Movies, Snakes, and Cupcakes - That's what little girls are made of

I was so well behaved during Baby Atlas' hospital stay.  Unc and Daddy took care of me at home Saturday morning and Saturday night, and we brought my little pokey pokey home Sunday night.  I am so happy he is home.  Last night, Monday, we were walking around the neighborhood after a dinner of tomato soup and grilled cheese, just like a happy family again.  The tomato soup was "not yucky soup, tasty soup" and I finally gave up on a spoon and picked up my bowl and drank it.  

I want to be in the wrapper please.

Holding my baby brother's hand while we both drink mommy milk.

Saw my first movie last weekend, about a really fast snail, Turbo.  I cleaned out two huge buckets of popcorn with very little assistance.

After a light supper of salad, we walked to Los Portales for chips and fried ice cream.  I wanted a sip of mom's green drink but she kept saying it was against the rules and the police would put her in timeout if she gave me any.  Yeah right, just admit you're greed, Ma.

On the way home Daddy caught a snake and let me hold it.  I wasn't even scared.  I like "cakes".

Going to the meeting all matchy matchy with my doll, who I call "my little boots".  This is the dolly I picked off the shelf with Daddy when I was maybe 14 months old.

Now I have a baby to match me at the meetings too!

Even though we ate dinner about one hour before the meeting, I needed a snack.  Then Daddy went inside to comment while I walked in the field with Mom and Atlas.  She asked me who made all the animals and for the first time I clearly replied, "Jehovah God".

Daddy gave me a cupcake.  Mommy put the bib on.  That pretty well sums up their approaches to parenting.

For family worship, Unc came over and practiced the talk he will give this Saturday.  His first public talk will be translated into Korean.  After that, we went for a walk with my binoculars and magnifying glass to take a look at nature and learn about Jehovah.

Making a train out of raisin boxes.

I just love being in the pool with Daddy.  This was taken about 8 hours before we took Atlas to the hospital.

Hello, Helicopter?

My imagination is blooming.  I am great at pretending things that Mommy and Daddy believe.  Heh, chumps.

The other day we were in the pool and I exclaimed, "Balloon up high, look!"  Do you think there was a balloon?  Well there really was.  They asked me what color and I correctly identified it as green.  I said it was up high, "I can't reach it" and that I would need "a ladder".  Mom said it was so high now a ladder wouldn't do it, that I would need a helicopter.  So I said, "Ok, I'll call" and put my hand over my ear.  "Hello, helicopter?  Green balloon, up high.  Get it.  Ok."  I had mom and dad convinced that a helicopter was actually going to get that balloon.  

Even if my clothes don't have pockets, I pretend they do.  When a door is locked, I have a tiny key in my pocket for opening it.  When I see a baby animal with no parents, I say, "Wait, wait!  Family!"  and then pull the mommy and daddy animal out of my pocket.  

I am starting to learn how to ask for what I want in polite ways.  When mom came to get me at school, 

Who made the animals?

Last night we were at the kingdom hall.  My doll matched me, and so did Mom (I dropped the Mommy down to Mom) and Daddy and "my baby Atlas" (who I also call "my little toot toot" and "my pokey pokey"). I was walking Mom around the meadow behind the hall because she has a lot of energy and we were observing nature.  She asked me who made all the animals and seemed surprised when I responded: "Jehovah God".  Sheesh, she's been telling me that like every day for two years already.

A few meetings ago when mom was putting me in the car I wanted to see her earring so I grabbed it and it popped out of her ear.  It hurt her and made her sad.  Now when she puts her earrings on I say "Don't pull mommy's earrings".

For family worship the past two weeks we have used playdough to reenact the story of Noah and the Ark, and of Jonah and the big fish.  When it's time to throw Jonah in the water I put him back in the boat instead where he is safe.

I informed mom yesterday that we were out of kick kacks (tic tacs) and needed to get some more.  She asked me where we would get more and I had to tell her "at the grocery store".  It's like she doesn't know this basic stuff anymore.

For the ministry on Sunday I sat next to "my uncle" during the meeting.  Mom asked me his name and I said "Unc.  Uncle Unc".  He is coming over for family worship tonight.  We are going to look at creation and learn about Jehovah's qualities.  We will use my binoculars to see things that are "really far away" and my magnifying glass to make things look bigger.

Daddy Works at Oopy Yes

I am finally excited about the baby coming, because Mom says that then she will have milk again and the baby will share if I want any.  For now I'm still happy with hugs and kisses.

I am now able to identify blue, green, purple, and red very well, though I get confused about yellow and orange sometimes.  I can identify and name shapes like circle, square, triangle, star, and even cube.  Mom says my symbol recognition is improving toward reading skills because I am pointing at signs and saying "ABCs" and I can identify the UPS (I say "Ooo pee ess") logo on Daddy's shirts.  No pressure, right Mom?

I have froggies for sunny days and rainy.  Sunglasses, raincoat, and umbrella.   Sometimes I like to hop and say "I'm a froggy.  Libbet libbet."

Typical morning hair.

Snugging on Daddy during the butterfly festival.  He never seems to mind.

This is my new "derm a der" face.

Ok I love baths.  Floating and kicking in the bubbles.  Now I have crayons that for some reason even Mom will let me use all over the tub.  Creative freedom!

Gotta vent sometimes.

All wrapped up and ready to watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  Life is good.

I should be inside for the meeting, but I need a snack first.

Gitcher own berries.

My first face painting at the Fruitful Vine anniversary event.  That's where our baby will be born.  

Seriously, what do you think?  Pink T-rex.  It's so me!

Daddy is so comfy.

Sleeping Day 1 of 2013 God's Word of Truth convention.

Sleeping Day 2 of 2013 God's Word of Truth convention.

Day 3 of 2013 God's Word of Truth convention.

Peeping through the hedge at the Asian garden at the zoo.

About to hit the pool after having a "coo coo cone".

Daddy got me a hello kitty "boat" (floatation ring) and swimmies for my arms.  On Saturday I was a bit wobbly but loved it.  On Sunday I was swimming across the pool by myself with just the floaties on my arms.  I would swim every day if they took me.  A favorite activity is to ask Daddy to go "unna water" and then I'll swim over him and say "I gotcha!" and sit on his head.  Then he stands up and balances me on his head until I jump off.  I also love to snag Mommy's sunglasses and throw them into the water.  She usually gets my sense of humor.  I'll keep doing it and maybe she'll finally realize how funny it is.

At night I like to read two books and then Mommy whispers me a story until I fall asleep.  I usually sleep by myself for a good eight to nine hours and then snuggle with Mommy in her bed for a few minutes before we get up to face the day.  When she drops me off at school I hug and kiss her goodbye, and then hug and kiss "baby too!"  My favorite time is still the "wee kend" when "daddy home, no work.  me home, no school."  

Like Lychee for Chocolate

Last night Daddy and Mommy took me to Mochi for frozen yogurt.  I got chocolate with M&Ms and strawberries, but Daddy let me pluck all of the blackberries from his Lychee yogurt.  Then I kindly helped him eat his yogurt until suddenly it was all gone.  I said, "More?" and before he could respond, I scooped some of my chocolate into his bowl and gave it to him.  I don't know why he made the face he did; I thought he'd be happy but he looked ready to cry as he thanked me for being generous.

I am learning to be 'bedient.  When I'm told to do something, I usually say "Kay" and come over and do it.  I love the videos about Cabub (Caleb) and how God wants us to be obedient to our parents, and how we shouldn't take things that aren't ours.  Mommy is teaching me to clean up when I make a mess or dump my toys out.  When I'm not 'bedient, I am getting better at sitting down for a timeout.

This is my timeout step.

I like to ask now if other people do things I do.  Last night while eating noodles, I asked if Gramma ate noodles, and Mimi, and Unc, and doggies.

If you ask me where the baby is, I know it is in Mommy's big belly.  I like to kiss the baby sometimes.

If you ask me what color an orange is, I will probably say "blooo" or "puh-pul". I love to sing ABCs and Itsy Bitsy Spider, and am learning to count to ten, but sometimes in a creative order.

I'm a Big Weanee

It's official.  My last time to drink mommy milk was March 13, on a Wednesday, as I fell asleep.  Thursday we drove down to Dunnellon and I was asleep in the car.  Friday we saw Gramma Patty at the hospital and I fell asleep at Uncle Tim (I call him "other one Uncky") and Aunt Nicki's (I call her Mickey Mouse) house without nursing.  I haven't even thought or asked about it in a few days.  Mom is a little sad to be a weaner, but we still snuggle and I hug and kiss her a lot so I think she will be okay.

At the hospital they gave Gramma shots.  I was not happy about this.  The rest of the weekend I insisted that there be "no shots!"  I took felt animal stickers and Gramma and I sat on her bed to put them on sticker boards.  I left some on the hospital room window to cheer her up too.  We got to play in a pretty park by Ocala Regional hospital, with a big merry-go-round. I loved to jump off and push it then climb back on again.  Dad didn't want to let me on it.  He is pretty good at cramping my style.  Mom said I would learn important things about how gravity works even if I bonked my head.  I think that means she is on my side but it is hard to tell for sure.

I spent time with a lot of "Uncky other ones".  Got to see Uncle Mike and Aunt Jeanne, and Uncle Mark too.

My favorite TV show lately is Blues Clues.  I got to sit with Unc and watch it the other day.  He came over last night and I cried for him when he left.  I wish everyone could always stay and play with me and we never had to brush teeth or go to bed.  To wind down at night, I like to lie on my back in the shallow tub water and relax, and to squirt dad with water from a squeaky rubber ducky.  Then mommy usually tells me stories until it all slips away and gets fuzzy.

Taken at New Dimensions Learning Center.  I am transitioning into the 2-year old class now.

This is my portrait.  A serious scholar doesn't smile for pictures.  I held the tiny book Aunt Mickey Mouse gave me (Mom says it's hers, but it's clearly too small for her), which I call my "Pah--choo Pah-choo".

From Months to Years

My life is no longer measured in days, weeks, or even months.  I am now two, and will now be aged in years, or maybe halves of years for a bit.  How time flies.

Daddy held me for my first haircut.  I found that crying made them keep doing stuff for me.  I got a movie, a lollipop, and cute hairclips out of the deal.

Me and Ma on the carousel.  The dino exhibit got cancelled due to flooding, and we were too late for shaved ice or the train.  But we enjoyed the bench on the carousel, since I'm still nervous about the animals that go up and down.

Day 1 of our Bahamas cruise Mar 2-7, 2013.  Watching the people get on board at the Jacksonville port and exploring the cabin.  I discovered that I could camp out under the bed, and Daddy joined me often (his top half anyway).  

Did so much I crashed at supper.  Day 1 Bahamas.

Snap my own pic.

Can't remember much about this, but apparently I glow when I'm sleeping.  Makes sense to me.

By the pool on the "big boat".  There was a stage with dance music, and I ran up and joined some drunk people and started shouting "I'm jumping!  I'm dancing!"  That livened up their party.

Watching cartoons with Daddy.  He's my fluffy arm chair.

That's a big leaf!  Garden of the Groves in Freeport, Grand Bahamas.

I liked watching the "fingos".  This was in Ardastra Gardens in Nassau, Bahamas.

This birdy wanted Mom's apple, but I told him, "Vie's!"

This is me setting the lizard straight.  "Not your daddy, lizard.  My daddy."  Can't be too careful.

Unc has a new home.  We visited yesterday and I told everyone where to sit (in the porch chairs we loaned him) and was spinning everybody.  I found some dirt on his floor and put it in the trash, then told him to "vacuum cleaner, Uncky".  He said he had.  We must have different standards of cleanliness.  For a long time Mom and Dad couldn't figure out what I meant when I said "wag-in-aw", but they finally figured out I was referring to vacuum cleaners, which are the same things as rocking chairs.  The noise of vacuums makes me nervous, but not as much as hand driers.  If you take me to the bathroom I will remind you many times "No dider (dryer)!"

When you ask me where something is, I might ponder and say "Um" while I look around.  If I spot it, I'll point at it and say "Boo!"  

I can put my own boots and dress shoes on now.  I will then point a finger in the air and victoriously proclaim, "I did it!"

If you ask me how old I am, I will say "two".  If you ask me what my name is or how I'm doing, I will say "two".

I can tell tiny things from big things, but colors are still hit or miss.  I love to sing my ABCs.  The nummanummaP part is hard; my favorite is WX.  I also like to eat NummaNummaNummas because they melt in your mouth, not in your hand.  I love most fruit including most betties (berries), but lately my favorites are unges (oranges) and keeweewee (kiwi).