a fall walk

It's been great fall like weather in Indiana!  This is a welcome relief from the heat of the summer.  Because the weather is nicer, it means time for some more walks!

This walk started like all others.  Food and drink for Ethan in the stroller tray.

Letting the wind blow in his hair!

The walk took a not so great turn when Ethan didn't want to sit still anymore.  And, it had recently been laundry day for the stroller cover.  Which meant that the straps were not in place (I didn't have time to put them on before leaving on the walk).  So, Ethan thought the lack of stroller straps meant he was free to stand up in the stroller.  Once we met Grandma, he pretty much walked about 1 mile in total because he wouldn't sit still.

It was fun for him to walk - until he got tired from walking but didn't want to sit in the stroller.  This posed an interesting conundrum for a toddler.  He was too tired to walk, but too stubborn to want to sit still in the stroller.  There was iPhone bribing to get him to sit, which worked for some time.  But, for at least a full mile, Grandma carried him and/or we let Ethan try to "work it out on his own" which just meant he screamed and threw mini tantrums on the walking path.  I don't think either one of us (me or my mom) had ever been happier to see my house. 

Every time my mom has to carry Ethan (he's getting very heavy for a 6 month preggo to try to lug around - I can barely carry my own body weight), I make the comment that he must be heavy and we could try something else (like more iPhone bribing, food bribing, drink bribing, any bribing really ...).  She reminds me that she carried Uncle Mikey all over Disney world when he was 40 pounds in 90 degree heat.  That makes carrying 25 pound Ethan in 65 degree cool temps around a small lake seem like a cake walk!