First baseball game

I saw my first baseball game today. The Norwood Highlanders versus the Cincinnati Buckeyes. They play funny baseball like it is 1869, complete with costumes and no gloves! And they gave me a signed baseball! Pretty exciting for my first game.

Shoes!

I put them on. All by myself!

Blue

Gender stereotypes tell me that blue is a boy color.

Psoriasis

n: What is that? Is that your booboos?
D: Yeah, those are Daddy's booboos.
n: Why do you have those booboos?
D: I've always had them.
n: Why?
D: Because I was born with them.
n: Because you're old.

Keeping it classy

If you let me go diaper-less, I will make a deposit.

Gum

I wasn't allowed gum until I was older. But I really really wanted it. Thankfully parades provide a mountain of Double Bubble. Mamma and Daddy had to give in!

Stinking hot

Wanna know what happens when it's 100'F outside? The camera lens fogs up when it comes out of an air conditioned house.

Parade!

Two years ago at this parade was the first time Nina had candy. I've been having candy for years. There are benefits to being the second child.

New rules for paraders. They can't throw candy at kids anymore. So now they come up to you to give you candy right in your hands! I don't think I saw a moment of the parade - I was too busy opening up candy.

Robyn

I have three teachers in the Turtle room. Dana, Robyn and Angel. Because I spend so much time with them, I sometimes accidentally call Robyn "mamma". And at home, I sometimes accidentally call Mamma "robyn". I think I spend a lot of time in the Turtle room.

Nina's habits

I like to do everything Nina does. If she says something, I say it too. If she dances or moves a certain way, I do it too. If she giggles a certain way, I do it too. And if she eats her boogies, I eat mine too.

Daddy's home!

Daddy was gone for 4 days. This made it very difficult to do anything else but be a good listener and take care of Mamma. But now he's back! And I can run loose and wild and throw things again! I'm so glad he's back!

Shrek karaoke dance

On very special nights Mamma and Daddy let me stay up and watch So You Think You Can Dance. The answer is: yes.

I have a lot of friends who are Mormon

n: If you have 2 mommies, that's okay. If you have one mommy, that's okay. If you have one daddy, that's okay. If you have 2 daddies, that's okay too. And you can have one boy or 2 boys or one girl or two girls, and that's all okay. We have one Mamma and one Daddy and one boy and one girl. We're okay.
M: What about if you have no babies?
n: That's okay.
M: what about if you have 15 or even 20 boys or girls?
n: Well, that's okay. But if you had that many than we would be all squished in our house and I would get pushed out and the house would break. That's a little too many.

We're not obnoxious

We're sweet angels, requesting a nice glass of cold milk.

Wait a minute

I like creeping into Mamma and Daddy's bed in the very early morning to sleep and cuddle with them. When Mamma was out of town I definitely had more room in bed. Then she came back but now Daddy is gone? Okay, fine, I'll sleep on his side of the bed. But I don't think Mamma and Daddy have to resort to leaving town to get more room in bed.

Music

Cole is teaching Nina to swim. Nina is teaching me to play music and sing! I might have to teach her about tune and keys though.

Whhheeeee

Now this is what I call going to the beach! It's the biggest body of water I've ever been in, and I only want more! Thanks to Cole and Luke for playing with us and sharing all their stuff while Mamma had some Thing to do. And thanks Cole for teaching me how to be a superhero. Now that I'm a superhero, I know to eat my zucchini and squash because they help fine tune my superhero vision and hearing. But shhh, it has to be a secret identity.

Licensed clinical psychologist

I'm not sure what that is, but I guess it's now Mamma's other name. And Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics. That's supposed to mean she helps kids or something. As long as she keeps helping us too!

Payback

Affection

I LOVE how you steal my toys. I LOVE it when you hit me. I LOVE that you eat my crackers. I LOVE you sooo much!

Classes

My friend Cole saved Mamma and Daddy money by teaching me how to swim. So Mamma thought that rather than paying for photography classes, she would just let me figure out the camera myself. I think I have a natural talent here.

Get out of jail free card

My great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather was the first sheriff of my county. Plus, his half-brother pretty much designed Cincinnati and Dayton. That must count for something when I'm older!

Bad Day for Daddy

1) Someone breaks into his car to steal broken sunglasses and a $5 Graeters gift card.
2) His wrist pain from the last 5 weeks is a torn ligament and he gets a cast for another 6 weeks. Past his elbow.
3) Daddy realizes all the things that will be more difficult for the next 6 weeks, and how it ruined his summer plans for fixing things around the house, exercising, drumming, typing, videogaming and picking us up.
4) Some of Daddy's electronics go fritz meaning the new movie he awesomely got me doesn't play.
5) Ewan gets sick.

On the upside. I told Daddy I would color his cast pink and purple. Because 6) the doctors didn't offer Daddy these colors.

Swimming

My friend Cole taught me how to swim in his pool after his birthday party. I learned how to put my face is the water, hold my breath the length of the pool, float on my back and do somersaults under water! He saved Mamma and Daddy $70 for swimming lessons. I think more 4 year olds should be giving swimming lessons.

Dogs

I'm scared of dogs. Big dogs, little dogs, any kind of size dog. Eventually I get used to them, but if I go to sleep, I forget how brave I am and have to start over.

Fun fun fun!

Friends and cupcakes and watermelon and pools and parks? I'm in toddler heaven!

Love?

(in Mamma's arms before bedtime, hugging both her and Daddy at the same time)
e: I love you Daddy. I love you Mamma.
(parents weep adoringly)
e: (pushing Daddy away) Go away Daddy.

I'll do anything for a lollipop

I love my Mamma. I cry for her when she drops me off at daycare. She told me I could have a lollipop after school if I said bye to her nicely without tears and being torn off of her leg. Okay. I can do that. I love lollipops. Poor Mamma. She thinks this was all her idea of how to reward appropriate behavior. She doesn't know that since she faded out giving me lollipops for keeping my hands to myself I had to come up with a new inappropriate behavior to get my sugar fix on the drive home!

11

What is with 11?

e: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 8, 9, 10, 11, 8, 9, 10, 11!

Lilian Elizabeth

Day after the big celebation

n: I want more fireworks. We should go buy some.
M: I think all the stores are closed today.

Day after the big celebration

e: Want more fireworks.

11

M: How do you want your waffles?
n: Cut up into 11 pieces.
M: How many strawberries do you want?
n: Eleven.
M: (gives 2 strawberries)
n: That's only two!
M: (cuts 2 strawberries into 11 pieces).
n: Thank you Mamma.

Safety third

Years ago Daddy started a tradition of putting safety third for July 4th. I ran Ewan over while driving, and I had to fall to the floor when some fireworks fell over. Mission accomplished! I love fireworks!

Family in town

More cousins! Another of Mamma's cousins, and more of my second cousins. It's fun to play hide and seek with Eva, and hide in the closet, and eat candy and just generally run around. Baby Lily is pretty to look at. But she sleeps a lot.

Placeholder

Too much partying. Love family in town. Must sleep.

Happy Canada Day!

Mamma dressed me in red and white today in honor of some far away country. And then we went to an Independence Day parade (in a clean change of clothing). Why they celebrate independence on Canada Day is for grownups to figure out. I just appreciate the candy, going to a barbeque, and being able to stay up until 10:15pm! Whatever holiday I'm celebrating, I'm having an awesome time!