This Sunday we all went to Port Discovery (the Baltimore Children’s Museum). It was Daddy’s first time, but you and Mommy were veterans.
When we first arrived, you immediately wanted to go to the Royal Farms “store” where you are allowed to “shop”. Mommy has trained you well, since you only went for the healthy options and it sure looked like you were checking out the nutrition facts (you do know where the label is… you read it on food at home.)
So, what’s the carb count on this?
Then we checked out a sand room, you played a butterfly launch game, we explored an ancient Egyptian dig site and then chilled out in the Oasis room (a nice little place for us to slow it down, paint rocks with water and read some Curious George books).
Butterflies!Zen sifting. Shhhhhh…Surely there is treasure SOMEWHERE here.
While you were playing with the paintbrushes, Daddy noticed a terrible little habit he passed down to you ; when you concentrate, you stick out your tongue. Daddy does it, Mimi (Daddy’s mommy) did it and so does your oldest brother Brandon.
I’m painting this one to be a rock.Must… focus…
Later you went to the water play room where you had a great time shooting water at drums, playing with Lego boats and generally getting wet. It’s always a hit, but Mommy has done this before. She brought an extra pair of pants and socks.
YES! AUTHORIZED SPLASHING!Long and tall!At this rate, I could be a plumber.
When we were all done we decided to explore JUST a little bit more and made our way to Little Italy where we ate dinner. You were a perfect gentleman, ate your own gnocchi and charmed the lady next to us. Turns out, she’s the mommy of a movie star, but you’d probably never seen her.
The good food.
A little more about you:
You continue to really enjoy your vegetables.
You know right from wrong, but sometimes, decide to do the wrong thing for a laugh.
Your favorite show is Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.
You’ve really enjoyed playing with your new Thomas the Train set.
Curious George has now dominated your evening reading time.
You zip up your own jammies and try your best to put on your undies alone.
It was a very busy holiday for us this year. You got to see Santa TWICE, you had a visit from family and you got to see the White House and New York all in the same week!
Soon after Thanksgiving we bought a real Christmas tree (you helped pick it out) and decorated. Mommy went all out this year because of our new house. She has a lot of Disney ornaments that she dusted off JUST for you and we hung them from the bannisters so you could see them every day. We also took a trip to the Columbia Mall to see Santa Claus where you told him you wanted a “guppy” (actually a Betta fish like we had in Minnesota). You also told him that “zombies have beards too” which Daddy wasn’t sure was a win or failure, but it was funny in any case.
That “new house on Christmas” smellCampbell Train! (From Grandma and Grandpa)
Later in the month, but before Christmas, Grandma and Grandpa Yeoman from Indiana came to stay with us for the week, so we decided to show them a little bit of the East Coast.
Our first short journey was to visit the White House and see their Christmas tree. We met a lot of really nice people and did a good bit of walking. But boy the things we saw! Not only did we see where President Obama lives, but we saw trees for every state, a display of trains around the National Tree and you got to see Santa AGAIN! This time we visited him in one of his temporary workshops and he was just as kind and fun as ever.
Grandma & Grandpa by the Indiana TreeCampbell’s future residence?Mommy! Look! I’m trainspotting!Hey Grandma! Come visit me when I’m President here?So, you think Daddy’s hat is a good disguise? I mean, I already talked to Santa once this year.Does your wife know you get around this much?
On the next day we took a very short trip to Ellicot City and had lunch at one of our new favorite places, Bean Hollow. We walked around a little more, did a little window shopping, and like magic, it began to snow in big fluffy flakes. That night, you opened a LOT of Christmas presents with Grandma.
Take me down, to the Ellicot City…LOVE IT… NEXT!
The following morning we had an early breakfast and took a train to New York. You did a great job on the train ride and you seemed to really enjoy it. It was a little hectic when we arrived at Penn Station, but once we got into the cab you had a blast. Your favorite thing there? City maps; a touchscreen showing all the fun things to do in NYC but of course, you just had fun punching buttons and seeing the screen.
Can I drive? Can I drive?Everything looks better in mood lighting!
Once we settled down in our hotel, The Ameritania, we decided to take a walk to see the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Plaza. Getting there wasn’t so bad, but once we arrived it was packed tight with lots of folks who had the same idea. You fell asleep when we got there so you missed a lot of the hub-bub. We also got to see a great light show on the side of Sax Fifth Avenue, but we were worried for your comfort because it was quite cold. So we made our way back to the hotel and met up with Uncle Chad and Aunt Amanita for dinner. It was hard to find a restaurant that wasn’t a chain (we were in Times Square), but we walked around until we finally found a little Mexican place that we all enjoyed. Daddy took you to the toilet there where you insisted had a kitty on the wall, though Daddy never saw it.
I’m a small moose, but I’m livin large.Tired Mommy and Daddy…Mommy belongs here, I think…
The next day we went to Central Park where we bought hats, treated you to your first bagel (and you loved it) and decided to walk around a bit, even though it had gotten colder than before. You had a bit of a melt down because you weren’t allowed to use the swings; not our fault because the playground section of the park was actually closed for the holiday. Aunt Am had suggested we see the carousel, but that proved to be an even bigger disappointment for you, since it too was closed for the season (Aunt Am didn’t know). After a good cry and some snacks, you pulled it together and we warmed up in a visitor’s center, then headed to FAO Schwarz.
From a famous movie you say? I just thought it was BIG!
Once we were there you were amazed. We saw lots of toys and you even picked out a bear you wanted Santa to bring to you (a little “Wall Street” bear) and you even re-enacted a famous scene from the movie, BIG. You were just about ready for a nap, so we took a break. But when you woke up, it was all adventure again. We went to the M&Ms store followed by a trip to the Disney store where you were enthralled by lanterns, you charmed the clerks out of several Monsters Inc. pins (especially, your favorite, Mike Wazowski) and Uncle Chad met us there to find some dinner.
He took us to a great place called John’s Pizzaria. There slogan was “NO SLICES”, which you remembered and said often. Uncle Chad also brought a Christmas present for you which you are still sleeping with; a monkey puppet called Bananas. After that we went to the Times Square Toys R Us where you, Mommy, Daddy and Uncle Chad wrote the crazy big ferris wheel (we got to ride in the Fire Truck car) and you saw a roaring T-Rex that was a little unsettling. Then back to the hotel where Grandma stayed with you a little bit while Mommy and Daddy met Chad and Am for a drink. What a wild two days!
Hey, Unca Chad! Help me terrify daddy up there!
The day before we went back, we squeezed in ONE more tiny adventure at the American Museum of Natural History. While it was crowded, we had a great time and you got to see Rose Space Center (where you learned about craters on the moon), the African Mammals room and we ate a quick lunch before running off to the train station. The trip home was not so bad, since you slept on Grandma most of the way. Before your grandparents left, we drove through the Symphony of Lights display (our second time, actually) where you pointed out the snowball throwing bears which you enjoyed BOTH times.
Bah! Tell me something I DON’T know.HEY! My name!ZzzzzzzzzzSome of the amazing lights at the Symphony of Lights.
Mommy made a nice vegetarian roast for Christmas Eve dinner and the next morning, we awoke to see all the great stuff Santa brought! Thomas the Train, your FAO Schwarz bear, Bob the Betta fish & the movie PLANES! Later that night, we drove over to Baltimore to see the famous 34th Street lights and go out to eat Chinese food. It was the perfect Christmas.
Easiest track configuration ever.C’mon pal! We’re going to New York.Christmas… lights… so… bright.HUBCAP TREE!Who’s crabby?
This week we’re figuring out what to do for New Year’s Eve, but in the meantime you have lots of new things to occupy your dreams.
Why, yes, Bananas… I would like to go sledding… zzzzzzzz
You are growing up SO FAST. On Wednesday, it was your 3rd birthday. However, Daddy had all day business meetings and you weren’t feeling well, so we decided to have our celebration on Saturday.
But you didn’t go without on the day of your birthday. Daddy went out and got you some board books about animals and made you a BIG fruit salad (what you requested for birthday breakfast). When you came down that morning, you ate breakfast with a whole menagerie of “Little Animal” books. (We’ve been reading them every night this week).
Your animal breakfastDaddy’s envelope doodlesHey! Animal pals!Breakfast guests?WHAT YOU LOOKING AT LITTLE LAMB?Hey, no hair jokes. I just got up.
Both sets of your grandparents sent you some fun things and awesome cards. And later that day, mommy took you to Mall of Columbia to ride on the Merry Go Round TWICE in a row. Even though you were under the weather, you had a blast.
On Saturday we got up early and cleaned house. You went with Daddy to Target to buy some things for the party and you reminded him that he promised to buy you the Meowsic Keyboard for your birthday. And so he DID (much to the chagrin of Mommy. She’s the one that has to hear Frère Jacques in kitten meows all week).
Best. American Idol. Ever.
We also had a great party. Ed Illig (Daddy’s new boss) and his wife Lisa and daughters Amber and Audrey (who were grown up) joined you. As well as Croom Lawrence (Daddy’s co-worker), with his wife Elizabeth and their daughters Eleanora & Josie. Finally, Brook and Braden, our neighbors, joined too! We had lots of balloons to kick around, a blackboard tablecloth (which went over great), Angry Birds plates and LOTS of cheese pizza. You and the kids played, the adults chatted and baby Josie chewed on things.
Wow. Lots of people in our new house.HEY LOOK! A real party!Audrey, Amber, Lisa and Ed IlligA man named CROOM!Elizabeth Lawrence and daughters, Josie and EleanoraBrook and Braden, our neighbors
You got some VERY nice things from our guests: The Illigs brought you a big Pirate Puzzle, the Lawrence family gave you a doctor kit and Brook & Braden gave you an “Elf on the Shelf”. We’ll see him after Thanksgiving.
Goodbye paper, hello Doctor Kit!
OH yes. And you had cake. Lots and lots of cake. Which is why you probably crashed so hard for your nap.
Hmmm… I think perhaps I should get the LION’S share here…Oh. Blow it OUT. I thought said blow it UP. Whew.How do you say… more please, sir?You gonna finish that?
We figured it was the sugar rush, but you continued to draw and play long after the guests left. You just couldn’t get enough of the blackboard tablecloth.
Just ONE more little detail, before we call this quits.Goodbye everyone. See you next year!Aftermath…Another guest: Mike Wazowski.
Later when you wake up from your nap, we’ll be going to the bookstore to spend some of the money Mimi and Doc gave you and you’ll probably be wearing something fun that Grandma and Grandpa Yeoman gave you.
All in all, a pretty great birthday week. We’re all very lucky to have such nice, new friends.
Well, we’ve packed away all the Halloween decorations (actually, last week) and have started getting ready for Thanksgiving. But our Halloween was really fun this year.
Oooooh. Scary Parents!
We have so many neighbors with kids in our new neighborhood that you got tired of Trick or Treating before we even made it around our own parking lot. We are in a townhouse surrounded by three other clusters of townhouses and we had great plans to visit them all, but alas you were pooped.
Prior to the actual night we took you to Boo at the Zoo in Baltimore where you had a great time manhandling pumpkins, participating in the costume contest and doing a bit of candy grabbing at the vendor booths.
Yes, I know it’s a gourd, mother.Hmmm… I wonder how far this would go if I tossed it?FAR too emptyCampbell Heird, Entomologist
Your costume this year was picked out by you. You told your Mom you wanted to be an Entomologist (because once, she told you that those were the scientists that studied butterflies. And you LOVE butterflies). Your Mom actually bought you a pair of butterfly wings because you talk about them all the time.
Proof that I love butterflies.
Daddy was a spider bite victim to make sure we had matching costumes again this year.
Uh, don’t look now Dad, but…
Since it is getting late in November, our new trees are dropping leaves quickly. You helped Daddy rake leaves and plan on doing it this week with mommy if the weather permits. It’s been very wet and sometimes foggy.
I’ll expect a tip for this, buddy.
You have also been a spelling dynamo this month. You can remember nearly EVERYTHING you see when you’re out with Mommy and spell it when you get home. The other day you spelled “Crane Plumbing” and it was something you saw when Mommy was changing your diaper in the mall. What a pair of eyes!
Crane Plumbing. No problem.
You and Daddy also took some time over last weekend to watch the Arsenal game. Unfortunately we lost, but had a great time saying “Oh to be a GOONER!”
What a journey it’s been. We left Minneapolis behind us for the East Coast and so many tales from then until now.
You handled our flight out of Minneapolis fine. To keep the moving day from being too traumatic, you and Daddy went to Mall of America to enjoy the rides and look at all your favorite stores one last time; Rainforest Cafe, The Apple Store, Legoland and The Disney Store.
BAD KITTY!We are riding the train!Fast and Furious? Nah, just Dora’s ride.Snack time. No pictures!
Mommy was brave and handled the move out single handedly. We all slept in a hotel the night before our flight and whoosh, we ended our Minnesota chapter just like that, but not without making some great friends that we hope visit us.
Ready for take off. No, seriously.
In our NEW home we spent the first month in a two bedroom, corporate apartment. Since we had very few of our things, Daddy bought you a small Duplo farm set which kept you fairly well entertained. Fortunately, too, was the proximity to the Mall of Columbia and the public library. You got your very first library card with Mommy and you both picked out books to read. You also started spelling out little sentences with your letters. Sometimes, to great comic effect, as the last picture shows:
Pretty impressive…Or maybe this one? All unprompted…And CORRECTED Daddy by putting the second ‘N’ in ‘Susquehanna’ (a bank here)And in case you forgot, “DONT EAT KIDS”
Your recall is a thing of wonder. You are able to remember the tiniest details about places we went and things we’ve seen. One afternoon, you held your spoon up to your face and said you were doing Starbucks. We had no idea what you meant, until you finally got us to understand that you were using your spoon like the headsets used by the Baristas through the drive through.
Telling Daddy you’re doing Starbucks…
We also took another trip to DC to visit the Smithsonian Museums. We only got through a couple because you were a little cranky and we were all very tired from the transition. As usual, your FAVORITE thing was the butterfly exhibit in the Museum of Natural History. Even though you were tired, you and mommy spent quite a lot of time looking at the hatching, flying and perching butterflies. Daddy waited for you two at the end of the exhibit, so we didn’t get too many pictures in there.
But wait, there’s something else I haven’t touched yet!LIGHT AS A BUTTERFLY, right mom?Snacks with Mommy for a little bit.
Daddy had to spend some time in New York for work so you and mommy went to the Baltimore Aquarium, the National Zoo and some other fun places. You seemed to adjust well to the new life here, except for some sniffles, which we feared might be allergies or the damp temporary apartment.
And before you knew it, we were closing on our house; OUR house. Dishwashers to buy, boxes to unpack (and we’re STILL unpacking boxes) and new hazards for you to navigate, but you seem to be handling yourself well. You even, uh… helped:
Look! We’re buying a HOUSE!
MOST of our “fun time” has been going to Lowes, Best Buy, Target and Home Depot to buy the things we need to keep our home comfortable. And you particularly enjoy the trips to the new AMAZING grocery store near our house called Wegmans. It might just be your favorite place to eat, this side of Pasta Blitz (your other favorite restaurant which you fondly call “Booger Blitz” for some reason).
You still spend an a lot of time learning new words. Before dinner one evening you spelled “Westminster” as in Abbey. Something you learned from your London ABCs book. And you still tell me W is for “Wimbledon”.
Westminster? Easy…
All in all, you seem to like your new room too, which has an amazingly high ceiling. You also are an amazingly lucky kid because you have your own bathroom! Mommy decorated it with all Circo jungle stuff. You love it.
The latest things:
You have a wicked sense of humor and constantly try to crack us up.
You charm nearly every store clerk you meet by reading their name badge.
The words ‘boogers’ and ‘poop’ have taken on a whole new level of hilarity.
Speaking of poop, you’re doing an awesome job of getting to the toilet for that activity.
You continue to amaze us and keep us entertained. Looking forward to Halloween with you this year in our real neighborhood.
Today was the Pride Parade and Festival in Loring Park. So Mommy and Daddy, knowing how much you like butterflies (and lanterns) figured there would be plenty for you to see today. AND since we went last year and you had such a good time at the playground, we took you to the same one.
Let’s investigate, shall we?The intrepid explorer surveys the ascent.I can see my house from here!If I START here, do you think anyone will notice?Mommy has blue hair. And you love it!
It’s been a VERY busy month. Below are just some of the fun things we have done so far:
We spent LOTS of time at playgrounds and with sidewalk chalk. And why not? The weather is great!
Yarr. I be the scourge o’ tha play yard.Not now. I’m spelling.Nicely done mommy. Now watch this…Wait, I NOT supposed to erase sidewalk chalk with my butt?
You and mommy went to Toddler Tuesday where you caught prizes at the “Kiddie Carnival”.
When in MinnesotaAren’t I supposed to release this toy?
We walked 3 miles, up and back our street while it was close for the “Open Streets” festival. We also at at World Street Kitchen TWICE because you liked it so much the first time.
Butterflies & Lanterns spotted, Captain!ON YOUR LEFT!
And you’ve really started to act much more like a BIG boy. You’ve been sitting in booster seats more than high chairs and you even have tried (pretty successfully) drinking from an open topped cup.
Drinking like a BIG boy at the World Street Kitchen.BOOSTED!
You have enjoyed lounging around as well as playing. You really love your new travelling chair that Grandma Yeoman got you.
Living the dream.PERFECT!
You also started a new game with daddy called “Kangaroo”, where you call it out and he has to jump three times. As you can see, it makes you VERY happy.
JUMP FOR ME MINION!
Most importantly, you’ve started reading like CRAZY and spelling things. So much that we got you TWO sets of magnetic letters. You entertained Daddy this weekend by spelling “hip hop” on your own…
I’m working on my novel…It’s a bunny rabbit thing. You wouldn’t understand.
We went to see our sick friend Kris on May 17th. It was a sad trip, because we don’t think Kris will be well, but you really enjoyed visiting old friends like Uncle Iggy (Igor Davila) and your biggest brother, Brandon. And you were a travel champion, this being your longest road trip.
The trip was a lot of fun. For our first night’s rest, we stopped in a hotel called the Arrowhead Lodge which had a big, orange moose out front. In fact, all throughout the hotel there were lots of moose that held your attention. We stopped to eat at a restaurant called the Roadside Grille which had surprisingly good food, but also had a stuffed cougar and bear that left Mommy a little taken aback.
ORANGES MOOSE!Sleep? I think not!Not on the menu, I hope…
The second day we pushed through to Chicago and stayed with Brandon and Maureen, who you still adore. They let us stay in Maureen’s dad’s condo on Lake Shore Drive. Even though it was a very high floor, Daddy chilled out (he hates heights, you see) and we had a good time there. Though not thrilled to at first, you warmed up to your Pea Pod and slept there much of the night. When you awoke, nervously crying out, Mommy and Daddy brought you into bed and you snuggled in with us.
You got to visit the Lincoln Park Zoo again but this time you were old enough to call out all the animals, pick where you wanted to go and got a great floppy hat to keep the sun off your face.
Really? I HAVE to hold your hand?Ah, the joys of a good bench.And the baby bear said…Let’s just live here, okay?Yeah, I’m stylin’… AND profilin’
On Saturday you got to eat at Chicago Diner again. Mommy was very happy.
I’ll be having the thing here which I can’t pronounce…
On Sunday afternoon we all played in a park (Wendt Playlot), where we met a lady that was playing the banjo. You enjoyed hearing her play.
Later that day, we visited Kris and all our old friends at Samantha Sanders and John Farbrother’s house. You go to meet a lot of people and kept up a good front, but by the end of the day we were all very tired. The best part of the day for you was getting to play with Levi, Kris’s Labrador retriever.
Bring those balls to me, beast! (Please?)
That night we drove to Indiana to stay in the Raddison, where you were very interested in the front lobby waterfall and pool. The next morning we all got up and had breakfast with Grandma and Grandpa (Yeoman).
Seriously, a waterfall?Hey, look! Grandma and Grandpa!
After we left, we drove back to Chicago to see our friends Matt, Lisa and Piper (who you continued to call “Baby Piper” since she was only 8 months old). We saw some amazing things in the museum; stuffed animals, bones, giant elephant and bioluminescent creatures. You got tired fairly early, so we left to drive across Wisconsin. One more night of hotels kept you entertained and then we went back home.
Heh heh heh. Hippo poop!BUTTONS!Matt, Lisa and (baby) Piper
You also got your first taste of Pizza Hut which you LOVED.
Saaaaay… this is tasty pizza.PIZZA HUT FTW!
Tastier and tastier…
Things you say recently:
“That’s the rule. Mommy teaches me that”
“Listen to the drop on dubstep. Daddy talks about that”
You sing your ABCs with amazing precision and pitch.
You are reading like CRAZY. You read the book “Blue Hat, Green Hat” on first opening and knew all but ONE word.
Last night you went to your SECOND ever baseball game, but you were really ready for it. You asked about it during dinner and were upset when we didn’t park exactly near the stadium; I think you thought we’d changed our minds but no chance.
Nice seats, dad.
You got to eat a huge pretzel, sit in your own seat, wear daddy’s hat (which you seemed to like a lot), walk around with daddy and then see the huge “Target Puppy” known as Bullseye.
MINE! It’s MINE!King of the PretzelSwing Batta Batta BattaSneaking off for a picture
You even got your picture with T.C., the big bear mascot for the Twins. What made it even better was our team, the White Sox, won the game. Well done, our little good luck charm!
High five with a bear? Are you mental?Do I smell bear on your breath?T.C. and C.H.White Sox rule(d)!
Your newest accomplishment? You’ve gone number TWO on the potty two days in a row! You’re on the path to UNDIES!
Tonight you decided to read daddy a book. Excuse the drooling… we think it’s just because you may have allergies.
And when asked what you’re reading you not only tell us “Potty”, but you give the author’s name… Leslie Patricelli.
Also this week you told mommy to “wait for drop on Deadmau5 dubstep. Daddy talks ’bout that” and after snorting gleefully you told Daddy “you’ve got boogers”.
It's Campbell Time! 