Listen up....

Well Mommy can't say that I never listen to her... Sunday after church M&D raced home to get me lunch before I fell asleep. We got home right at noon and Mommy quickly fixed lunch. I was busy eating and talking to Mommy all during lunch. When I was almost done, Mommy got up to rinse out my rag and while at the sink told me that I just had to finish eating and then I could take a nap. Just at that moment Daddy came up from downstairs (he had been watching the football game while eating), so Mommy stayed at the sink talking to him for 2 minutes while he got out chips & dip. When Mommy turned around, this is what she found......me asleep in my high chair. HEY, she just told me i just had to finish eating, she didn't say anything about having to be put down in my crib!!! So after Mommy finished laughing, she put down my rag, grabbed the camera, took a quick picture and then put me down in my crib where I would be more comfortable! When she looked at the clock she realized it was 12:29 (I usually lay down for my nap sometime between noon and 12:30). I definitely like to stay on schedule...and since M&D were busy talking I just took it upon myself to do what I was told!

Fun times

This past week has been very busy and exciting. Mommy was offered free tickets to the Thursday night Avs game and M&D decided to take me. I fell asleep on the way to the game, so I was ready to go once we got there! It was very fun to watch everything that was going on--from the ice to the people around me--although I wasn't too sure what was going on when the Avs scored the first goal; all that noise from the fog horn and people cheering! I made friends with the 7-month behind me and even tried to exchange my Elmo musical toy for her bottle!! I had fun until mid-way through the 3rd period and then I started getting restless, so Mommy and I walked the whole stadium and then went to change into my jammies, so I could sleep comfortably on the way home. However I was so excited about everything I had just seen that I talked halfway home!!

Friday, once I woke up M&D and I headed to the hospital to give Gramma wishes before her surgery. I spent the next few hours walking the hospital halls (all the way from the surgery center to the gift shop & back and then to the cafeteria), walking in and out of the sliding doors, watching the fish and just being busy. When Mommy took me home for a nap, I don't know who was more tired--her or me?? After nap we headed back to the hospital to wait for Gramma to get out of the recovery room and up to her room. But good news--Gramma's surgery went very well and she got home from the hospital today.

Then Saturday after visiting Gramma, M&D took me to the Denver Zoo. I liked the animals best when they were close to the fence and moving. The emu and gorilla was the most interesting, until the gorilla ran at me and stopped by the glass. That was a little too close for my comfort.

On Sunday, Daddy had to run to the store to get a gift for my cousin's birthday, so while he was there he picked up a new toy for me. Mommy had noticed that lately I've been getting really mad at my blocks because they wouldn't stick together. But now, I have Legos to play with!

I have also been busy exploring other things around me, like my own crib. Mommy came into my room one evening last week when I wouldn't settle down right away and found me with one leg over the side. So needless to say, Mommy lowered my mattress two notches. Her theory--lower the side before I figured out that I could get out. She's not quite ready for me to be that mobile!!!

Irish duckies?

The first time I wore this outfit Mommy got a comment at the park that I looked like a little Irish girl. I will let you decide--what with the green shirt and red hair.

The other night I found duckies on my pajama's. While Mommy was helping me get my arms in my pjs she was telling me about the design. So when she told me that they were rubber duckies like I play with in my bath, I just had to look and then go show Daddy. The next night when Mommy asked if I wanted to put my pjs on, I started pointing to my arm where the duckies were the night before.

Playing dress-up

The other day, Mommy and I played dress-up. I would bring a doll to Mommy and she would put its clothes on and my socks on it. Then I would hug it and give it back to Mommy so that she could undress it and start all over again. It was lots of fun.
On a side note Mommy says she has created a ketchup monster. She gave me ketchup about 2 weeks ago with fries. Once I got a taste of it, I kept pointing to the bottle and asking "pease". Since then I have gotten other dipping sauces--BBQ and sweet&sour. They are all good. Well 2 days ago, Daddy was offering me some of his lunch and had dipped the first couple of nugget pieces in ketchup before giving them to me. So when he put a few more on my tray WITHOUT ketchup, I just had to hand one back to him and say "ketchup". Mommy says that I am truly a Leivestad! However, after I am done with ketchup, sometimes Mommy gets to play dress-up with my clothes depending on if she remembered to put a bib on me or not!!!!

Being Silly

Last weekend, M&D went out ATV riding. They took me along so that I could play outside. I found the dog kennel in our friends' camper a very fun place to play. I kept going in & out.

The dogs were a little suspicious of me and kept watching me very closly everytime I went near their sleeping quarters. But I had fun.

My new talent is jumping! I get on our footstool and jump off. I also figured out how to dump all my toys out
and use the toybox as a jumping block also. Sometimes my "jump" is more a big step off. I usually fall onto my stomach but get right back up and do it again!

I have started posing for pictures. I scrunch up my eyes and smile big. Mommy just laughs at me. However, she claims it doesn't make very good pictures, since my eyes are shut. But she just had to share them, since they are cute.

I still enjoy dancing to any music. I have added a few new dance steps. Here Daddy is singing for me and I am twirling around. I have to look over my shoulder so I can see where I am going, so it makes me very dizzy.

Growing up!

I am growing up so fast. Last week at my 15 month appointment I was 31 1/2 inches long and 19.7 pounds. I am learning new things everyday like putting my shoes on.I haven't quite accomplished that feat to the point where I can walk around with my shoes on, but not for lack of trying!

Last night I slept all night--more than 10 hours (from 8:10-6:20). I have been sleeping consisently to after 5:20 and then fall back to sleep for another hour. But last night made Mommy proud! Now I just have to do that every night!

I have learned quite a few body parts and can point them out when asked. I can find my nose, ears, hair, tongue, belly button and toes. I can also point them out on M&D. Daddy thinks it is funny when we are in public to ask me where my belly button is, because after I show mine I try to lift up Mommy's shirt to point out hers. Daddy laughs and Mommy just rolls her eyes at him!