He keeps going up to the back door and knocking on it for us to let him out. I'm so happy he is starting to enjoy the backyard. When we first moved in he was so uncomfortable about just walking on the grass. If we put him in the middle of the yard he would stand completely still and whine until someone came and got him. He wouldn't get of the sidewalk in the front yard. Now he will actually sit and play in the grass (even though he is mildly allergic to it). His favorite times now seem to be outside. Its finally getting to be a comfortable enough temperature for us to go outside, too. Today it is a lovely, sunny 64 degrees. Perfect weather for October, we're just a little late.
In other news, I went to Target last night to pick up items for my adopt-a-family. Joe, Nico, and I had a great deal of fun shopping for items for the kids. We still have to pick up a couple of things on their lists that Target didn't have by Monday. As I got home to wrap all of the gifts, I found out that we were going to have a problem. Nicholas wouldn't let me have half of the toys I bought. He kept dragging them away and hiding them. If I took them away he would start to fuss. He would hit the boxes trying to get his daddy to open them for him. Joe had to take Nicholas into the living room and distract him while I hurriedly wrapped everything. This morning it seems he had forgotten all about the toys, thank goodness. Stephanie said to worry about next year, he won't give up as easily and won't let us take those festive packages away.