Daddy went to London a couple of weeks ago and in addition to the little souvenirs he returned with (your London hoodie, for one), he brought back a pretty nasty cold.
And now you and mommy are fighting it too. Not fun, mostly because you’ve been confined to be in the house, but hopefully we’ll all get over it soon enough to enjoy Halloween. You still don’t have a costume, but hopefully tomorrow we can get you one.
You had a pretty big break through at the dinner table; you finally ate an entire bowl of chili by yourself without spilling a drop. We’ve yet to repeat that performance, but proves you can do it when you want to.
Now on to more slippery food…
Other than that, you keep coming up with the funniest things to say (like, “Daddy no pee pee potty time!” which we think means, no, daddy, you can’t go to the bathroom right now). And for some reason, to you, the funniest thing this week has been to say “NO DOO DOO!” Yes, you’re not hardly two yet and you’re already gearing up your potty humor. That’s our boy…
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…
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”).
Congratulations! Today is your 18 month birthday. And as daddy is writing this post, you’re sitting behind him watching intently as you color. You’ve gotten quite good at coloring. So much so, that you have a meltdown almost every time we have to put the crayons up. If you could sleep with your crayons, I think you would.
One of many crayon drawings
Today we want to tell you about some “milestones” that you rushed into. To date, you:
Know how to climb up on the couch by yourself, to mommy and daddy’s consternation.
Left daddy a “floater” while he was giving you a bath (more like a sinker).
Can identify the X-box logo, to mommy’s chagrin.
Can use a fork, though the food doesn’t always end up making it to your mouth.
You can identify a LOT of objects, but can’t say them all.
Have started using the word “Baaba!” for sheep when you see them on our flashcards.
Are a expert at saying “apple”. You use that word for LOTS of things.
A world class clown, entertaining us constantly with your antics.
You also tried ice cream for the first time this week. No surprise, but you loved it.
Yessss. I LIKES IT!
And we went to Art-a-Whirl again this year, but you were a little more cranky than last year. It was hot, so that was part of the problem. And it’s tough when you have the ability to reach, touch, tear, poke every painting you see, but aren’t allowed to.
Since Easter, we’ve all been very busy. And a lot has happened, so here goes our April update:
Every kid has his first haircut, and to be honest, daddy was worried about your reaction to it. But as you can see in the picture below, your first haircut was a smashing success:
Soon, I'll do this MYSELF!
Soon after that, we were getting ready to visit with your Mimi and Doc. They drove very far (two days of driving!) to visit you, but Mimi got very sick. We ended up spending the time with them in the hospital in Shakopee. While we were very worried about her, it was great to see both your grandparents (Daddy’s parents). We ate lunch with Mimi in the cafeteria and played ball with Doc in the room.
Mimi shares snacks? How awesome is that?Showing Doc how it's done!
Later that month, we watched our favorite team, the Chicago Blackhawks, get knocked out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. However, your enthusiasm for hockey wasn’t quelled. Here’s a movie showing you watching a different game with zeal:
Here you are taking it to the next level. Mommy hurt her arm this week, so daddy had to work from home. Lucky for both of us, because you really started walking a LOT. Additionally, you also are able to find nearly anything your asked for. In this case, “Where is the train?” in FRENCH! (You’re able to do it in English too)
Making mommy & daddy proud with each step and word.
It's Campbell Time! 