Curbing her enthusiasm

Every Monday night for the last 10 weeks, Daddy has had to work late. So late we don't see him until the next day. Generally, Ewan and I have been on our best behavior for Mamma. But we kept her on her toes tonight. As soon as we got in the door, one of us was constantly demanding food, to be picked up, or to be rocked/read to sleep. All in an effort to remind Mamma how much she should enjoy that quality 1:2 time with us.

Natural talents

Drumming comes naturally to my Daddy, but I have to practice. What does come naturally to me is palming orange balls (oranges for now, I'll work up to basketballs) and loving to jump and watch people jump. But then again, I'm also really good at palming $20 bills.

Visitors

GranDen (aka "Bran-den", because it's hard to say gran) and NeeNee have been living in my playroom for the last few days. But that's okay, because they help me build amazing bridges and buildings and lakes and statues with my blocks. For hours and hours and hours. While I knock everything down. I'm testing their resolve. So far they're doing well. Their reward? I let them read me bedtime stories!

Photographs

We will sit beside each other. But to ask us to both look at you at the same time, with smiles on our faces, without fingers up our noses or up each others noses? That's a lot to ask for. It's not that we're selfish or self-centered. It's just that we have a hard time thinking about anyone else but ourselves.

Breakfast

NeeNee: What day is today? Oh, I remember, today's Friday.

n: Time for cheesecake!

Thankful

I'm thankful for cookies and candy and cheesecake and lollipops and ice cream and bubbles and hugs and cuddles and family.

Thankful

I'm thankful for food and hugs and snuggles and swaddles and soothies and sleep and family.

NeeNee's coming back!

The best thing about grandmothers: They will go to all lengths to amuse their grandchildren.

n: NeeNee's coming back and she'll give kisses and hugs and change my diaper.

Gunshow

My uncle missed this gun on his t-shirt print. I guess it's okay. He did design it before I was born.

Great big huge massive gargantuan poopoo

M: WHHHOOOOAAA!

e: ah-uh-dun.

Tomatoes

n: Can I have some tomatoes for dessert? Look. They're red. Red is so beeeautiful!

Got it

Okay. I get it. My sister loves me. NOW WILL SOMEONE GET HER OFF ME SO I CAN BREATHE?!

NeeNee?

NeeNee always cries when she leaves me. She didn't cry this time. Did I do something wrong? Has she been replaced by an impostor? It couldn't have anything to do with her return in 3 days, because any time away from me would be sheer torture!

Nagging works

I was finally given the chance to feed myself. Sure, most of it went on the floor. But I was able to grab a whole bunch of these tasty little circles in my hand and eventually gnaw through my fingers to get them into my mouth! Told you I could do it myself if given the chance.

Misses

n: Where's Uncle Yo? Where did he go? We need to find him.

Money

NeeNee: Here's money for dinner.

M: Thanks.

n: NO! Give me the money!

And then I safely put the money in my oven, because that's where dinner comes from.

Slight/Minor hearing impairment

M: We're going to do a research experiment today.
n: Oooohhh. Sounds fun.
M: They're going to put things in your ears and you'll hear noises.
n: Like birds. We don't put bananas in our ears.

What Mamma didn't share with me was that the researcher would share my secret of having a slight to minor hearing impairment in my ears. He ruined my excuse for not listening when Mamma and Daddy are trying to tell me to do stuff I don't want to do. Especially when they yell at me from across the room. Sure, it could be temporary or left-over liquid from being sick the last couple of weeks. But it was my secret!

Big Bath!

I outgrew bathing in the kitchen sink. Much like I'm outgrowing my clothing, my swaddling blankets, my shoes...

Boogies

Mamma and Daddy told me I shouldn't eat the boogies I pick out of my nose. They didn't say anything about eating the boogies I lick out of my nose!

7 months!

I decided to go for a Pretty in Pink theme for my mirthday party. To go along with my case of pink eye. However, I don't understand how Daddy leaving for a conference on my mirthday is a present. But NeeNee came to see me. Now, if only I could remember who NeeNee is, I'd be a happier boy. Maybe she'll give me food.

Because. I love food. I can't get enough food. Please feed me during the night, all day, many times, as much as you can. Thank you. I'd feed myself if I could. And maybe I can if I'd be given the chance. I can hold two items at a time, and I'm getting better at grabbing for small objects (it's quite reinforcing to see Mamma and Daddy quickly running to get the small items away from me). And I put everything I grab into my mouth. I especially love grabbing for Mamma and Daddy's food while they carry it and me somewhere. Messy messy!

I sit very well (especially in my high chair - have I mentioned how much I love food?). And am learning to lunge for items out of my reach. Which usually ends up bruising my forehead. So I'm now trying the roll/scoot/pivot. Still don't have an urge to figure out crawling which I'm told will get me places faster. I'm still content to take things slow and steady. As long as I get what I want, I'm happy.

And speaking of happy. I've always got a big smile for you. Unless I'm hungry and not being fed, or too tired to think happy thoughts. But I keep my biggest smiles for my sister. We've have this special bond that doesn't require words.

Perseveration

M: Will you help me do the laundry?

n: Yes. We go downstairs.

M: Yes, the laundry is in the basement.

n: And then we have lollipop.

It's the little things

So many colors, so few nails. I'd like my right toes blue, by left toes purple, my right fingers pink and my left fingers light blue. Thanks.

Names

Of course I know my own name! Why else would I look at you when you call me? Do I look at you when you call me Sweetie, Honey, Pookie, Skully? Okay. Sometimes. But I know my real name too!

Bonding

I'm teaching Ewan the essentials of Disney, Pixar and Dreamworks.

Reminder

I think Mamma and Daddy started to take me for granted. So BAM! I woke up in the middle of the night for an hour. And then BAM BAM! I pooped 4 times in one day. And then BAM BAM BAM! I was that crying baby while grocery shopping. They needed to be reminded of how great I am.

Cleanliness

I'm a pretty clean eater. Not because I like to be clean or because I'm neat. But because I'm so incredibly hungry I don't see the sense in wasting any food! Seconds please!

Cinderella

I'm only just getting over my 2 week long bug, but I'm excited to help out around the house. It's no fun being sick!

Sleep

I am quite dependent on my Soothie for falling asleep. I know I should learn to suck my own thumb, but it tastes so much better to suck my thumb through my Soothie. So why change?

Trends

5 minutes ago: I love you lots and lots and lots.

Current trend: I love you soooo much.

HELP!!!

Mamma's threatening to cut my bangs to keep my unruly hair out of my face. Please send help (hair bands, hair elastics, barrettes, hats, or my preferred option - Mamma-restraints)!

labels

M: You're my daughter.

n: No, I'm a girl!

Mood swings

If you can filter water, how come you can't filter Mamma's hormones out of my milk?

Swedish meatballs

Nina loves meatballs. She claims to like Blue Store meatballs more than Mamma's meatballs. Either way. I like the way they look. Can I have some soon?

Are you accusing me of not finishing my snack?

Because I don't see any crackers under my plate.

And tonight. You said if I finished my meatballs, I'd get dessert. You didn't qualify that "finishing" didn't include throwing the meatballs in the garbage! NOW GIVE ME MY CHOCOLATE!!!

I are serious baby

This are serious post.

Logic

M: How are oranges and pumpkins the same?

n: Seeds!

Me do!

I can feed myself. I can draw by myself. I can pick my own clothing. And I can most definitely make a big mess by myself!

Row-row-row your boat

I'm getting seasick trying to figure out what bug I have. I'm sick. I'm happy. I'm sick. Repeat!

Advice to my baby brother

When you get old enough to enjoy the pleasures of Hallowe'en, please remember that lemon Tootsie Rolls and Smarties do not mix. And while Smarties are good, M&Ms are waaaay better.

To all Canadians out there, the above mentioned Smarties are also pictured above, and are not M&M-like chocolate candy.

n: I miss Lauren....

n: ... and Pat and Beth and Trevor. I loves Lauren. Lauren reads books. Where did Lauren go?

Do I look sick to you?

Mamma and Daddy were working too hard. They needed a forced vacation. So while they thought I was healthy yesterday and I could go back to daycare today - WRONG! I wasn't done spending time with them. Home again tomorrow - yay! And since I got Nina sick, she gets to stay home with me too! I love Motrin.

Obviously Christmas is coming

(pointing at a photo)
n: Who's that?
M: Morfar.
n: Oh. I lo-ove Morfar.

Silly Mamma

You think with a PhD Mamma would be smarter. She shouldn't wash hairs off of my Soothie with her mouth. But she really shouldn't do that when I'm sick. Now she doesn't feel good. Silly Mamma.

I'm easily bribed

Ewan doesn't feel good. So I'm helping Mamma take care of him. I'm being a very good helper. And it has nothing to do with the lollipops and Baby Ruths and movies that Mamma is giving me or letting me watch.

Not fun

Staying home with Mamma = fun.

Being sick and teething at the same time = not fun.

Again!

I'm skilled at picking up my daycare-mate's illnesses. I'm trying to get all of them for my collection. My most recent acquisition is a runny nose, cough, fever, need for cuddles, sleepiness and throw-up sickness. It's a good one too, I had to change my outfit three times today! And the best part, I get to spend a day with Mamma tomorrow. I never get to see Mamma and Daddy (they're always working), so I like collecting illnesses to spend more time with them.

Lollipops

M: You sure do love lollipops.

n: I do, I do, I do!

8am

CANDY AT 8AM! I LOVE HALLOWE'EN!!!!