Long Time, No See

Hey, everybody! I'm back from an extended stay at my Nonna's place and am ready to update you on all my new (mostly verbal) accomplishments. I'm sorry it's been so long since I posted, but I didn't want to advertise on the Internet that I and my family weren't at home and give anyone any ideas about breaking in and stealing my birthday loot. We moved back home last night, but we've been staying at my Nonna's for almost two weeks because we had a mouse in our house, and my mommy is completely freaked out by them and especially by this particular mouse which followed her up the stairs.
My daddy doesn't see what's so scary about a mouse, but on the other hand, he is disturbed by lizards, whereas Mommy thinks they're no big deal. I'm not sure about my own feelings about either creature at this point, but I think getting to play with Nonna's toys and waking up in the same room with my parents is fantastic. What else is fantastic? Well, how about me saying ABOUT A MILLION WORDS?

• Chief among my new words is "UP!" I've figured out how to tell everyone that I want them to pick me up, and if it first it doesn't get results, I just keep saying it until my target capitulates. For example, while I was staying at my Nonna's, I would always wake up before my parents but I would be content to play by myself and sing to myself until my parents gave some sign of wakefulness, at which point I would chirp, "Up? Up? Up? Up? Up? Up? Up? Up? Up? Up? Up? Up? Up? Up? Up? Up? Up? Up? Up? Up?" and so on until Mommy reached over and pulled me into bed with them (where I hugged each of my parents and then climbed up on the headboard and rattled it until they got up and gave me my breakfast). Because of the success of "UP!" I've been using it to mean "I want to get down," too, but we're working on the concept of down. Give me time.
• My farewells have become more elaborate and consistent. I respond much more quickly (and more often) with a wave and a "bye bye" when so addressed, and I'm catching on to the whole blowing of kisses thing. My blown kiss involves putting my fingers in my mouth (or, in the last day or two, pressing the back of my fingers to my mouth) and making an "MMMn" sound. My hugs are becoming more intentional and squeezy, too (see pictures below).
• I've been on a roll with new food words, the biggest one being "theeth" (cheese), which, as you may know, I adore. I'm also a big fan of "thooth" (juice) and "bed" (bread). And really, when you think about it, what other foods does a person need?
• The really huge thing is that I've developed my first sentence: "AHdoot!" ("I do it!"). I've always been the independent sort, and that essence of my personal identity has manifested itself in this phrase. "Ahdoot" can mean either, "No thanks, I'll do it for myself," or, "Yes, I know you want me to do that, but I want to do this," or, "No, you need to do what I want you to do." I've also been heard saying, "It does!" in response to a statement ending in "...doesn't it?" but it was only once so until I've offered further corroboration of my understanding, that sentence will remain in the questionable category.

• Some other cool developments are that I've stood on my own for 5+ seconds or so on several occasions (picture below), and my aided walking has become quite facile. I can tell you that my parents get extremely sappy when we walk down a hallway or sidewalk with me between them, holding one of each of their hands. I'm also enjoying singing and reading to myself a great deal.

Enough with the talk; let's get to the pictures!

I love that fall is here and I am getting to wear all kinds of new sweaters. Okay, to be honest, I don't really enjoy being pinned down to put on the extra clothes. But I do enjoy the compliments, and I appreciate getting to spend more time outdoors.

I had such a good time at my Nonna's. Some of the fun things I did there were: playing with Nonna's little farm animal figures, having her blow bubbles for me, standing on my own (I DO IT!) and watching "Arthur" in the morning while everyone else was getting ready:








I am such a sweetie-pie; here are some of the hugs I've been spontaneously offering:
























Last Sunday Daddy ran in the Race for the Critters, and he wore the shirt with me on it that I gave him for Valentine's Day, so it was kind of like I was running with him. The two people right behind my daddy are my Uncle Bruno's dad, Carl, and his brother, Clete, whom we saw there. I enjoyed all the dogs there for the Pooch Walk.












On Sunday I also went to a lunch honoring my cousin Lilliana after her baptism. Here I am, visiting with Lilli, Grandma T and Daddy; my great-uncle Stash; and my great-aunt Barb:







I met up with my friend Maggie and her parents at East Coast Custard the other night. Look how much Maggie has grown up! We're are going to be getting into some serious trouble together, very, very soon.


















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My friend Emma has a new little sister! Amelia was born last Friday. Isn't she cool?

The Dumps

I don't have anything very exciting to report today - mainly because I've done absolutely nothing exciting. Why? Because I've been sick, and apparently no one wants to be around me when I'm spraying curdled milk or when I'm making toots that smell like they came from a very large dog or when liquid poo is pouring out of my shorts. Personally, I wouldn't hold it against you if you did any of those things, but apparently society still holds some prejudice against the emissions-challenged among us, so I've been under quarantine. The good news is that I'm now fully recovered and am no longer contagious per the pediatrician, so I can resume the adventurous life. The bad news (at least, according to my parents - it doesn't bother me) is that as a result of a week of the tummy-friendly BRAT diet (bananas/rice/applesauce/toast), I have decided that I should always have nothing but the BRAT diet and have rejected my formerly (and famously) catholic eating habits. I have permitted a few raisins, peas, and mandarin orange segments to pass my lips in the last 18 hours, but that's where I draw the line, people. I'll make a deal with you, though - you let me come be out and about, and you hold my hands to walk with me as often as I request, and maybe I'll eat some of those foods you want me to eat. I think that bargain is more than fair.

Since I haven't really been doing anything noteworthy, my pictures this time are of me hanging out, being sick, although I've spared you the ones showing any of the fluid substances I've produced, since everyone seems to be so squeamish about it. I'm also including a preview of what I might look like with eyeglasses, in case you've been wondering.

Cooked Out

Happy Belated Labor Day! I think it's great that there's a day for celebrating the people who go through labor to give birth to us. I wonder who thought of it? Anyway, this Labor Day weekend, I went to several cook-outs; I haven't figured out the connection between grilling and the birthing process, but I'm sure it will make sense when I'm older. Whatever the reason, I have to say I really enjoyed all the fires and the sounds and the gatherings of people and the opportunities to crawl around in the grass (which I don't get to do at home - something about the neighborhood cats using our little yard for a litter box; I don't know about litter boxes, but I sure wish I could have some of those Tootsie Rolls in the yard). Last Labor Day, I did attend a picnic, but I was too little to really get into the spirit of things; I hear I spent the whole time sleeping or begging for a little milk already! Now that I know about all the perks, I'm really looking forward to the next one. I must remember to ask my parents how much longer until the next Labor Day.


Day 1 - Saturday: I drove with Mommy, Nonna and Grandma T to Aunt Joyce and Uncle Bruno's house in Clinton. I had just gotten up from a nap and was kind of antsy about being in the car for an hour, so everyone in the car sang to boost my spirits. My favorite was "My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean" - I love to yell the "BACK!" part!

At the party, I spent as much time as I possibly could climbing. I climbed the steep stairs to the second floor (although Mommy was a party pooper about me climbing to the third floor). I climbed the porch steps. I climbed over landscaped hills of pine mulch chips. I climbed up and down the bricked levels of the back patio. I even crawled over gravel and concrete, so determined was I to locomote. It was utterly thrilling.



Here, Mommy was thinking how glad she was to have caught up with me. I was thinking about how to get back down on the ground.



Aunt Barb tried to corral all of us youngsters for a picture with Daddy's Cousin Zach, who was visiting from Puerto Rico. Bella, however, was not interested in holding her sister, Lilliana, nor in participating in the photo herself.


So then we tried with just Bailey and me, but I needed to get back to my ground reconnaissance.



Day 2 - Sunday: Our first stop was Dan and Meg's house on the lake. I loved being able to hear the waves lapping their deck on one side and Dan's band playing blues on the other side. I met Mia, whose parents used to be our neighbors, before we lived in our house; she is just about a month older than me, and she can walk unassisted, which I greatly admire. Mia also enjoys a good tortilla chip, like me, and we may end up going to the same school when we're older, like five years old, so we have much in common. Here you can see Meg in the foreground, and - if you squint - you can see Dan and his band in the background, playing on the upper deck.



After Dan and Meg's party, we went to the Casola party at Maria's. Maria is my Ono's niece plus she and Daddy used to be neighbors. I got to hang out with Bailey and Spencer plus the big Casola cousins like Bella (who let Bailey and me play with her fun puppy toys) and Anthony AKA Sonny, who was cool about hanging out with me, even though I'm much younger. Here, Aunt Christa and I were having a competition to see who could make the silliest face. I think it was a tie.


Day 3 - Monday: On the actual holiday, my parents and I met Nonna at Edgewater Park for a cookout. Daddy grilled Quorn "turkey", tomatoes, sweet peppers, onions, corn on the cob and garlic bread while Nonna and I played soccer and she blew bubbles for me.



After all this fun, I was asleep by 7:30 Monday night and slept until nearly 8:00 this morning, on which my parents complimented me. I'm off to go swimming with Daddy now, so maybe I'll sleep as much tonight.