SuperBowl Party

On Sunday, we had a SuperBowl party. Most of Daddy's family came over, two couples from church and one of Daddy's co-workers, so we had quite a full house. Ususally Mommy and Daddy attempt to keep me "quaratined" to the floor that they are on, but with so many people the door to the basement was left open so I could climb up and down the stairs and pretty much go wherever I wanted. I was chasing after my cousins; running all over the house, until they stopped to watch a movie! I also very much enjoyed all the food. Mommy thought there was way too much, but honestly didn't have too many leftovers so I guess it was just about perfect. Anyhow, M&D set up the card table to put all the snacks on. The card table was just the right height that I could go up to it, reach my arm up, feel around a little and grab whatever I wanted. So Mommy had to make sure all the food on the edge was food I could have. I made Mommy laugh a few times when I went to get crackers and "toppings"--everyone else put cheese or meat on them--but I decided I wanted to make mine a carrot&broccoli cracker. Mommy later found quite a few carrots around the basement, ones I had taken a bite or two out of, and then decided I didn't want it anymore.

Earlier in the week I had to get ready to cheer. Mommy thought I looked like a little gangster with my baseball cap on and a medal around my neck. I didn't stand still long enough for a great picture, but here are two to give you an idea.

Daddy's Girl

Since our sickness (and two days of cuddling with Daddy on the couch), I have decided that being Daddy's girl is quite the thing. This has caused Mommy a little bit of "soul-searching." It's not that Mommy is jealous, just trying to figure out her different role. Bedtime was always Mommy's duty (and her favorite part of the day--cuddling in the dark, rocking gently,quiet time just the two of us without any care in the world!!). But all week, I have fought with her and only want Daddy. The last two nights have been better, as Mommy has figured out just to ask me who I want to rock with (plus Mommy realized that she gets an extra half-hour at the end of the day by not having to rock me). It makes for a more peaceful evening (no fighting with Mommy, and just rocking with Daddy!!). I still let her read our night-night book (toddler devotional book) and say prayers with me. But I just want to cuddle with Daddy--and I don't think there is anything wrong with that at all.

I want to be like Daddy so much, that the other evening at supper I tried to give myself a beard!!

New Things

I have been busy learning lots of new things. Sorry Mommy has been so slow getting them shown. About 3 weeks ago we had a nasty flu bug. I got sick Sunday morning, then Daddy Monday afternoon, and Mommy Monday night. We were all home sick on Tuesday. It was Saturday before I finally kept food down. M&D got better faster than I did, but that stomach bug was nasty to me. Then I decided that I didn't have quite enough teeth, so I have been trying to push a few more through. (over Christmas I got my molars, but now I am working on the teeth in between my four front ones and my molars). Anytime that I am teething, I tend to get a runny nose which usually turns into a little bit of a cold. Luckily this time around, it has stayed in my nose and hasn't migrated to my chest.

Anyhow, back to the new things I have learned recently. I discovered that walking backwards is quite fun.

I also learned to build a tower out of Legos. Ok, I still need help with that one, but I do love to play with them.

I have started taking a big interest in my stuffed animals and dolls. I usually carry George wherever I go. Two of my babies play piano duets with me every night also (Mommy hasn't got that on tape yet, though!) I also try to feed my babies or as this video shows change their dirty diapers.

George

I have a new best friend--Curious George!! D bought me George just before Christmas and I have grown attached to him like no other toy I have (except maybe my singing Elmo I still have from my infant carseat days!). Anyhow I love my George. He's even on TV. D started taping his shows and I always ask for "more" when it gets over. I took George out to NJ with me and tried to teach him a few things. For instance I tried to help him go potty, but he fell in!! He got a very quick trip to the laundry machine after that accident! I also tried to get him to do things once M&D told me I couldn't. They never said George couldn't, so I would take George's hand and try to grab what I wasn't supposed to have. It's nice to have such a good friend. I hope you all have a good of friend as I have in George. He even sleeps with me, what a pal!

"Want to Be Like YOU!"

M&D have begun to realize that I want to be just like them and so I try everything I see them doing. It makes them think just how much they have to learn and how they need to always be doing the right things. Daddy sang about this at my baptism--the song "I Want to Be Like You" by Philips, Craig and Dean--the fact that parents need to be just like their Heavenly Father because their children want to be just like them! The copying does lead to some pretty cute and funny incidents though.

I told you about going to the Japanese steakhouse in Vermont...well I wanted to be just like the Hibachi chef and so I grabbed the only utensils I had at the moment--2 straws and tried to chop up my food like he was. The fire was pretty cool, too!!






Then when Aunt R. was using the chopsticks to eat, I decided to try myself and feed her with them; she claimed I even actually gave her a piece of rice!

When my aunts & uncles got into a snowball fight after church Sunday I just had to join in.
M&D weren't sure if I was "getting" my uncle or giving him ammuniation to use!!!

Grandpa got a new pair of gloves for running and both M and Aunt M. tried them on, so I just had to also. I admit I have a little more growing to do before they'll fit me perfectly!

Then the last night we were at G&G, everyone was playing cards. I got my own deck and played soltaire under the table. That way no one could disturb me!!

Christmas

For Christmas, I got to go visit G&G out in NJ. I had tons of fun (once we got there). My adventure started Christmas Eve morning after opening presents from Santa (he came a day early to our house!) and after a quick visit to my doctor for my 18 month check-up (i'm well just in case you are wondering--20 1/2 pounds and 32 inches tall). Anyhow we made it to the airport quickly and in plenty of time for our 12:30 flight. However, the plane wasn't there in plenty of time. I got lots and lots of time to explore the airport while we waited for clearance to take off--due to ground delays at Newark airport because of freezing rain. I walked up and down the escalators, and moving walkways. I even got to ride the tram between all 3 concourses. M&D were trying to delay my nap until we got on the plane (although I got a very short one on the way to the airport), but after being delayed 3 hours with no end in sight, M&D finally let me sleep. FINALLY after being in the airport for almost 7 hours we boarded our plane. M&D were very proud of how well behaved I was on the plane--hardly a peep out of me, except when I was laughing so hard at M playing with my water bottle like a top and she got distracted by our neighbor who was also laughing at me and so I tossed the water bottle at D and ended up spilling his pop all over him and the aisle! We ended up landing about 5 1/2 hours later than we were supposed to; so instead of arriving to a big Christmas Eve dinner we got there almost at midnight. I fell asleep on the way to G&G house (since I had been up the whole plane ride!), so I didn't get to see everyone until Christmas morning. I got to open presents after church. M&D have taught me to be very clean as you can see from this video!




After opening presents we had dinner and then headed up to Vermont for a few nights. I did really well on the 6 hour car-ride. I even entertained myself with Patty-Cake.




However, M made the mistake of telling me about the pool at the hotel about 10 miles from town and I couldn't understand why I couldn't swim right this instance!! I made up for it the next day when M, my aunts & uncles and Grandpa went skiing. I took Grandma to the pool and spent the whole day there (ok so only 4 hours in 3 different shifts!). That night we all went to a Japanese steakhouse. I was so enthralled with the Hibachi chef. We also toured Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Factory before leaving Vermont and saw three covered bridges. Anyhow, once we headed back to NJ I spent the next few days just sightseeing around G&G house. We went for a few walks, took all my naps (trying to push Aunt R. off M&D's bed one time when she napped with me--hey a girl needs her space!), had a snowball fight, went into NY to Coney Island to get a hot dog and to see the window displays, played with all my new toys (and some old ones as well!) and just hung out. With being the only grandchild I got plenty of attention!! I had tons of fun with G&G and my aunts and uncles. Isn't Mommy's family wonderful?!

And aren't I a cutie in one of my new outfits?!

Early Christmas

Since we will be gone for Christmas Eve, we celebrated with Daddy's family on Sunday. Here's a picture of me unwrapping one present. Mommy thinks I got spoiled, but I guess that's the beauty of being the baby!!! Doesn't Daddy have a nice family? That's me hiding way in the back!!!!
Here I am with all my cousins.

I head out to New Jersey tomorrow morning. I can't wait. I know G&G are very excited to see me and I am very excited to see them!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE!!!

Potty training

So no pictures or videos for this post.... But I surprised Mommy Friday night by wanting to use the toilet. Even more surprising, at least to Mommy is that I was actually successful in my attempt. So Saturday morning Mommy tried again with no success. But later that day when we were at the bookstore i found a Elmo Potty book that I would not let go off. I really wanted to take it out of the store, so Mommy caved in and figured she would read it to me and try again Sunday. I was successful twice before church Sunday, then again just before we left the church, and before and after my nap. So according to Mommy I am officially starting potty training. I am not always successful and so definitely aren't getting rid of the diapers too soon. But as long as I am interested and having some success, Mommy figures she needs to encourage me.
However, once Mommy got out the potty my size, I really just wanted to sit on it and play with it. So actually I am more success on the big toilet (i guess because I know it's not a toy!!!) With Mommy having the rest of this week and most of next week off for Christmas, we'll see how far I get in this adventure!!

Santa

I went to visit Santa today at Daddy's work. There were also clowns playing games, people making balloon animals (or in my case a cute hat), a gaint mouse and Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer. I got to eat a cookie and drink some punch before going to sit on Santa's lap. He was very nice and jolly. He even gave me a Tickle Me Cookie Monster. On the way home all I could talk about was Santa (at least that was the only word M&D could understand!!). He made my day, especially considering I am trying to push my "jaw" teeth through. One popped through Thursday morning, so now only 3 more.

Day at the museum

On Sunday I went to go the Denver Nature and Science museum with a few of my friends. We had a lot of fun. I got to see dinosaurs, gems and animals. There was a lot of interactive things for me to do also. I put a bone puzzle together, rode a llama in the hallway, climbed up to see the bear and even had the stroller protect me from a walking dinosaur strolling the halls. Quite a busy day...it's a good thing I had a nap on the drive down there.

The best part about the whole day was my discovery of drinking fountains. Mommy forgot my cup and both my friends had theirs, so I kept asking for a drink. Mommy finally let me try a drinking fountain to get a little water. I couldn't get enough.

I kept asking for MORE. Although towards the end Mommy couldn't tell if more water was getting in my mouth or on my shirt!!!

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Snow Days

It has finally snowed in Loveland. I have been enjoying the snow immensely. I even went to the park the other week in my snowsuit.
Last weekend we enjoyed a weekend in a cabin at the YMCA. (One of Mommy's perks for working is getting 7 comp nights a year.) There wasn't much snow,but I found a good spot to learn to sled.
I even helped M&D shovel the drive the other night.

18 month pictures (a little early...)

On Tuesday night M&D took me to get my picture taken. If I do say so myself, I'm pretty cute. Here is just a select sampling, most of which we didn't purchase in prints (but got the CD+copyright permission of all 55 poses FREE for purchasing 6 poses in prints).

Notice my shirt reads "Daddy's girl." He's my best bud and is really fun to play with. He knows all sorts of fun games, like Tickle Brileigh, Going to get you..., Horse-riding, and Chase the Dog. I like spending each late afternoon with him before Mommy gets home from work!

A lot of my pictures ended up being action shots. Come on...I'm way too busy to sit or stand still for a photo. One of the best pictures (at least in Mommy's opinion) is of me running full boar towards her with my big smile, although they only purchased one 10x13 in B&W. This is my run when I want to be picked up and raised high in the air. A few times Mommy tried in vain to keep me still. But then after all that work i just had to lounge and relax. Notice my ear grab...that's my tired sign. It's hard work being this cute all the time!!

Being silly

As I’ve mentioned before I am a big help around the house. Recently Daddy was eating leftover Halloween candy downstairs. He had the nerve not to share it with me; Mommy says I couldn’t have eaten it even if he had offered—something about it being too hard for me—but that’s not the point. Anyhow, Daddy was just piling his wrappers up on the footstool so he could throw them away later. I figured I would be helpful and throw them away for him. It took me 4 trips (Mommy only got 3 on video)!

Mommy also got my facination with dipping sauces on video. We had chicken nuggets and french fries the other night, so Mommy gave me ketchup. However, Mommy likes eating them with ranch and Daddy with BBQ sauce, plus the ketchup for the fries. So when I saw M&D using the different sauces, I wanted them too. Once they were on my plate, I couldn't make up my mind which one to use, so I just used them all at once.

Animal sounds....

Animals are so much fun. I especially love cats, dogs, ducks, sheep and horses. I am just beginning to learn all the different sounds they make. Here’s a video of Daddy teaching me. I point to an animal in my book and then Daddy makes the sound.
It is even more fun when he adds a little head-butting and tickling while making the cat and dog sounds.
Dogs are my favorite! Anytime I’m outside and hear a dog barking I always have to stop what I’m doing and look for it. The past 3 weeks I enjoyed playing with Val while M&D were at work; she would share her toys with me and let me play giddy-up! I also learned how to open the doggy door at L&L
when we stayed there for a night. It’s a good thing M&D do not have a latching baby gate, because I think I would have figured it out already. Sometimes M&D tell me that I am too smart for my own good!

Mommy started decorating for Christmas. She put animated deer outside on our lawn, which I get to help Daddy plug in each night. After playing in the park Saturday late afternoon, Mommy and I plugged the deer in before heading into the house. I just had to give each of them a hug bye-bye before I could leave.

Yesterday, my cousin had a theme birthday party and I got to dress up in a poodle skirt. Don't I look cute? Too bad I was born half a century too late--I really think I could have pulled that look off!!