Well, this morning you were supposed to go for some minor surgery. Daddy and Mommy were very worried (because that’s what they do) and the surgery was cancelled last week. However, this morning they cancelled it AGAIN just before we got there.
The bad part of today was you had to get up at 6:00 am for nothing. The good part was, Mimi and Doc had breakfast with us again before they left for North Dakota where they are going to take pictures.
Words you learned since this weekend:
Chicago (when asked “Where were you born?”)
Blackhawks (Bakhaak!) in relation to Chicago hockey
And for some reason, you love to say “Hockey Puck!” which you just recently mastered.
Well, what a way to end your summer! It’s been a very, very active last few weeks, so we have some catching up to do:
On the weekend of the 8th we packed in the fun by going to the Target Children’s Book Festival in Hyland Lake Park. While you LOVE books, there was not much for guys your size to do, so we spent a good amount of time either coloring or pushing you in the stroller while you continue the coloring trend.
Red is for Target! Lucky it’s your favorite colorKeep ‘er steady, mate! I’m colorin’!
That VERY next day, we went with our friends Paul, Kerry and Octavian Sage to go see the Renaissance Festival.
Sporting some pirate gear for Ren Fest.Leader of the Sages, the Mighty Mr. Paul!
It was quite exciting, but pretty dirty too. We did an enchanted forest walk which ended up making Mommy and Daddy (and at one point, Mr. Paul) carry your stroller up some precarious hills. You laughed like a little prince the entire time, happy to be bouncing up and down in your carriage. You met a pirate who gave you some of his gold.
Yeah, cute hat Pirate. Now gimme yer gold!
And you decided that you’d had enough just around noon, so you promptly conked out and napped for the majority of time left there. We also bought you a wooden boat from the same vendor as last year (who made your awesome pirate bath time boat).
Yes… let’s go see the… Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz
You went to swimming lessons the next week and had your usual great time. You ALSO surprised us when instead of waiting for Mommy to slice your apple at dinner, you just grabbed it and tore into it like a little man.
Slices? We don’t need no stinkin’ slices!
Not long after, we got a visit from Mimi and Doc! They came to see you because you were supposed to have surgery, but it got postponed. And good thing too, since you, Mimi and Daddy all got sick that week. But it didn’t stop you from enjoying all the new toys Mimi and Doc brought you.
ELMO! BIG, BIG WIN!Ok, Mimi… now read this!Doc, being very silly… and dangerous.
BEFORE we all got sick, we took Mimi and Doc to Mall of America where we visited Legoland. We also went to Kokomo Cafe (where you’d eaten before), and you decided a fistful of ketchup would look great in your hair. Needless to say, it was a pretty short trip.
What? I can’t wear it too?
On that Sunday, we took you to your very first MLB game where we got to see the Sox pummel the Twins. Of course, you spent most of the time coloring the Twins coloring book, but you did a great job of handling a long day of sitting down. After the game was over, we went to Champp’s for a celebratory veggie burger.
OK, sister, now sing “Take me out to the ballgame”.Here Mimi! Have some germs!Ballgame? I thought this was the world’s largest coloring festival.Hey! Where’s my Old Style?GO SOX!
For the rest of the week we recovered from our illness. On Friday, Mommy took you to get a haircut.
Since we were feeling a little better this weekend we took Mimi and Doc to French Country Meadow for breakfast, then went to the art museum. We didn’t stay too terribly long, but it was a lot of fun. Mimi and Doc enjoyed watching YOU enjoy art, playing in the kids’ area and just being your charming self. You were tired and so was Mimi, so you went home with her and Mommy to take a nap, while Daddy and Doc went to shoot some pictures downtown.
Hey mom! YOUR turn for germs!Art criticism is genetic…
Tomorrow you’ll get to see them again and I’m SURE we’ll have more adventures to talk about.
New words this month:
Honeydew (spoken flawlessly)
Meat (followed by, “no meat! Beji, beji” for veggie, veggie)
Beer (Hmmm… maybe it was that Ren Fest we took you to?)
Grapes (pronounced, “Guuk”, but we understand what you mean)
You know almost ALL of your colors (“Wed, Boo, Puhpah, Back, Geeeeeen, Yehyoh”)
Keypad, Keyboard and Apple TV (which sometimes comes out “Appa Tee vee Dee Vee Dee”)
You say “Beep beeeeep!” when you hear us activate the car alarm (which does actually beep)
and actually, you repeat pretty much EVERYTHING you hear now…
The summer is fading and so we all went on a little vacation to the Wisconsin Dells. Mommy found the perfect place: The Great Wolf Lodge. It had just the right touch of Northwoods, animated animals and toddler friendly waterpark attractions. Apparently you were swept up in the spirit of the place, since you now can imitate a wolf (with a tiny “oooohahhwwrr”) and distinctly told Mommy “HooToot” for the owl sound when she read you Rokko tonight.
Yes, yes. I know… hand before the door.
Daddy’s not fond of heights (or anything remotely dangerous, actually) so staying on the fourth floor with a path overlooking the lobby didn’t make him terribly comfortable. But you did a really nice job of hanging on to our hands when we had to go to the elevator. Once there, at your eye level, we were always greeted with a dusty old badger, which you seemed to like. You also constantly told us the elevator was going “UP!” no matter which direction we were heading.
Our dusty buddy…
The first night we were there we went to story time and you only lasted as long as the clock show (an animated adventure with a talking owl, squirrel, beaver, turtle, little native girl and a settler boy from Joliet). You got so squirmy we decided to just finish stories in the room, but you weren’t too thrilled about sleeping in a borrowed, uncomfortable crib in a strange place.
You say I’ll be bored with this later? I don’t believe it!
The waterpark was probably your favorite part. We suited you up in swim trunks and a rash guard (a shirt worn to keep surfers from getting board rash), then bundled you in a lifejacket, since some of the pools were too deep for little guys. While it was loud and water came at us from every angle, you seemed to embrace it, sitting in the toddler pool and splashing like mad, chasing squirting streams and rushing face first into what Mommy called “the baby car wash”. You also got to do some time in the bigger pools with us. Daddy even took you in the outside pool where you swam with him under a waterfall.
BETTER THAN BATHTIME!Wait, no! THIS IS BETTER THAN BATH TIME!Ok, excuse me while I open my mouth for this one.Swim class is so “two weeks ago”!Geronimo, as they say
I fear no deep pool (with this thing on).
Our second night there your oldest (half) brother Brandon and his wife Maureen came to have dinner with us. You got some wolf ears which Mommy had more fun with than you did. After you went to sleep, Daddy, Brandon and Maureen went to play “MagiQuest”; a interactive scavenger hunt with a wand and fantasy theme. The next morning, you and Daddy got up and used the MagiQuest wand to make all sorts of things in the lobby talk. Mommy was at the spa enjoying HER vacation with a new haircut, so you and Daddy got more pool time. While in the wave pool, you had a blast while Daddy held you up like a cork above the waves and you learned yet another new word: “bob”.
What are you looking at? A wolf doesn’t use a fork.Nice try mom. You’re not scaring anyone.
You also got along very well with the mascots we saw. You saw Wiley in the lobby several times and then you saw both him AND Violet while we ate breakfast.
Yes, yes, Wiley… you can take a picture with ME.These toast sticks are gonna’ ruin my figure.
And it must have been a great vacation because your sense of humor was on overdrive. You bundled up in towels one night for photos, you sniffed your own feet when Daddy told you they were stinky, and you just wouldn’t stop howling when you saw wolf pictures throughout the resort. You also started combining some pretty funny words that don’t really go together like “Elmo Coke”and “Whole Coke”.
I bring the cuteness!I dunno. I think it smells like flowers.
Today, our last day there, we spent walking around the main (and very tacky) street of the Downtown Dells. We took a diversion for a bit and walked the path along the river. You seemed to have a great time pointing out trees, boats and the water. Mommy even got you to say river (which sounded very close to “Rivah”). We ate at Monk’s Pub which had one of the best black bean burgers we ever had. On the ride home, you squirmed and fussed a bit, but entertained us with your new Leap Pad by singing your version of the ABC song which pretty much goes “Ay, Bee, DEEEE! Ay Bee DEEEEEE!”.
And made from beans, you say? Brilliant.Nothing tacky about nature!STILL fresh!
We had a relatively mellow weekend as it rained on Saturday, so we took you to Turtle Bread Company for lunch. You’ve been very full of vigor and have told everything you see now, “Hi” accompanied with a wave. A table of girls thought you were the most adorable thing ever. We agree. We also bought mommy a sun hat for the Fair on Sunday and you got a “Leap Top” (a tiny computer toy) which fascinated you for hours.
On Sunday we went to the Minnesota State Fair again, but this year you were MUCH more interested in what was going on around you. Your favorite parts were the horse barn, the butterfly house and you were utterly delighted when we saw a marching band, even though you didn’t understand why the drums were so loud.
Unbridled enthusiasm couldn’t keep you in your strollerThis Fair business is fairly tiring…STUNNED BY BUTTERFLIES!I guess from down here it IS exciting.
Today you also had a chocolate chip cookie that sent you into “selfish” overdrive, not even allowing us to remove the slimy bits of the final bite from your hand as you sucked on it.
Mmmm… choc… oh… late…
You also stood UP at the potty, right before bath time and told daddy you had to go (when daddy was changing you, you said “Potty… pee” and then restrained yourself until we got to the bathroom). However, as always, you remain an immensely funny kid saying “digga digga digga” to daddy then when mommy entered the room you exclaimed “whole poop” very clearly and then giggled. You left us both laughing.
New accomplishments since our last post:
You not only recognize Whole Foods logo, but you love to say “Whole Faaaaaaaaa!” with the second word going up an octave or two.
You say “Good” fairly regularly when you like something.
You have gotten much better at repeating things.
The ABC song comes out as “A… B… DEEE!” (Dee, is clearly your favorite letter)
“Mimi” is getting better rather than sounding like Momma.
You know Red, Green and Blue (which sound like “Wed! Geeeeeen! Boo!”)
And you stunned us as you sounded out each syllable in watermelon (waah uh meeeuhn).
Tonight your mommy taught you a new word that you think is immensely funny. While you were getting a diaper change, you kept poking her in the chest and asking “Wha’s dat?”. She avoided the question and continued to defer your curiosity with “That’s Mommy”. When you continued to insist, she finally broke down and said, “That’s my boob”. Not the best choice of word, but apparently you found it HILARIOUS since you began to chant, “Boob, boob, boob” and laugh wickedly.
Even after daddy got home, the word still retained its humor. Here you are enjoying the word “boob” and saying some other new words.
Tonight, just moments after taking this picture, you were witness to your first robbery! A pack of young kids snatched a cell phone from the table two tables behind us. Daddy was seconds from taking the picture of the kids right before it happened, but thought better and had just tucked his phone in his front pocket. No one was hurt and the Minneapolis Police rounded up the boys and got the phone back. So all’s well that ends well, as they say.
We went for a walk up and down Nicolette Mall after and you charmed the heck out of a bunch of wildly wigged girls (we assumed were from a bachelorette party). They coo’d and swooned as you did your best “Moo, Baa, La La” to them.
The second unheard of milestone came tonight just before bath. Mommy bought you a potty this week (even though daddy suggested it was far too early). You thought the word was funny and said it often. “Pah-dee, pah-dee, pah-dee!” And you realized that potty means going to the bathroom. So just before bath we sat you on it, daddy asked, “Can you go potty?” and without hesitation, grinning broadly, you pee’d. We were both stunned and pleased and let you know about it. And you realized you’d done a really good thing. So perhaps there will be diapers out of our lives sooner than we think.
Other words this weekend that you’ve added to your vocabulary: Money & Teeth.
Daddy had to go to London last week, so mommy was very busy keeping you occupied. She did a great job though because when daddy came back, you were saying a few new things:
“Oh yeah” which sounds exactly like it should
“Crab Claws” sounding like Kaw Kaw, but accompanied by the cutest little hand action to accompany it.
“Almond” without the d at the end.
“Banana Bread” which sounds much more like Bah Breh.
Here, let me show you how to do this…
And I think you took the time to compose a coming home song for daddy too:
We had some time to snuggle and daddy brought you home a sweet Arsenal kit shirt (our favorite London football club).
ONE NIL, TO THE ARSENAL!!!
And there are so many other surprises! You looked at a sign today, asked your mom to point out a letter then you made the sound (for B, P and C). So much progress, so little time…
Your grandpa and grandma Yeoman are visting you this week and today you went with them to Minnehaha Falls where you had your FIRST “bike” ride. Actually, it was a pedal surrey; you rode on the front basket part and got to wear a helmet.
You can’t catch ME ridin’ dirty!
While your grandparents are here, you turned up the cute, evidence by these pictures of you as a hipster and apparently, Frank Sinatra.
Soy Milk Cocktail, anyone?Who want’s a piece of da’ cute?
This past week you got your second haircut. Not quite as cute as the first, but you didn’t seem to mind. With the weather getting so hot, it was a necessary thing. AND you and mommy had lunch with daddy on Friday.
Yes, I’ll have these items marked here, waiter.
Mommy was out with a cold this weekend, so it was just you and daddy 24/7! Every diaper (except one that mommy braved), every meal, bath and bedtime story was from dad.
On Saturday, you and daddy puttered around Ridgedale Mall trying to find you pajamas that fit. You’re only 25 pounds, but you’re nearly 3 ft. tall, so we have to get pajamas that are quite long. You are wearing stuff for a 2 year old, but the pants just fall off your skinny waist. So it’s footies, footies, footies! You also went to daddy’s office where you got your running time and you loved the red “horses” near his desk.
The red chair says, “NEIGH!”
On Sunday, we went to the Minneapolis Museum of Art again. This time, instead of trying to hold your hand or chase you down, it was a stroller and mounds of bunny crackers; a tried and true method. You were pretty good for the first hour or so, but started to get fidgety. Fortunately for everyone, they have a Family Room with lots of toys where you played gleefully for a half hour. Tonight though, you had a very runny nose so we’re afraid you may have caught a touch of mommy’s cold.
Ooooh. Chihuly, you say?FREE TOYS, EVERYONE! FREE TOYS!
New words from this weekend: Hummus (“Humah”) and Water (“WaaaaUh” or sometimes “AaaaGa”).
You can also imitate a cow, horse and sheep. (But sometimes, the horse AND sheep still say “Mooooooo”).
Today you had your worst tumble ever. While mommy was reading to you on the couch, you stood up and pitched forward landing on the hardwood floor. When daddy got home you had a massive “goose egg” on your forehead, so we took you to the emergency room.
Tonight daddy is staying up, waking you every so often just to make sure you’re fine. But what a scare. If you keep up this kind of energy without being fully balanced, we just might need to buy you a helmet. 😦
It's Campbell Time! 