Just another rainy day

So, it's been a wet, rainy day today. But, I found a great dry, indoor activity - playing in a Rubbermaid tub of oatmeal! The best part - letting Gertie lick my fingers then patting the oatmeal so it would stick to my hands. At first I wasn't so certain that I'd like to play in the oatmeal - it felt funny on my feet. Then, after awhile of holding onto the sides and sliding my feet around in it, my curiosity got the better of me and I plopped down on my bottom to explore some more. M served me a sippy cup of fresh orange juice when my throat was a little dry. This is the life!

Today I also strung wet noodles in my hair and over my ears; "painted" a piece of construction paper with water from a sponge; and wrapped myself up in wrapping paper. This last activity was my own idea!! M had left a roll within my reach, so after pulling it down to my level I was able to unroll it and play peek-a-boo as well as crawl all around on it.Did you know we have a spiral staircase in our house? It may look like a plant stand to some adults, but to me it was a challenging set of steps that had to be climbed!

Strolling about

I've been a little monkey today showing Uncle Jay all my tricks. Then, I got bored of sitting in the middle of the floor and so I pulled myself up and pushed the walker around. As you can see, I love navigating around tight situations. I am very concerned about where my daddy is throughout the day and try to look out the window for him from time to time (OK, so this awareness is a little bit of an exaggeration). I am also trying to vocalize "bye-bye".

Yesterday at playgroup I wouldn't let a red tricycle out of my grasp. It was really shiny with tassels and a bell; can you blame me? Of course, when mom pulled me in the red wagon that was pretty cool too. I love to be on the GO, GO, GO!

Cheerios!!

Here I am in action. I just love Cheerios. M let me loose in the kitchen - it's my winter playground. As you'll see in this video clip I was concentrating really hard to get to the bottom of my bowl of Cheerios. (You can hear me sigh at the end of the video.) Yes, I am wearing a name tag in the video - it was leftover from my morning book babies session at the library.

I love saying "hello"....it's difficult for me to say "Cheerio!" (or "bye-bye") as you'll see in this video clip where I keep picking up the phone instead of hanging up. Please excuse the dogs (a.k.a. camera hogs) who love to play with me whenever I'm sitting on the floor having fun!

You should see the other baby...

Well, I received my first "shiner" (under my right eye; your left). You see, I was hanging out at the milk bar on Saturday night when this set of sextuplets came in claiming they were super babies. Well, I couldn't just sit there and listen to such babbling, so I crawled over, and....

M says that I'm certainly not a cry baby - I just shook off my boo-boo and went on playing. M also says chicks dig bruises and scars. I don't know. In the future I think I'll impress the little ladies with my natural cuteness alone!

Will You Be, Will You Be, Will You Be...My Valentine?!

Happy Valentine's Day! Imagine me giving you a kiss right now (it would probably include some baby drool). I had fun playing cupid, bringing lots of love to M & D!

I've had so much fun these past two days visiting with my friend Jack. He's a year and four days older than I am, so boy, was I watching his every move. Jack is really good at sharing toys, signing "thank you" and pointing out various facial parts (ears, nose, etc.). Jack also liked trying new activities like cutting out cookies in the shape of hearts and making valentine vests out of brown paper bags. We visited our neighborhood horse, Nutmeg, and threw Cheerio's on the ground for her. (Who doesn't like Cheerio's?) Then, we monkeyed around, played on the cushions and "danced" to the Backyardigan's CD with our moms. Jack's a great buddy to lean on! (Our outfits seemed to be coordinated both days too - camouflage one day, navy and orange basket ball themed the next.)

Lions, Tigers, Bears, Oh My!

The Peoria Zoo is grrrrrrreat! Look how close I was able to get to the tiger. Some of the exhibits were closed yet for the season, so I've got an excuse to take M back to the zoo again. Plus, a new African area is opening this June; so, "gramma's and grampa's" get your walking shoes together!

While at the zoo, I played veterinarian for awhile. But, mostly I just put on the uniform to impress all the girls zipping by in their strollers! I was still feeling a little under the weather and therefore didn't flash my winning smile at them - darn it!

At home, I greeted D with a very clear "daddy" this afternoon. Boy, it's the little things that seem to mean the most to those parents of mine!

B'gosh it was a beautiful day

M,D,G, B & I all went to the park yesterday because it was such a nice day. I can't remeber such a warm day. M said the fresh air would be good for me. G found every puddle she could to splash in. It looked like fun, maybe next year I'll join her. I laughed at M dancing around and rode on D's shoulders. Today, in contrast, we stayed inside and played since it was cold again.

My recent cold has sparked an interest in nostrils. While wrestling with D, I shoved two fingers up his nose and pulled. Wheeeeeee! D says it was a good finishing move.

Sharing and caring

D says I've contracted my second STD ..."socially transmitted distemper". Yes, I've been a little out of sorts today with a runny nose, sneezes and a cough which breaks up all the yucky mucus I've swallowed. But, hey, I wouldn't give up going out to my play groups where I get to touch all the toys that other snotty-nose kids have touched and hug/kiss all the cute girls with pony tails! M is ready to take out stock in Kleenex...oh, wait a minute, the stock market is down for traditional goods; maybe M should "go green" and buy stock in something like Cotton Baby. Anyway, I'm busy cutting more teeth too, so you can just imagine what sort of weekend we are all in store for. As for learning how to share what I have with others...well, I have no problem passing along my saliva and mucus these days. But that's OK...M & D still love me, and that's all that really matters right now...oh, and maybe that I have the big black spatula with me wherever I go!

One step, two steps, three steps, four...17 steps!!

M said I should make a list of all the grand things I plan to accomplish in my lifetime. Now some people might include Mt. Everest, deep sea diving, visiting all seven continents and the like. But, not me. I started right away with the REALLY big stuff. Climbing 17 steps up to the attic all in one try! It didn't even take my breathe away. I was grinning and sticking out my tongue in concentration most of the way. (Boy did I ever nap well in the afternoon though.) Watch out world, here I come!

Climbing In

It often seems like the toy I'm interested in playing with is always at the bottom of my toy chest. So, to make playtime more efficient, I decided to just crawl into my toy chest and entertain myself. When M starts to sing the "clean-up song", all I have to do is pull the lid down and everything is neat and tidy. I still have to figure out how to get myself out though.

My first Super Bowl was soooo dramatic at the end - well, at least that's what M & D tell me as I was in bed already. Earlier during the game, D and I tossed around my bright orange Nerf football and I chased/crawled after it. My favorite pass was the "look of wonder, then toss it over the shoulder backwards" move. I surprised myself with it every time.

Seriously though, folks, I heard the groundhog saw his shadow today and therefore we are going to have six more weeks of winter. Enough of this cold weather already! I'm ready to head outdoors, dig in the dirt, stuff worms in my pockets (or mouth), drive the stroller by the ice cream stand and splash in some rain puddles.

Take-it-easy, everyone. Snuggles and wide open mouth kisses to all!