Hey! I am TALKING to you!

Yesterday my parents and I took the bus to the airport station, and another bus to the terminal, and then ANOTHER bus to the rental car lot. A nice Australian man helped Daddy get my stroller on the bus while Mommy held me. All along the way, people chatted with me and told me how cool I was, except on one bus, where I kept talking to the woman next to me and she kept ignoring me. How could anyone ignore moi??? It's simply inconceivable.

My stroller caused more trouble at the rental car lot. It wouldn't fit into the trunk opening of the first car. It fit into the second trunk, but at an angle that left no room for any suitcases. Finally, we got into a Subaru Outback, got my stroller and my seat loaded, and headed up the Pacific Coast Highway. I took a long nap while Daddy drove through Marina del Rey, Santa Monica, Venice and Malibu, then through Topanga Canyon, Van Nuys and Tarzana and Encino, past the Getty Center, and finally back home to Venice.

Last night we ate tacos on the roof. My taco was only a whole wheat tortilla with nothing in it, but I loved it soooo much. I kept cramming it into my mouth because I couldn't get enough of it. I also ate green beans, rice and avocado (my first!), but the taco was the best. I love to eat what my parents are eating. This morning Mommy made orange rolls, and then they ate them without sharing any with me! I had already had milk and rice cereal and bananas, and I had pear juice in front of me, but that is baby stuff, man. So while I whined to Daddy, Mommy put a big piece of sourdough bread crust on the plate of rolls, and then she let me take the bread from the plate of rolls, and I was thrilled beyond belief! I love me some sourdough bread!

Even when I don't get the big people's food, I am still happier these days because my parents FINALLY understand what I have been saying to them for weeks now. When I am hungry, I say, "Nyum! Nyum!" At first, they thought maybe it was the beginning of "Ma Ma" or maybe "Nonna." They are so clueless. I had to scream it at them until they finally got it. Now we have a great arrangment: I yell "NYUM! NYUM!" at them, and they jump to feed me. Life is good, people.

This afternoon a babysitter named Lori is coming to hang out with me while my parents go to see Craig Ferguson tape the Late, Late Show. I hope she is cool. Maybe she will let me have some of those tortilla chips the big people keep eating in front of me.

Easter Parade

Yesterday Lisa took us all around town. We saw UCLA, Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills and Hollywood. I found stars for Big Bird and The Simpsons as well as fellow Clevelanders Bob Hope and Alan Freed. Today I had my first pancake. It was just okay; maybe it would have been better with the syrup my parents used. Later today we're picking up our rental car and then going to Malibu.



Lisa and me at the taqueria
across the street from the
legendary Chateau Marmont

Hanging with Bob Hope

Comparing handprints
with Ah-nold

This morning's treat:
my first pancake

Stroller Derby

Yesterday we took the bus to the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica. I helped Daddy pick some new shoes, and then we stopped for pizza and I had my first pizza crust. Nyuma Nyuma! After lunch, we walked to the Santa Monica Pier but I slept through it.


After I woke up, we met Mimi and her parents, Alysia and Cory; Alysia is Mommy's friend from the Internet. I was so happy to hang out with another kid; I laughed as loud as I could to get Mimi's attention. She is so cool; she likes cars, like me, and she looks like my cousin Bailey. Our daddies pushed Mimi and me down the boardwalk while our mommies lagged behind. We ate dinner at C&O Trattoria; Mimi is older than me so she got to eat PAS-TA! but I only got rice. After dinner, Cory helped me put on the groovy orange-striped leg warmers they gave me, and I was toasty all the way back to the apartment.

This morning I tried some sourdough bread and watched the birds on the roof of the next building. Daddy and I are wearing our Cavs shirts today to cheer them on against the Pistons. After the game, we're going out to see Daddy's friend Lisa. Now that my tummy is better, I am hoping to get something better than rice and bananas (again) for lunch.

I am so happy to get to be with Mommy and Daddy all the time and go everywhere with them. They seem like they like it, too. My only complaint is that I haven't yet been swimming, but at least I get to listen to the ocean all day and when I go to sleep at night.

Taking Over the World, One Diaper at a Time

Yesterday afternoon we went for a stroll on the boardwalk at Venice Beach. I saw more tattoos than I have seen my whole life - even more tattoos than on the parents in the baby swim class at the Lakewood Y. We also stopped and bought me some new sunglasses, because my parents left mine at home (note to self: must pack own bag in the future so as not to forget vital stuff). I needed to take them off and check them out to see what I was getting into, but after a while I was comfortable keeping them on. Plus, I look so cool in them.

My parents stopped and bought themselves Indian food at a stand on the boardwalk, and then we went back to our apartment building to eat our dinner on the rooftop terrace. They wouldn't share their food with me, much to my frustration. They would only give me strained pears and cherry stars. So I showed them: I pooped on Mommy's lap and had to be rushed back downstairs for a bath. Maybe next time they'll think to get enough korma and naan for all of us. I got a little carried away with my revenge, though; I am experiencing a case of travelers' distress, which I hope to get over soon, because I am tired of having my clothes changed constantly. On the plus side, at least I'm getting to spend extra time in the bathtub, which I love. The ocean is a little cold for swimming, so it's the bathtub for me for now; my parents have promised we'll get a hotel with a heated pool when we leave Venice.

After dinner, Daddy and I watched the Cavs game on TV. Daddy is very happy we have cable in our apartment. Then I finally pooped out, and Mommy and Daddy loaded me in a cab and took me to Albertson's so we could get some rice cereal for me and groceries for them. Since I was so peaceful in my carseat, they let me sleep in it all night, but when I woke up at 5 this morning, I was ready to get the day going. At 6, my persistence paid off: they gave in and got up and gave me my rice and bananas, and then while they ate their granola and yogurt I paid them back for making me wait an hour by, um, having some more travelers' distress.

All this revenge-taking wears a baby out, so I am napping now while Daddy takes a run, but when I wake up, we're all going to the Third Street Promenade on a blue bus. It should be a good day if I can keep everything in my diaper.

It Begins!

I was so glad when the alarm clock went off this morning so everyone would wake up and play with me. It made me sad to play from 2:00 to 5:00 this morning by myself on the bed between Mommy and Daddy. They lack the party animal spirit of which I have a generous supply.

After I said goodbye to Nonna, Grandpa took us to the airport, and then we were on the plane, which did not make me as happy as riding on planes has historically, but we made it to LAX and are checked into our apartment. After Mommy and Daddy did more boring stuff like unpack, Daddy showed me the Pacific Ocean from our window, and now we are off to see it up close.

Happy Apple

Nonna shared her apple with me one night last week. It was my first non-pureed apple, and I loved it. I gnawed and gnawed on it until I wore it down to a nub. I can't wait to eat more apples with Nonna.

Fish

This weekend was my last swimming lesson. My parents will have to sign me up for more lessons this summer so I can further develop my skills and impress the instructors at the Y, who think I'm a natural and love to use me as an example for the other babies to follow.

It makes me so frustrated when I have to get out. I just love the water so much. I can't wait to get back in the ocean this weekend. We're staying in an apartment on the beach in Venice, and I plan to swim every day.