Hey, Hey, We're the Monkeys

Well, I think Evan thinks he's a monkey. He's done some funny things over the past week. He's learning to crawl up stairs by himself. Mom either goes before or after him to make sure he doesn't fall. He then likes to scoot down the stairs on his bottom. I have a feeling he's going to keep Mom busy making sure he doesn't go upstairs before she can catch him. To add to his monkey business, he tried climbing the refrigerator. Mom had it open getting something out, and thought he would simply pull up to standing. When she and Dad looked down, he had climbed up one drawer and was trying to climb a second drawer. I should also mention that Mom and Dad jokingly call him 'King Kong' when he's walking around (holding hands still) because he likes to leave a bit of a destructive path where he's been. I think 'Godzilla' is more in tune w/ his actions of knocking down stuff in his path, but 'King Kong' goes w/ the monkey theme.

Preschool finished last Tuesday. Now I have to wait 3 whole months to start my new montessori preschool. It's going to be hard waiting. Kindermusik also ended last week. But, I'll take a music class w/ Baldwin Music starting in June. Gymnastics keeps going through the summer so I'll have a couple of things to keep me busy. I'm not sure if I'll take swimming lessons again. I may just go to the pool at the Y w/ Mom and Evan randomly. I did go underwater last Thursday at swimming; I got a lollipop as a treat.

Oh yeah, congratulations to Landon on the arrival of his baby sister, Kieran. She was born last Saturday to his mommy, Michelle, and her picture is so cute! I'd love to see Landon and Kieran sometime soon. I hope he enjoys being a big brother like I enjoy being a big sister!

Touchin' Base, Again

Evan had his check-up today and all is well. He's long and lean, from what Mom and Dad tell me. He's 29.5 inches long and 18.75 pounds. He's healthy and growing well. He's finally starting to get teeth popping up too! Not so much teeth as two white spots on his bottom gums where teeth will eventually pop up. Poor thing, he seems in pain. I hope he feels better soon. And I hope he gets his teeth in soon; he can eat O's with me. Yea!

Mom wanted me to record some sayings she finds amusing. So, here goes:
- a porch w/ no house (I later found out it's called a gazebo)
- dirty dust road (MeMe lives down what Dad calls a dusty dirt road, but I think my description is pretty accurate)
- peanut jelly and butter sandwich (interesting visual isn't it? it's just too long of a name for a sandwich, my way or the 'correct' way)
- a bus-train (pretty good alias for a subway)

Today, I visited the preschool I'll attend starting in fall. I loved-loved-loved it! I didn't want to leave. There was so much to do, and I don't even go there yet. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to September. I went to watch Mom at her dance class tonight. It was lots of fun. I did lots of dancing myself in the lobby. I even got to see some ballerinas in class. I think that's where I'll take ballet in the fall. I can't wait! As much fun as spring and summer are, I'm looking forward to fall. So much to do!

How Long Has it Been?

Guess that's a rhetorical question, since we can all look at my last post to see how long it's been. I tend to stay pretty busy so it's getting harder and harder to post as regularly as I'd like.

Evan is growing so fast and doing more and more all the time, I'm having trouble keeping up w/ everything. He goes for his 9 month check-up tomorrow afternoon, but I'll give a small update on him right now. He's at least 18.5 pounds. He'll be ready to turn around in his car-seat in just a few months. I'm sure he'll be as excited as I was when I got to face forward in the car. He crawls now. Or does some excuse of crawling. He does the same hybrid crawl-scoot that I did, just on opposite legs. He doesn't really enjoy that way of getting around, but when he decides to do it, he sure can move fast! He'd much rather hold on to someone's hands and walk. I wonder how long it'll be till he walks on his own. I know he can't wait for that. I think it'll be fun too. He tries to follow me while 'scrawling', but it doesn't work nearly as well as I bet walking will. Evan will also sometimes wave hello and bye-bye. He's very ticklish and has a really cute smile and laugh. He likes playing w/ some of my toys too. It's sometimes hard to share w/ him, but I try occasionally. Evan even has his own Kindermusik class he attends. He usually goes w/ Mom while I do breakfast w/ Dad, but I sometimes go when Dad has to work. Even though it's a class for babies, I still have fun.

And w/ me? Weekly activities have continued: playgroup once a month, preschool, Kindermusik, swimming, and gymnastics. I usually have something to do every day. I now take swimming and gymnastics classes by myself. That's because I'm 3 now. Mom stays and watches the classes but doesn't come in w/ me. And tomorrow, I go to my school for next year and meet some of my teachers for the first time. Mom and Dad said I get to go outside and play on the playground while talking to the teacher. They drove me by it after swimming tonight and it looks like a nice playground. I'm getting excited about starting a montessori preschool next fall. I think I also get to take ballet next fall. As fun as everything is now, fall sounds cool too.

Speaking of 'cool,' my friends Jonas and Riley visited me in March. They live in Asheville, NC w/ their parents (Steve and Kenya). I took them to the zoo and the children's museum and did lots of other fun stuff while they were here. I went to AL to see Mom's family in April. We stayed in Nashville on the way and saw my friends Lacy and Elizabeth (Clare, Brian, and Christina too). We had dinner w/ them on a Saturday night and went to church w/ them on Easter Sunday. We then finished the drive to AL. It was a fun week visiting Oma, Opa, and MeMe. I also saw Papa Jack, Aunt Debbie and Uncle Jerry, and Poppy and Emmie. We went to the beach twice and I helped build sandcastles w/ Daddy and splashed in the waves w/ Oma and MeMe. And Evan was awake for the beach this time! He liked playing in the sand too. He didn't like the water so much, though. We stopped in Nashville on the way back and saw our friends again. We also saw Kel, Jason and Sarah. It's so much fun seeing friends who live in different places.

Last weekend, Evan and I got baptized at church. Mom told me we were going to get sprinkled. The water was just brushed on our heads w/ the preacher's hand, though. It was a nice service. We each got a certificate of baptism, a candle, and a wooden cross w/ a Bible verse inscription. Evan and I are now members of the church just like Mom and Dad. I like that, because I like our church. Evan and I each have our own playroom to go in after listening to some music at the beginning of the service. I think I'll go to a class after the summer, but I plan on enjoying the playroom till then.

I know I've left out stuff. I don't think I can do everything justice, to be honest. I keep pretty busy. And I help Evan keep Mom and Dad busy too. I'm so glad it's finally Spring so I can add playing outside to my busy-ness. Evan likes being outside almost as much as I do. I bet he'll have tons of fun playing at the park when he can walk. Oh, I've got so much I want to teach him. But, in the meantime, I should get rested for tomorrow. It's going to be a busy day w/ a full schedule, as usual. Night-night.

I'm 3 Today!

It's been a busy couple of months since I blogged last. I've had a really hard time finding time to detail all I've been doing. But, I will make time to mark this special occasion: my 3rd birthday!

I had such a fun time today. Dad woke me up this morning before he went to work to make sure he got to tell me Happy Birthday. I felt different immediately upon waking; I wasn't 2 any longer! Mom took me to my gymnastics class where everyone sang to me for my special day. Dad took extra time for lunch to come home to see me, and we had cake after sandwiches. Mom and Dad thought it would be fun to use sparklers instead of candles; I disagreed. I thought the sparklers were a bit scary and I stayed away from them. But, the cake sure was yummy. I then went bowling w/ friends from the MOMS club. It was my first time bowling and I loved it! That is, after Mom let me watch a couple of frames then helped me do it myself. I was a tad nervous. The ball crashing into the pins was pretty loud and I wasn't too sure about the whole thing. But, there were bumpers set up so the ball didn't go into the gutter, and a ramp to put the ball on to make sure it had enough momentum to get down the lane. So, everything was set up for my success. And succeed, I did! I really enjoyed bowling. I hope to go again. After my nap, we then went to Tower Park for a short time. It was 70 degrees and sunny today, so we couldn't pass up the opportunity to go play. Next was dinner at Maggiano's. I had my favorite dinner (pasta), followed by special cookies brought out by our waitress with 3 candles (notice they weren't sparklers). I opened my presents from Mom and Dad and Evan when we got home. By the way, thanks to everyone who sent me such nice gifts. It was very sweet, and I enjoyed getting them.

Wow, I'm just tired remembering all the activities from today. I think I've got more fun stuff planned for tomorrow, so I've got to get some rest. I hope to get back here soon and journal about all the fun things that go on during my day-to-day life. Until then, sweet dreams.

WOW!

This was supposed to be an update on Evan, now that he's 6 months old. And it will be that update... But later.

First, I used the potty for the first time tonight!!! I've tried and tried before, but it finally came together tonight. I went right before my bath and Mom and Dad were so excited. I was too. Mom and Dad kept telling me how proud of me they are. They gave me a special toy (a new train) to celebrate going potty for the first time. I can now start wearing my Easy-Ups instead of diapers, and eventually I'll make it into panties. I feel like such a big girl now.

Now, the Evan update. He turned 6 months old yesterday and had his well-check Wednesday. He measured 27.5 inches and weighed 16 pounds, 2 ounces. He's in the 95th percentile for his height and about the 40th for weight. He's long and lean, so I hear. He's had the cold I had a couple of weeks ago, and is finally starting to get better. He had his last round of vaccinations till he's one year old. I'm glad he doesn't have to get any more shots for a few months. He sits up on his own all the time now, even doing so today in my gymanstics class. He sat right beside me and my friends while we waited in line to do our rotations. So, he had a good check-up and won't have to go back for another 3 months.

So, there's my news. Hope everyone has had a lovely week. I'm off to get rest for my weekend.

How're You Doing?.

I hope your answer to my question is 'fine.' That's what my answer always is. I like checking in on everyone and therefore ask this question a lot right now. Mom said something to Dad about me sounding like someone named Joey, but I didn't get the reference. I have a feeling that's going to happen a lot during my life.

Well, the new year is under way. I ushered it in w/ a cold that caused me to miss my first day back to preschool last week. The coughis finally getting better and the runny nose is beginning to dry out as well. So, I've decided to work on sharing. So far, I've shared my cold w/ Mom and Evan. Last time this cold hit in October, I shared w/ Dad and Evan, but I thought Dad was seeing it enough at work. And I thought that maybe Mom wouldn't encourage me to cover my cough as often if she joined me, but now she thinks she should use her coughs as teaching opportunities. Can you believe she's still a teacher at heart? Don't worry, though. Evan only has the runny nose and everyone's cold seems quite mild. Mom's over there knocking on the wood floor for some reason. I sometimes don't understand her. She says the same thing to me sometimes.

Evan update... He's sitting up by himself now! He'll still topple over, but at least he can sit unassisted. I like it when Mom sits him on the carpet and I can bring him toys. It makes it nicer to go to the basement and play in our new playroom as well. He's also rolling over from his back to his tummy. But Mom says he's only done it while in his crib when he's supposed to be asleep. He hasn't done the full rotation (back to tummy and to back again), but it'll come. He really enjoys playing in his exersaucer. He bounces in it like he really thinks he'll get somewhere. Evan has his first Kindermusik class today. I'm so excited for him. To think that I was just a wee little lad like him when I started my K'musik journey in Nashville. I bet he'll enjoy it as much as I did, and still do. Him taking his own music class is good for me too; I get to have a morning with just Dad. I think we'll hit a coffee shop and both indulge in some yummies.

My K'musik class starts back tomorrow. I think I'll have all new people in it with me. There will even be another Sophie. I wonder what it'll be like hearing someone else called my name. Mom started us back in swim lessons at the YMCA last Thursday evening. I love to swim! Our session was cut short because the pool had to be closed, but I'm looking forward to a full class tomorrow night. I'll have to remind Mom to get the floating dumbells earier than later so I can have more time swimming on my own.

Oh yeah... Happy Birthday Auntie Michelle! I'll give you a call later today to wish it again. I hope your day is wonderful!

Well, it's Dad's day off and we usually fill it pretty quickly. I'd better get ready.

In with the new, Out with the old

Today is the last day of 2006, quite a busy year. The biggest and best event? Evan's arrival, of course! He's 5.5 months old now and is growing as fast as I did when I was his age. He has a new habit of reaching for my hair now. It's fun that he wants to touch me and show that he likes me. But, when he pulls, I realize he's pretty strong and I'm a delicate little girl (ha ha!).

I hope everyone reading this had a lovely Christmas. I had a fun time this month. I can sing "Jingle Bells" and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" all by myself. I know bits of lots of other Christmas songs, too. Grandma and Auntie Michelle were here for the holiday. I really enjoyed playing with them. We did many fun things while they were here. Santa Claus also came to my house. He came while I was sleeping Christmas Eve, and left lots of presents for me and Evan. I liked showing Evan how to play w/ his new toys; that's what a good big sister does.

School and gymnastics start back this week. Swim classes at the YMCA start back also. Kindermusik starts back the following week. Evan gets to take his first class of Kindermusik. I hope he has as much fun as I did when I started. I look forward to it too, since I'll get to spend some quality alone time w/ Dad. It's a winning situation for everyone. The holidays have been fun, but I'm looking forward to getting back to my usual activities.

Happy New Year to everyone. I'm sure it will be another year filled with activities, advances, and adventures. I look forward to all the excitement the new year might hold. I hope to see lots of friends and family this year and share lots of happy times. Until I see you next time, take care!

Time Flies

Well, the title is very true. Time really does fly... very, very quickly. And, yes, I've been having fun. I'll try to give some of the highlights from the last couple of months.

First of all, let me give an update on my little brother, Evan. He had his 4-month check-up last month. He weighed in at 15 pounds and measured 27 inches long. He smiles a lot and will even giggle when being tickled. He finally likes to sit up in his Bumbo seat; I think he may be getting close to sitting up on his own. His main interests are still eating and sleeping. And now, he's starting to work on expressing himself as an individual and can make quite a cry when he wants to do so.

I really enjoyed Halloween this year. I wore my Bengals cheerleader uniform and went trick-or-treating for the first time. My friend, Emmy, came over with her parents for pizza and went trick-or-treating with me up and down my street. It was spooky outside, but it was so much fun!

I went to visit family in Alabama in November. It was Evan's first time to AL. On the way, we stopped in Nashville to stay with our former neighbors, the Findleys. I miss living next door to them. I hope they'll come up and stay with me sometime soon. From there, it was a pretty long drive to Silverhill (but even longer from there to home - 14 hours; let's not do that again, Mom and Dad). I went to the beach (Gulf Shores) twice and even played in the water with Dad. There aren't too many places to do that in the middle of November. Evan slept both times we were at the beach. I'll have to introduce him to the joy of sand and salt-water next time we're down there. We were only in AL for a few days but stayed quite busy. I got to see Oma, Opa, MeMe, Papa Jack, Julianne, Aunt Debbie, and Uncle Jerry. I also got to see Uncle Matt. It had been over a year since I saw him. I've grown a lot, haven't I, Uncle Matt? I can tell he's a lot of fun to be around. One day, Mom and Dad took me to the park to play with Ben, Melissa's son. I hope to see him next time I visit, and maybe I'll see his brother Isaac who was in school that day. Also during the trip, we celebrated Opa's birthday (and had an early dinner for Julianne, too). My visit to Mom's family was short, but very special.

Auntie Michelle came in for Thanksgiving. She was here for almost a week. She played lots of games with me, read lots of stories, and put together puzzles. I had so much fun with her. I'm very glad that she's coming back for Christmas in a couple of weeks. As well as Auntie Michelle and Grandma, my friend Lole, and her family also came to my house for Thanksgiving dinner. I have a lot to be thankful for, and it was very nice to have so many friends and family with me for the special holiday.

The week after Thanksgiving, I went to Asheville, NC for a conference for Dad. While there, I saw my friend Jonas; his dad went to residency with Dad. Jonas' younger brother, Riley, is walking now and followed me and Jonas around while we played. Riley has a very fun way of sliding down the stairs on his tummy, feet first; it's a riot to watch him. We went to the children's museum in Asheville and also went on a hike in the woods. It was a great trip. But, as usual, it was super to get back home. It truly is home, sweet home.

And in the meantime, I've had Kindermusik, gymnastics, and preschool. Those activities keep me running. Mom and Evan too. But everything is about to take a break for Christmas. However, I have a feeling that I'll be plenty busy with holiday activities. Speaking of, I'm very excited about Christmas. I picked out our Christmas tree today. I helped hang up ornaments on the tree and make it beautiful. Christmas really seems to be a magical time. I hope everyone reading this is also enjoying the magic of the season. Merry Christmas to all!

What's New?

So much has happened since blogging last. I think I say that every time now, don't I? I'll start w/ a quick update on Evan. He had his 2-month appointment a few weeks ago. He weighed in at 12 lbs, 13 ozs (a gain of 3 lbs), and measured 23.5 inches (a gain of a little over an inch). He got his first round of shots, poor thing. I felt bad for him, but he came through like a champ. The doctor was pleased at how well Evan is doing so far. He doesn't have to go back until he's 4 months old. And yesterday, he rolled over for the first time (from his tummy to his back). It's fun watching him grow and learn to do more things. I really like having him around.

So, what else? Poppi and Emmie came to visit a few weeks ago also. I really enjoyed their visit. They got to come to Kindermusik and gymnastics with me and watch me have lots of fun. While here, I took them to Jungle Jim's; I think they found it quite amusing. We didn't do a ton of running around; it was more fun playing at home.

Unfortunately, I got sick right as they were leaving and it took me about a week to recover. I had to miss playing at a MOMS club meeting, as well as a day at preschool. I did make it back to K'musik and gymnastics, but I wasn't nearly as energetic as usual. Dad ended up getting the virus, and Evan too a little. But, everyone is feeling better now.

Grandma came in to visit this past weekend. She went with me, Mom, Dad, and Evan on a trip up to Holmes County in OH. The leaves are starting to change colors for autumn and the scenery was very pretty. Today, I rode in horse-drawn buggy and a little train at an Amish Farm. We drove around a lot, doing lots of sightseeing. It was a fun trip, but I'm glad to be out of the car.

And, so you have a brief update for the last month or so. Dad has updated my pictures a couple of times, so make sure to check out my site, as well as Evan's. I hope to blog after Halloween. I'm really looking forward to trick-or-treating as a ballerina. However, that costume idea might change between now and then; it's already progressed from a polar bear to a bumble-bee to the current ballerina choice. I'll let you know the final decision.

It's Almost Autumn

Well, Labor Day has come and gone, the unofficial end of summer. Fall clothes are in the stores (but I'm not wearing them, choosing to realize it's really still summer), temperatures have lowered a bit, and activities have begun anew.

I started back to Kindermusik a couple of weeks ago and am so happy to see Ms. Cindy again. My class is a little earlier than last year, and the number of kids has increased, but I'm still having lots of fun. Ms. Cindy lets me sit in the front of the room with her and help lead the songs. Mom still comes in; I make sure I can always see her and check how I'm doing. Evan comes too. He slept through the first couple of classes, but chose to join us yesterday in his Bjorn. I bet he's going to love going to his own class in a few months.

I started preschool this week. I go one day a week for two hours at Wise Owl Preschool. It's right down the road from my house, so Mom and Evan can walk to and from with me. Except if it's pouring down rain, like it was this week. Oh well. It was lots of fun playing with the other boys and girls. I have two teachers who I really like. When I get bigger, I'll go to school every day and learn all sorts of interesting things. I'll be able to do lots of neat things when I get bigger.

Gymnastics started back last week. I love everything I do there: bear-crawls, donkey kicks, pencil jumps, somersaults, walking/marching/tip-toeing on the balance beams, hanging from bars, the cheese pit (think of a big pit with lots of foam blocks and 2 year-olds jumping in and climbing around). I'm meeting other kids and making lots of new friends.

And, I still have my two playgroups with the MOMS club. This week, I visited Sunrock Farm with my friend Ben and his little brother Charlie (he's one month older than Evan, so they'll be friends too). I saw lots of goats and chickens, as well as pigs, rabbits, alpacas, sheep, and a duck. Ben's mom, Ms. Trish, helped me feed ground corn to the goats. It tickled my hands when their lips touched me.

So, I'm keeping myself busy. And I keep Mom and Dad pretty busy too, as does Evan. I'm trying to be the best big sister I can be to him. When he drops his pacifier, I help give it back to him. I sing to him when he cries, and give him lots of kisses. He watches me a lot when I'm near him, and I like to see him smile and hear him coo. It's different now that I have a little brother, but I'm working on adjusting. Mom and Dad say I'm doing a good job. I love my Baby Evan. And I love all the fun activities I get to do. Speaking of activities, I'm worn out after a full day. Good night! And Happy Autumn, in about a week!

A Busy Month

It's been a month since I last posted, because it has been so busy. I've seen lots of family members who came to see me and welcome Evan to the family. Oma, Aunt Debbie, and Grandma were in town when Evan was born. MeMe came to town next. Of course, I got to see Uncle Gene, Aunt Loretta, Uncle Cliff, and Aunt Martha too. Uncle Gary, even came to see us while visiting town for work. Everyone has been so excited to meet Baby Evan. But, I'm the luckiest one of all since I get to see him every day!

I've had lots of fun taking Evan with me when I go places. He's gone to my gymnastics and music classes and seems to like to watch me do stuff. I like that he rides next to me in the backseat of the car. A couple of weeks ago, he had his first visit to the Museum Center and Findley Market. And I can't forget to mention King's Island last Saturday. I think he's going to like all the places we go.

I went to the doctor with him yesterday for his one-month check-up. I wasn't so happy to be at the doctor's office, but Dad held me and had me close my eyes so I could imagine I was somewhere else. It worked very well. Evan did very well letting the doctor and nurse look at him. He weighed 9 lbs, 13 ozs and everyone was very happy with his weight gain; everyone loves to see a baby pack on the pounds. His check-up was good on all accounts, and he didn't have to get any shots (yet). I think I'll skip his next appointment; I don't like shots and I know I don't want to see anyone give Baby Evan a shot and hurt him. At least I know he won't hurt for long and he'll be fine and healthy.

As for me, all's well. My summer music and gymnastics classes ended this week. I have a couple of weeks off before Kindermusik starts again and the next term for gymnastics starts. I will also be going to a 2 year-old preschool class one morning a week at a church right down the road from my house. Mom said we will walk every morning. I can't wait to start the preschool. I visited last Spring, and it looked like a lot of fun. I still have my two playgroups meeting, so I will stay plenty busy this fall. And, there's always lots of stuff to do around the house: playing and helping with Evan. I guess that's what's happening in the world of Sophie. I hope to update in a couple of weeks. Check my picture site for updates; don't forget to check Evan's too!

Evan Thomas

I have a new favorite person in the world: my new baby brother, Evan Thomas! He was born yesterday, July 18th, at 12:09 p.m. He weighed 8 lbs, 11 ozs and measured 21.25 inches. I'm so excited that he is finally here. Dad came home yesterday afternoon and took me to the hospital to see Mom and Baby Evan. I hadn't seen Mom all day and was very happy to see her, but Evan really was the highlight of the visit. He's so little and cute! I sat on the bed with him and Mom, and he patted my face like he was happy to see me too. I even got to hold him on my lap for a little while. I went back to the hospital this morning and he opened his eyes and looked right at me when I talked. I can't wait for him to come home. As he gets bigger, I will teach him everything I know. Oma, Aunt Debbie, and Grandma are in town for Evan's arrival and I've thoroughly enjoyed playing with all of them. MeMe comes in next week and more people will be coming in and out of town too, I think. I'm enjoying the flurry of activity. I hope you find this somewhat as exciting as I do. It's awesome being a big sister!

Island Hopping

Okay, so I haven't actually been to islands in the traditional sense; you know the land surrounded by water. But I have been to both Coney Island and King's Island in Cincinnati. And I loved every moment at both locations. Daddy's office hosted a picnic day at Coney Island on June 25th and it was an exciting day. I got to ride the scrambler with Daddy (a personal favorite) and also the Frogger ride (it bounces you up and down a lot). Mom and Dad took me on a pedal boat in a lake that I really enjoyed. I wore a lifejacket and we didn't even tip over, like last summer on the jet-ski in Destin. I rode a Ferris wheel for the first time and loved going high and seeing everything from above. We also watched a live show where people sang and danced; I really enjoyed the entertainment. And I got to go back to King's Island, after a bit of a break, on the Fourth of July. Aunt Martha and Uncle Cliff came to my house and watched the Ft. Thomas parade before having lunch. It was after my nap that I went to K.I. with Mom and Dad to ride some rides and watch the fireworks. I had been hearing fireworks in the evenings for almost a week, but I could actually see the ones at K.I. and they were awesome. Even though I had only been hearing the other fireworks over the week, I got to see them at Uncle Cliff's house on the 2nd; they were really good for being at a home. He promised to bring some more to my house especially for me some night; I look forward to my impromptu firework show.

It's been a fun summer so far. I have music class on Fridays and gymnastics on Tuesdays. My swimming classes on Thursdays at the YMCA have just finished, but I can still go and swim with Mom anytime we want to go. I went to Parky's Wetland area at Woodland Mound with the MOMS club a couple of weeks ago and thoroughly enjoyed myself. There isn't a pool, but there are fountains and spouts and water everywhere. Mom enjoyed it because she didn't have to go in with me. I enjoy that too; independence is awesome!

Lots of other stuff has been going on; we rarely have a dull day. I've really liked not having to wear a coat, or even socks. Shorts, skirts, lightweight t-shirts, and sandals are the uniform for summer.

This month is about to get very interesting at my house. I will have family coming in and out of town for almost a month to visit, because my baby brother is almost ready to come home. I can't wait to meet him. I will do my best to let everyone know when he gets here. It's going to be such an exciting time! Until then, I'm off to run off some more energy, because that's what I do best!

Happy Birthday Dear Daddy!

Happy Birthday to you, Dad! I hope you have a wonderful day. Mom let me sneak up to be the first to wish you a good day. I look forward to having lunch with you and helping Mom make you a special dinner and dessert. You deserve the best!!

Otherwise, I've been keeping myself busy. I went to Asheville, NC and east TN with Mom and Dad for the Memorial Day weekend. We got to see Mom's friend, Margie, for lunch in Johnson City. We then spent the night with some friends from Dad's residency, Steve and Kenya and their little boys, Jonas and Riley. Jonas and I played together and had a bunch of fun. He helped me learn how to move around on my tricycle, even though I don't have the hang of the pedals quite yet. We then went to Gatlinburg for a couple of days to relax. I had a lot of fun on our trip. Traveling is a good thing to do.

My new session of swim classes started last week, as did my new gymnastics and music classes. And Mom and I have another playgroup that started Monday. So, I pretty much have something to do every day of the week. I like to go, go, go! And it's fun watching Mom try to keep up, ha ha. One other thing that I do weekly is go with Mom and Dad to Wild Ginger, a local restaurant that has very yummy sushi. Yes, you read correctly... I said sushi. I like sharing Mom and Dad's sushi and have started asking for it by name. And it's extra fun to follow the sushi with a Busken cookie with pink frosting (every so often, Mom and Dad spoil me w/ the occasional cookie or soft-serve ice cream).

Well, it's late, and Mom said my time's up. Again, Happy Birthday Dad! I hope you have an awesome day. I love you!!

Where Do I Start?

So much has happened over the last month, you can understand why I pose the question in the title. I'll hit a few highlights. If I need to, I'll add more as they come to mind. You may need to check back every so often to see if I've changed the post.

For starters, I moved into a new room. Mom spent over a week painting the other bedroom upstairs (2 walls yellow, 1 blue). She and Dad then put up a wallpaper mural like the one I had in Nashville. I absolutely love my new room! It's so much fun to play in there. And I have dolphins, fish, and turtles swimming while I sleep. Mom and Dad got lots of other neat stuff for my room when we visited Ikea in Pittsburgh about a month ago. Mom spent another three days painting my former room for the new baby that's to arrive in July. He's getting a cabin theme and has some cool things to go in his room. I like seeing his bed that Dad put together in his and Mom's room. And Mom's friend, Katharina (Viole's mom), made a really cute quilt for the baby. All sorts of excitement is in the air.

What else has been going on? Trips to King's Island, for one. That may be the most fun place I've visited to date. The kid's section has been completely redone, and I love love love it! There are lots of rides that I can ride on now that I'm 36 inches and I can't get enough. I've also been to the zoo a number of times. The aquarium and children's museum have also been frequented by me and Mom. I helped Mom host playgroup at our house at the beginning of the month and had fun playing with my friends. I'm finding it a bit difficult to share at times, but I'm working on it. Not that I have too much of a choice; Mom and Dad keep putting me in situations where I'm forced to share or I don't get access to what I want. Kindermusik is over till fall, but Mom signed me up for a different music class for the summer. She also signed me up fora gymnastics class, which I'm looking forward to. I've been going swimming at the YMCA every Thursday night for the last mon th or so. I went through a phase of not enjoying my baths, or water in general, for a couple of weeks, but I'm completely over it now. I have lots of fun swimming in the pool; you'd be impressed at how well I can kick and paddle. I've also found a deep appreciation for "Ring Around the Rosie" in the pool. And if you've looked at my pictures, you've seen where I ran in the Flying Piglet race with my friend Emmy. It was part of the activities for the Flying Pig Marathon. Boy, do I like to run! That was a really fun day.

So much has been going on. And so much keeps going on. It seems like we have something entertaining every day. Occasionally, Mom and I will have a "down-day" where we stay at home and find little things to do here. Those days are nice to have every so often. Although, I really enjoy all the things outside of the house I get to do. Speaking of getting out of the hosue, I should get some rest. With another day comes another outing, or two or three. Maybe this has helped you see a little into my world. Hope you have a good Memorial Day! Welcome Summer!!

Easter, Family, Friends, Oh My!

If you've checked out my picture site lately, then you can tell pretty easily I've been enjoying Spring. It's finally started getting warm and I couldn't be happier. I love being outside and not having to wear a coat. And I can't go without mentioning the beautiful flowers that are everywhere. They're on the trees, on the ground, in people's houses. I love it! The zoo is having Zoo Blooms currently, and the tulips were in their peak when I went Tuesday. The hyacinths were in their peaks when I went the previous Monday. I wonder what will be peaking next time.

So, it's obvious that the zoo has been a major player in my time lately. I had a visit from Poppy and Emmie from MS for a couple of days and had lots of fun with them. I liked showing off Cincinnati. I'm learning how to be a tour-guide from the best: Dad. We didn't make it to all of Cincy's hot-spots, but I'm sure there will be more opportunities. Anyone who wants to visit is always welcome and can help me hone my skills.

Easter was last Sunday. I hope everyone had a blessed holiday. I went to Nashville with Mom and Dad to visit Kel, Jason, and the Findleys. Lots of time was spent playing on the swingset and slide with Lacy and Elizabeth. And I loved playing with their dog, Lily. I wonder when I can get a dog... Mom, Dad? I think I'm going to have to work on that some more.

Well, I'm off to bed now. I'm taking my friend, Emmy, to Jungle Jim's tomorrow. That store is lots of fun. You can't go wrong with life-size singing cartoon characters and cheese samples. If you haven't been, just add it to the list for "Sophie's Cincinnati tour."

Quite a Half-Month

It's been kind a mess around here the last few weeks. I had a great birthday, but it was the beginning of a cold that eventually developed into croup. You wouldn't believe the hacking cough that plagued me! Mom and Dad took me to the doctor to confirm that I had some kind of viral bug in conjunction with the croup and therefore ruled out an ear infection or pneumonia. After getting an oral dose of steroids, I took some pretty serious cough medicine for a few days that made me very lethargic, though it did help the cough and I'm glad to say I'm feeling much better now. That ordeal lasted about 2.5 weeks.

In the meantime, I visited Grandma and Papa Dave in Vonore, TN for St. Patrick's Day weekend. It was a nice trip where the weather was a little warmer and spring was really springing. And it wasn't even spring yet. Speaking of spring, we drove home the first day of spring through snow showers! What a welcome into the season. We got a little over 2 inches the day after our return, but Mom and I were lucky enough not to have plans that day and stayed home to watch it from the warmth of our house. Grandma and Papa Dave came to our house that day and fortunately, didn't have any problems driving through the weather. They stayed for a week and we all had a good time.

I guess the other main exciting thing that happened to me was seeing my first rainbow. It was so grand and beautiful! Mom, Dad and I were leaving Target (I highly recommend the popcorn) when the rain was ending and the sun was just coming out. We looked up in the sky and saw a complete and perfectly clear rainbow. I saw every color and could just imagine riding the arch to the pot(s) of gold at the end(s). We stood by the car for quite a few minutes admiring the awesomeness of it all. I don't think I can do it justice trying to describe the vibrancy of the rainbow in contrast to the dark clouds in the sky. But now I have a wonderful image to think about when I fall asleep at night.

Now, the month is done, spring is springing, April showers are starting at this moment (a few hours early), and I'm ready for some warm weather and pretty flowers. I'll end this entry w/ the happy ending that is today: Happy Birthday Oma! Hope you've had a good day. I look forward to seeing you in July.

Happy Pi Day! (3-14)

For all those wondering: yes, my mom was a math teacher, and will forever be one at heart. So, I get exposed to some fun little quirks, excentricities, whatever you'd like to call them.

On this fine, sunny Pi Day, Mom and I went to the children's museum at Union Terminal and i played with my friend Olivia. We did that after watching Dad give a brief talk at a press conference lobbying to get more public places smoke-free. Later, I'll go to my gym class at the YMCA and have lots of fun running, rolling, jumping, and hanging on the uneven bars. There are so many things to do; almost as many things as there are decimal places in pi.

Happenings

Last Friday, I had my 2 year-old check-up at the doctor's office. I wasn't necessarily happy about going, but I've been reading "Big Bird Goes to the Doctor," and it helped me know what to expect. Just like Big Bird, the nurse checked my height (35 inches) and my weight (29 pounds). The doctor looked in my ears and checked my throat as well as my tummy, legs, and eyes. My favorite part was when he listened to my heartbeat. I really like it when Dad lets me listen to heartbeats using his stethoscope. Dr. Burgher said everything on me checked out very well and I don't have to go for another visit until I turn 3. You want to know the best part? No shots!!

Sunday, despite the immense amount of rain we've been getting, we all went to California Woods Nature Preserve for a pancake breakfast. This is the time to tap the trees for maple syrup and lots of the parks have breakfasts to benefit the parks. I didn't eat any of the maple syrup, but the pancakes were quite yummy. And even though it was raining, I had fun walking around a little and watching the rushing water in the very high stream. Dad took us on a wandering drive around Cincinnati after breakfast, ever the tour guide.

And now that I'm 2, I can do all sorts of things. I can count to 5, sometimes up to 10. I know the beginning of the alphabet song (ABCD, _, _, G). I can recognize about 6 or 7 letters and tell you their sounds as well as their names. I can write an O and an M. I'm learning so much every day. I'm talking significantly more, even though Mom and Dad have to decipher quite a bit of it for the average Joe. I play hard and take in a lot of information each and every day.

Well, I have a busy day tomorrow. Who am I kidding? I have a busy week ahead of me. I need to get my rest. Dad has a very busy week this week too, so he should be getting his rest as well. So for now, good night.

I'm 2!!

Have you figured out the major theme of today's blog? It's my birthday, na na na na na na. Mom sang me the Beatles' song while we walked to Kindermusik this morning and it's stuck in my head; now you have it too. After Kindermusik, I went to Johnny's Toys in Latonia. I received a key in the mail to use in the castle to get a toy, then ate pizza and played at Totter's Otterville play-center. There's a fun water area where I can get quite wet, even while wearing the protective smock. There is also a swell area with a slide and a ball pit. After a relaxing nap, I went with Mom and Dad to Aunt Martha and Uncle Cliff's house where we had dinner and birthday cake. A nice time was had by all. And a big thanks to all my family members who sent sweet cards and gifts, and made me feel very special.

Happy Mardi Gras!

Just a quick blurb to say hi to people who read about the happenings of an almost 2 year-old. Today is Mardi Gras and I hope everyone took a moment to think about the people whose lives were drastically affected by Hurricane Katrina. New Orleans is the epi-center for Mardi Gras and it just isn't the same this year. Mom's hometown is very near Mobile, the birthplace of Mardi Gras, and so she feels a special affection for the holiday. Our family is remembering, and praying for, the people whose lives were touched directly by Katrina and who are still working on mending their lives.

Other than that, things just keep truckin' on for me. I forgot to mention in my last blog that I went to see the movie, "Curious George" a couple of Fridays ago. I loved, loved, loved it! The monkey is so cute and I think everyone needs a yellow hat to complete his/her outfit. Last Tuesday, I started going to "Tumble with Me" gymnastics classes at the YMCA. Mom and/or Dad also attend to assist me in my adventures. I do lots of running (a personal favorite), log-rolling, somersaults, hanging from the parallel bars, and jumping. Mom wondered if I hid jumping beans in my gumbo tonight since I was jumping so much in class. I got to play in the childcare room after class while Mom visited the fitness center. I enjoy it when she goes for a walk because I get play-time with different toys and other children. Tomorrow is playgroup at Viole's house and Thursday is Kindermusik as well as my YMCA class. So much to do...

Forever Again

Good grief, it's been almost an eternity since I posted, again! My schedule stays pretty hectic, espically for the likes of a little tyke like me. And like my last post, I feel it's more appropriate to ask what has not happened, since there's been so much. To start with, I've had lots of play-dates with my friends from the MOMS club. We've gone to the aquarium, the Florence Mall play area, the Blue Manatee bookstore, a concert by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra put on just for kids, and I hosted playgroup at my house at the beginning of this month. The play-dates were tons of fun. I really enjoy playing with Daniel, Viole, and Teah. However, I will say that hosting playgroup at my house was a bit difficult for me. It took a toll on me watching the other kids play with my toys. I experienced quite an internal struggle between wanting to play with my friends and wanting to keep my toys to myself. But after some convincing by Mom, as well a little "me-time" on the couch watching, I worked through it and had a really nice time. I think my friends had fun too. There was also a visit to the children's museum with my Nashville friend, Emmy, as well as a visit to Totter's Otterville at Johnny's Toys in Covington with a friend from Kindermusik, Olivia. And speaking of Kindermusik, our new session started and it's loads of fun. There's a focus on transportation and the trains are my favorite. The car noises would be next on my list.

A couple of weeks ago, I went to AL with Mom and Dad to see Mom's family. We stayed with Oma and Opa, and I also saw MeMe a lot, as well as Papa Jack a few times. We went to see Poppy and Emmie in Pascagoula while there and drove around to see the damage that Hurricane Katrina left behind. Poppy and Emmie's house was pretty messed up and is in the middle of being renovated so they can move back in. I found it pretty disturbing to see the wreckage. I am glad, though, that they are safe and their house is salvageable, because we saw a lot of houses that were completely destroyed. I got to see Aunt Debbie and Uncle Jerry a couple of times and enjoyed seeing pictures of their grandson, Timothy. I hope I get to see him and play while we're still young. And I can't forget to mention getting to see and play with Landon, Mom's friend Michelle's son who we saw last time in AL. Mom and Michelle were visiting at the same time again so we got together and went to Silverhill's new park. I had a fun afternoon playing with Landon. I missed getting to see Ben and Isaac (Mom is close friends with their mom, Melissa), but maybe that'll happen next time. I also missed getting to see Uncle Matt, but we talked on the phone and I told him that I went to the beach. I hope to see him sometime soon. I had a very good time in AL. I wonder how long it'll be before I get to go back.

I guess this gives a glimpse into my busy schedule. There's always a lot going on. It's a good thing Mom and Dad keep a calendar with everything written down in it. Otherwise, I'd be as tired as they are keeping up with me!

So Much!

Wow! It almost seems better to ask the question of what hasn't happened lately instead of what has happened. I'll try to hit the highlights. It's been a long while since I blogged, and a lot has been going on. Starting off, I moved into my new house. Mom would have me give everyone the advice not to move the week before Christmas. Things were very hectic; chaotic may be a more appropriate description. Auntie Michelle and Grandma were in town for the holidays and helped watch me so Mom and Dad could unpack a ton of boxes. The transition has been a little rocky for me. I remember the apartment as my home and don't necessarily see why we left. But, I do appreciate the abundance of room the house has to offer. I usually spend a good part of each day just running at top speed around the house. It has a nice, open floorplan that is very conducive to my sprints. My room is upstairs, and I also have my own bathroom. We have a basement downstairs that is currently a giant playroom for me! And the garage is almost as much fun as the playroom. Cars are so much more fun when they aren't moving and I can crawl all around and play like I'm driving. And while the transition of moving was a little tough, I'm getting used to everything and am very close to calling the new house "home."

So, there was moving. Then there was Christmas. Boy, was there a lot of stuff going on during the weeks before and after the holiday. And there were so many people everywhere we went. I didn't know so many people could fit in to a mall at one time. A few days after Christmas, Auntie and Grandma went home. Then it was New Year's. Then I got to go back to Kindermusik. But now there's a two-week break in classes again. Fortunately, my regular storytime at Newport Library starts back Tuesday. And I've got two outings with the MOMS group this week. There's always something going on around here; not a lot of down-time.

Although this blog doesn't seem to do justice to how hectic things have been over the last month, you'll have to trust me when I say "Whew!" You hear that, Unk Kel? Some of us have been pretty busy and don't have time to traipse around Belgium supposedly doing "work." And speaking of all the work that's been going on in my world, I think I'll go take a nap. I think Dad said he would try to get some new pictures up on the picture site soon. Believe me, there are lots to choose from. Until next time, which will be who-knows-when (hopefully sooner than this last hiatus), bye!

I Can Do...

Mom and Dad thought I should give an update on some of my new developments. Especially in the verbal department. I've been saying Mama, Dada, wawa (for water) and nana (for banana) for quite a while. Recently, I've adapted "Mama" into "Mommy." And I've added: bow (for the hair), bite, ice, down, nose, mouth, climb, cheese. I said red and yellow the other day, but only one time. I point out colors to Mom and Dad when they ask, but I don't usually say them myself. I also know the hmm-hmm sounds for yes and no. I'm getting better at communicating, little by little. And there are even more words that I have and use, but they don't necessarily sound the same as when older people say them. I might not be there yet, but I'll get there eventually.

Thanksgiving was a few weeks ago. We had a yummy dinner and thought of all the things for which we are thankful; the list was quite long. There was a lot of time over that weekend spent driving around and shopping. There's been more of that this past weekend too. We got quite a snowstorm last week. Dad took me outside Thursday night while it was snowing and we sledded down a hill a couple of times. I think he said we had about 6.5 inches of snow on the ground Friday morning. Mom and I chose not to go driving Friday and therefore our car had snow on it till Monday morning. You know, I don't mind the cold weather so much. It's somewhat invigorating.

Guess what happened a couple of Sundays ago! When Mom and Dad were coming to get me from the church nursery, they ran into some friends from Nashville. It was Emmy's mom and dad, from Kindermusik. We came to find out they had also moved to the area a couple of months ago. They had moved from Nashville to Knoxville in May and we thought they'd be staying there. They had no idea we had moved here. You can imagine everyone's surprise to see each other in Cincinnati. Mom and I are going to the Newport Aquarium with them tomorrow morning. It'll be fun having Emmy in town.

This week is the last week for Kindermusik and library story-time till after Christmas. I thought that would be very bad until Mom reminded me that we would have extra family in town visiting for the holidays. I'm thinking they can help keep me entertained for the the time being. The other exciting news is that we move into our new house this weekend. We'll be in just in time for Christmas. I'm very excited to see my new bedroom and have room to run around. Mom's pretty excited about the garage and lack of snow on the car. And Dad is excited to be out of the small apartment. Needless to say, we're all pretty excited about the move. We're hoping for a smooth transition. I'll let everyone know how it goes as soon as I can. Maybe it won't take me another month before posting. Then again, maybe it will. Guess we'll have to wait and see.

Brrrrr!!

Boy, is it cold!!! Yes, in case you were wondering the answer to the rhetorical question. We got our first snow flurries of the year yesterday. It seemed quite extraordinary considering that Tuesday evening around 7 p.m. it was 72 degrees outside. That meant about a 40 degree difference between two days! No moderation here. Today's temperatures didn't get out of the 20s. Needless to say, I didn't play outside today. Kindermusik was still fun, and fortunately indoors. I'm hoping Mom and I find some more indoor play areas so that I can get my daily dose of physical education. I am glad to say that I have only a ilttle over a month in the apartment and I'm hoping the house will give me more room to run. I keep hearing that the basement will provide lots of opportunity for fun. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Let's just hope they don't get frozen that way!

Halloween, Come and Gone

So, Halloween was last Monday. Ft. Thomas had its trick-or-treating Sunday evening. I went to Ray and Beth's house (Dad's cousin) and helped hand out candy. Yes, you read correctly; I helped hand out candy. I don't eat chocolate or candy yet, so I didn't go trick-or-treating this year. I did dress up though, as an Indian. I wore my moccasins that I got in Cherokee, NC. Aunt Cheryl and Uncle Ray took lots of pictures, as did Ray. Dad didn't have to take too many since they took enough for all of us. I kinda felt like a movie star from all the flashes. I'm ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille.

This past week kept me and my family pretty busy. Dad had his first week working in the hospital. He was very busy seeing lots of patients Monday through Thursday. He went to Louisville Tuesday with another doctor for a meeting. I didn't get to seem him at all that day, but he was back for playing Wednesday after work. I went to my first playgroup Wednesday at Viole's house. Her mom is one of the moms in Mom's MOMS club. I met another little girl, Claire, and her mom Kim. I shared my O's with both the girls and did lots of playing. I had a bit of a difficult time adjusting to the time change, so i was kind of tired off-and-on during the playgroup. But, I had fun nonetheless. I found the energy to stay awake a little longer to have lunch with Preacher and Ms. Carolyn. They brought me Buzzy bear and we had yummy food. And Wednesday night, I had dinner with Aunt Martha, Uncle Cliff, Aunt Loretta, Uncle Eugene, Aunt Verda, Doug, Jeff, and younger Jeff. I then saw Uncle Eugene and Aunt Loretta and the rest of their family Thursday night when Mom and Dad went out. I had a very good time with them. I got to see Viole again Friday when Mom and I went to Lunkin Airport for lunch and playground time. Daniel and his mom, Sarah, were there too; they'll be joining our playgroup next month. I ran and played hard for at least an hour after lunch and followed it up with a much-needed nap. Grandma and Papa Dave came to visit Friday evening. We went to Pompilio's for Grandma's birthday dinner. Dinner was quite tasty!

I went to King's Island Saturday with Mom, Dad, and Grandma. It will be the last time I see Hanna-Barbara-land. King's Island will be redoing their kids' section to be brand-new next year. I had a great time on the rides. I tuckered out before we left, waiting while Mom and Dad stood in line for almost an hour for the Tomb Raider ride just to have it break before they could ride. Mom and Dad went to a movie while Grandma babysat. We had a fun time. I played in the church nursery after breakfast with Grandma and Uncle Dave at Mokka. I had lots of energy to burn off after my huge breakfast. After an afternoon nap, I spent a little time at Tower Park.

There's been so much to do lately, but I've been working hard to do it all. Guess I should go and see what I can do next.

Activities

This past week has been pretty busy for me. Mom and I went to a breakfast with a few of the moms from the MOMS club on Monday. I played at the indoor play-area at Florence Mall later that evening. Tuesday was story-time at the library. Wednesday was the MOMS club meeting. I started in the playroom for the children but missed Mom, so I stayed with her for the majority of the meeting. I dressed up in my Halloween costume for Thursday's Kidermusik class (Indian outfit, if you're curious). Mom took me to Tower Park after my nap and I played hard for an hour before Dad joined us and we went to dinner. And Friday found us at Newport on the Levee enjoying the almost-forgotten sun before catching up with Dad during his lunch break. It's been cold and rainy here so there hasn't been a lot of opportunity to play outside. Catching Dad's cold has made it more difficult to play outside too. Fortunately my runny nose is starting to slow down, and the weather is starting to warm and brighten up; two things that should add up to more play-time.

Not too much else happening in this part of the world. Well wishes to everyone as the seasons really start to change. And don't forget to "fall back" with your clocks tonight!

Happiness Is . . .

A day at the park spending lots of quality time on swings and slides!! In a nutshell, that's what I've been doing as much as possible lately. I've not blogged in a long time because I've been quite busy. It's hard finding time to journal inbetween play-times. I've visited outside playgrounds, indoor playgrounds, and mall play areas. I'm really good at climbing stairs, going over bridges, swinging, going down various types of slides, and I've also learned how to climb ladders solo.

I still go to Kindermusik on Thursday mornings. I also go to story-time on Tuesday mornings at the Newport library; there are about 15 kids who attend with me. Mom and I usually check out a few books and a CD before we leave. I also went to a MOMS meeting a couple of weeks ago and played with many other children. I think we'll do some activities w/ the other moms and children and hopefully make some more friends. In addition, I've visited the nurseries at a few churches as Mom and Dad visited the services. Last Saturday, we went to the Woolfest in Falmouth, KY with Aunt Martha and Uncle Cliff. There were enough arts and crafts to look at to fill an entire weekend. And regardless of how cold it was, I stayed outside long enough to ride a pony. I was a little skeptical as Mom put me on, but I got the hang of it very quickly and didn't want to leave when the ride was over. I also enjoyed seeing sheep and trying to talk to them.

We're slowly immersing ourselves into the community. There are, of course, the parks. Plus, we often go walking in town after Dad gets home from work. None of us can wait till we get into our new house, but that won't be till around Christmas, give or take. I hear the unpacking of boxes will kind of be like extending the time opening Christmas presents. I think the present description is supposed to make it sound better than it actually will be. Whatever it's like, I'm looking forward to it. The apartment is fine, but having a house to call "home," how sweet it will be.

Digits

Mom and Dad got new phone numbers . . . if you haven't gotten them yet, please send an email so they can send them to you!

Tickle-icious

Mom's given me a new nickname. I really enjoy tickle-fests. And everyone seems to really enjoy listening to me giggle.

Well, I'm in my new apartment. Dad came up last Thursday with the last moving truck while Mom and I stayed with our next-door neighbors, the Findleys. Their parents went out of town Friday morning so Mom became "Mom" for 4 girls: me, Lacy, Elizabeth, and Clare. I went to my first football game and watched Clare perform with her marching band. Her school, Overton, won their game over Glencliff 30-0. It was pretty fun, but boy, was I tired by the time I got to bed.

We all came up to the Cincy area Saturday. We went to King's Island shortly after arriving. King's Island was more fun than I know words to describe. I rode a lot of rides with Lacy and Elizabeth, and Dad and Mom rode the big rides with Clare. The night finished with a bang in the form of fireworks. I was very tired that night, as I didn't take a single nap Saturday. Sunday evening, we found ourselves sitting on the banks of the Ohio River for the WEBN Labor Day fireworks. Before the fireworks, everyone but me saw a Herrier jet performing some pretty neat stunts (I fell asleep in my stroller right before we found our spot and slept through 3 fly-bys, 2 hover maneuvers, and 2 sets of test fireworks). Don't worry; I woke up for the main attraction: 35 minutes of highly entertaining, awe-inspiring fireworks. I do love fireworks, and I think it's safe to say no-one left disappointed by the show. We walked around downtown Monday morning before having lunch with Aunt Martha and Uncle Cliff. We drove the girls back home that afternoon and spent the night at their house with their family. I said my final goodbyes Tuesday morning before they left for school. I've really enjoyed all the fun times I've had with the Findley family. Mom, Dad, and I will all miss them and look forward to at least one visit per year, hopefully on Mackinac Island.

Yesterday, we had lunch at Pompilio's Restaurant in Newport. It was the little restaurant where Raymond counted the fallen toothpicks in the movie "Rainman." Mom and Dad give that movie two thumbs up. I guess it doesn't hurt Dad's opinion of it that a lot of it was filmed in Cincinnati. Pompilio's food was quite scrumptious and definitely warrants more visits.

I attended my first Kindermusik class this morning. I'm in a new age group (1.5 - 3 years) and the class is called "Our Time." There were about 9 children in attendance with their moms. My new teacher, Ms. Cindy, is very nice and gave everyone fish stamps on the backs of their hands at the end of class. I wore my stamps all day long. Later, Mom and Dad took me to Highland Park here in Ft. Thomas to swing after dinner. I find swinging to be quite relaxing. That is, until I'm told it's time to leave. Alas, all good things must come to an end. I'm okay with that though, because I know I'll get to swing again soon. And speaking of all good things coming to an end, I must end this entry. Don't worry, though. I'm sure that just like my swinging, I'll blog again also.

Goodnight House

Tonight is my last night in the only house I've known. Mom and Dad signed the papers today selling it to a very nice family who will hopefully enjoy it as much as we have. This may have been, technically, my second address; but it was my first home. Mom and Dad said they've done a lot of reminiscing about my last 14 months. There have been lots of achievements that haven't gone unnoticed. I will miss this house. I think I'll always think of it as "my house." I'll miss the walks in the neighborhood that Mom and I used to take, playing in the yard, chalk-drawing in the cul-de-sac and night swimming with the neighbors. No, I can't express how much I'll miss our neighbors. But we plan to see them at least once a year when we visit them on Mackinac Island. And, hopefully, we get to visit them every time we pass through town. I also hope to get to visit Dylan when we come through town too. I guess I can see a pretty good bright side: having lots of wonderful friends is a wonderful excuse for visits back to Nashville.

I won't dwell on the negative of leaving. I shall look forward to the new beginnings ahead of me. It'll be an interesting experience living in an apartment for a few months. Mom and Dad said they saw quite a few children my age that I will probably get to know and call my friends. And, the apartment is only be beginningof the adventure. I know there is a new home waiting for me to move in right before Christmas; waiting for me to open it up like a present and fill it with joy and laughter. Plus, my Kindermusik class is only about a block down the street from my new house. You know, I think there's quite a bit of potential with this move.

I will finish this entry with a special thought and extra prayers to everyone who has been affected by Hurricane Katrina. She didn't listen to me the other night when I wished her to dissipate. She came inland with a vengence. Mom has heard from most of her family and is thankful that their part of AL didn't get hit too hard. It wasn't an easy day, but they fared quite well in comparison to people in MS and LA. We're still waiting to hear from Poppy and his family in MS; phone lines are either down or the circuits are too busy for calls to connect. We're hoping and praying that all is well. I ask that anyone who reads this to say extra prayers for all who were affected directly by the hurricane, and for the people who are trying to help with the recovery.

Weird

You know, an odd thing happened last Thursday afternoon when I woke up from my afternoon nap. I came downstairs to find the family-room loveseat and kitchen table missing! They were nowher to be found, or so I thought. I was quite confused to say the least. Consider my surprise when I found them Friday night in an apartment in Ft. Thomas, KY. There were part of the stuff Mom and Dad unloaded from a truck full of stuff from our Nashville house while I played with Aunt Loretta and Uncle Gene, which was loads of fun. Mom said that Dad gets the credit, and major thanks, for unpacking because he unloaded half the truck by himself while she and I were still driving. And I almost forgot the other weird thing that I found when I awoke from my nap Thursday afternoon: my room was no longer yellow, blue, and underwater-themed. It's now green! It got painted for Emily, who will move in when I move out. I'm still trying to fully understand what's happening in our house; but as long as I can always find Mom and Dad, I know everything is fine. They keep telling me it's an adventure (whatever that means). I'm going to take their word and go with the flow.

I think the only other exciting things that have happened since I wrote last time were going on a boat-ride in a lake and swimming in the neighborhood pool. Last Sunday morning, Grandma and Papa Dave took everyone out for a ride in their pontoon boat before we returned home. It was bunches of fun! We watched birds fly (some airplanes, too), a fish was caught and released, and I showed off my balancing skills as I walked around while the boat moved over the water. It was quite a fun experience. The pool beckoned Monday night, so I answered with an evening swim with Lacy and Elizabeth, which is always at the top of my list for favorite things.

Have you noticed a theme of "water" on some of my favorite past-times? I find myself realizing this fact when thinking about how much fun I had today on the return trip from Ft. Thomas. We stopped at the Kingfish Restaurant in Louisville and ate lunch. Afterwards, I helped a couple of sweet grandmothers feed the ducks at the river's edge. Mom and Dad hadn't planned to go all the way down to the water's edge, but when I saw the ladies going, I knew they had the right idea. Mom came too and we had a nice time chatting with them. I also met a little girl named Fiona who was my age. She enjoyed seeing the ducks and water too. After napping when we got home, I went next door to play while Mom and Dad went out with Kel. Mom picked me up after a few hours of extremely enjoyable play-time with the neighbors. And, due to the extreme amount of enjoyment incurred by tonight's events, I find it is time for sleep. So, I bid you good night. Let's all have sweet dreams of Hurricane Katrina dissipating sooner than later, and hope she gets the message.

P.S. Happy Birthday Landon!! Your card is late, but I tried to send you good vibes via the imagination plane. Hope you had a good one!

Good Grief

Have you ever sat in a traffic jam for 3+ hours? I had not until Tuesday. Our trip from Cincinnati to Gatlinburg was scheduled to take around 5 hours, but ended up taking well over 8! The good part about the jam was getting out of the van for a while. I find my car-seat so restrictive!! I found it quite perplexing to be walking around an interstate that instead looked like a parking lot of a busy mall. I got to pet two dachshund puppies that were also enjoying the freedom of being out of their car. A nice man driving a tractor-trailer truck tried to keep everyone informed of the progress of the wreck that was holding up traffic. Eventually, Dad followed another white van across the median where we took a very slow, meandering, smaller back-road to get further up the interstate. We made it to Gatlinburg finally, not a minute too soon.

Yesterday, I went into the Great Smoky National Park with Mom and Dad. I played in a small creek for almost an hour, which I found most enjoyable. The water splashing over my feet was very cool, and the rocks were just right for tossing around and splashing in the stream. It rained later in the evening on our walk after dinner and we got thoroughly soaked on our trip back to the van. It was like a giant shower! I ended up getting to play in water twice in one day! Now, our trip to Gatlinburg is over and I must say that I had a lovely time. I hope it won't be another 10 months before I return.

Update (an attempt)

So, a lot has been going on over the span of a month. I don't know that I'll get it all on record, or have done it justice, but I'll try. I went to Destin, FL with Mom and Dad so Dad could attend a conference. We were able to all have breakfast together before he went to his meetings, which were all only in the morning. I kept a decent schedule of napping during his meetings so I could be ready for an afternoon adventure. We rented bikes one afternoon and rode around Sandestin taking in some sights. I got my first ride on a jet-ski that same afternoon. Mom and I planned on letting Dad go solo, but the lady working at the desk said I could go since they had life-vests my size. So, Mom and Dad popped me on in between them and we were off, riding in the bay. After about 15 minutes, we took a small detour: into the water! Dad cut our turn a little too sharp and before we knew it we all fell in!! The life-jackets worked very well, for we were all bobbing around right after immersion. It took me by surprise, but I think it woke up Mom and Dad more so than if they would have had 10 Starbucks' coffees each. We got back on the jet-ski before long and didn't even have any little fish nibble our toes. I rode for a while with my arms outstretched feeling the wind rush through my hair, then took a little siesta before returning to land. We splashed around in the Gulf for a little while one afternoon, and on another day I watched Mom parasail. We went to Oma and Grand-daddy's house on Wednesday and stayed till we drove home on Sunday. I saw Me-Me and Papa Jack while there and also had dinner with Aunt Debbie, Uncle Jerry, Julianne, and Papa Jack's grandson Dallas. I met a friend of Mom's from high school, Michelle, and her son Landon. We all had lunch together in Fairhop, followed by ice-cream. I had a lot of fun with Landon. I hope I get to see him again sometime soon.

After our return to Nashville, Mom and Dad went to work getting our house ready to sell. I guess I haven't said anything about it before, but I'm moving soon. Dad will be working with a doctor's group, Patients First, in Belleview, KY. It's a stone's throw over the Ohio River from Cincinnati. It's actually quite close to the pedestrian bridge, so he can go to the Cincy side for lunch if he's in the mood. We've found a house in Ft. Thomas which is very close to Dad's office and the hospital out of which he'll work. We were very blessed with the selling of our Nashville house; we got offers for it the same day as our open house, after only 2 days up for sale! It looks like we'll be moving right around the beginning of September. Even though I've moved before (I don't remember the Johnson City move at all), I think I'll miss Nashville. I will definitely miss my neighbors Lacy and Elizabeth. But I'm looking forward to the excitement and adventures that are coming with relocating.

See, I don't think 2 paragraphs have done justice to the flurry of activity in my life this past month. I'm sure much more will be happening/changing by the time I blog again. In the meantime, I've got a few more weeks of My-Gym while still in Nashville, then I'll look for a Kindermusik class in Ft. Thomas; Mom and Dad try to make sure that stability finds me, even while a whirlwind of activity blows nearby. So, in another month, I'll be in a new geographic location, but I'll do my best to make sure I can still be found, here on the web.

Goodness!

Wow, has it been a long time! I don't even have time to type what little I'm typing. Just thought I'd tell everyone that I am planning on updating soon and hope to share the many interesting things that have happened over the last month. Maybe I'm just trying to make sure I have plenty about which to blog. Are you sitting on the edge of your seat with anticipation yet? Good!

Spelling Be?

I thought something seemed awry in my blog. After some prodding, I've convinced Mom that "avocado" is the correct spelling, not "avacado." She kept having me use the "a" instead of the "o." You'd think that after this long of it being my favorite food, my expertise would be acknowledged a little sooner. Adults sometimes think they know everything. Now I can get back to my memoirs, "Avocado Kisses, The Early Years."

So Much Fun

I have a mini inflatable swimming pool that I tried out for the first time last Wednesday. Lacy and Elizabeth were over for the afternoon and we had so much fun playing in the pool! I was dancing in it while Mom was blowing it up, before we even had water in it. And once the water was in it and we were all outside, there was lots of splashing going on. Mom sprayed me with the hose while she was filling it up and I found it quite invigorating. I think I shall frequent the pool again soon.

Auntie Michelle arrived last Thursday. She's here till Saturday. She went with us to the Cincinnati area this past weekend. I ended up going swimming in a pool while visiting Preacher and Carolyn. I even got to swim in my clothes. Fortunately, Mom had an extra outfit for me to put on afterwards. I saw fireworks for the first time Sunday evening. It was downtown Cincy's celebration for the 4th of July. Speaking of, Happy Birthday America (a little late, I know). The fireworks were so aesthetically pleasing! I liked the "POP" sound they made. It was a sound I could make too, but not quite as loud.

We returned home Monday and saw more fireworks after dinner with our neighbors. It was a very enjoyable afternoon and evening. I really like fireworks. Why can't I see them every day? No My-Gym this week because of the holiday, so the rest of this week is all about getting back on my normal schedule. That is, until we go out of town again.

Flippin' Out

I can almost do a somersault by myself! I've been learning how to do it in My-Gym and thought I'd take the initiative last night to try it on my own. It sometimes works and sometimes doesn't. What else have I been doing, you ask? Well, I tried turnip greens for the first time last night. Dad shared his serving with me and Mom shared her green beans with me. And there is always avacados. What a green dinner! We went to the grocery store after dinner and bought lots of veggies and fruits.

We were all in northern KY this past weekend. Dad's cousin, Ray, got married to Beth at a very pretty outdoor wedding. It was my first wedding. I found two little girls to play with near the end of the wedding. They were near Lacy and Elizabeth's age so I thought they should be fun to run around with; I was right. The reception was inside and there was lots of stuff going on. I met a new friend named Danica who said she'd babysit me anytime I wanted her to do so. She was super sweet and took me out on the dance floor. With all the activity of the day, we didn't stay at the reception too long. We spent lots of Saturday driving around Fort Thomas and I spent the evening at the hotel with Grandma while Mom and Dad went out alone. We came back home Sunday afternoon. I gotta say that riding in the car gets pretty old, pretty fast. We stopped at a gas station that had a playground nearby so I could have a play-break. I was quite happy to see our house. Mom and Dad took me to the neighborhood park and let me play on the swing and slides. And then I played with Lacy outside till it was time to go inside for the evening.

Lacy and Elizabeth came over yesterday afternoon to play with me. They will come over in the afternoons this week while their babysitter is on her honeymoon. They even came to My-Gym with me earlier today. Fun was had by all in attendance. Auntie Michelle comes in later this week to visit. I think we'll have lots of fun together. Maybe I'll blog about some of the adventures we are sure to have.

Back in the Groove

Well, I've been home for a little over a week now and I'm feeling the calls of routine beckoning. Last Tuesday was Dad's birthday; Happy Birthday again, Daddy! To celebrate, I went to my first class at My-Gym. I had a run-around good time. There were lots of balls, and fun swings, that I really enjoyed. Mom learned how to help me do a forward somersault. I had dinner at home with Dad, Grandma, and Mom, who cooked a special dinner for Dad. The rest of the week was pretty low-key. I went to the nursery on Sunday during church. Lacy and Elizabeth, from next door, came in and played with me and help me last through the service. Our parents all came together to get us from the nursery and were very proud that I stayed in the whole time. I liked having my close friends in there with me; it made me feel like I was at home.

I went for my first bike ride last evening. Mom and Dad got bikes from Brian and Christina, and one had a seat on the back just for me. We went to Crockett park and rode about 3 miles. I found the wind in my face to be invigorating. On the other hand, I wasn't too enthralled by the helmet as it kep falling in front of my eyes. Dad said it had something to do with me having a small head. I guess I'll just have to grow into it. But overall, I really enjoyed the ride. I went back to My-Gym today and had a good time, again. I climbed lots of stairs, slid down a slide, played on different swings (including a plane ride down a zip-line, and a spinning saucer), found some balls, walked on the balance beam, crawled through a course of tunnels, and even swung on a high bar. I had so much fun, in fact, I need a nap. Good afternoon!

Sophie's Vineyard

I decided to rename Martha's Vineyard because I enjoyed our vacation there so much. So very much happened, but I will try to give the highlights. Airport delays and airplanes. Rental car. Ferry. Ocean! Island. Vineyard Haven. Driving. Menemsha. Lookout cottage. Dogs! Birds! Oak Bluffs. Carousel. Beach. Sand! Good food. Bananas! Cold salt-water. Stroller. Hugs-n-kisses! Spaghetti. Port-a-crib. Breezes. Inchworms. Sun. Walking. Balls! Edgartown. Morning naps. Afternoon naps whenever and wherever. Aquinnas/Gay Head. Clay cliffs. Sesame Street. Lilo and Stitch. Turkeys. Lighthouses. Boats! Shoulder-rides on Dad! Choppy waters splashing up the ferry deck. More airplanes and airport delays. Home, sweet home.

There's more, I know. It's hard to get it all in. I might be young and small, but I do a lot each day. So much, I have to say, that it's hard to journal very often. I do it when I can and hope I get the good stuff in. If I think of more from my vacation, I will edit the above paragraph. Everything, including me, is a work in progress.

Dad's birthday is Tuesday. Yea!! Happy Birthday early. It's also the day I will start classes at My-Gym. I'm excited to be starting something new. And, next Sunday is Father's Day. I love that there's a special day to celebrate my very special Daddy. A couple of days ago, Dad got up a few pictures from the vacation. We hope to get a few more up sometime soon. I think I've shed light on some of the bright spots of my last week. I'm sure this week will be busy as usual. Maybe I'll journal again sometime soon.

Slight Catch-Up

This past weekend was a fun few days. I went to the neighborhood playground Friday evening with Mom, Dad, Lacy, and Elizabeth. We had a good time swinging, sliding, and crawling through the tunnel that connects two slides.
Saturday had us visiting landscape centers, looking at lots of pretty plants. Dad spent the afternoon putting in echinacea plants and fountain grass by the mailbox. Our next-door-neighbor, Brian, helped Dad with lots of digging in filling in soil. He and the rest of his family joined us in eating Thai food outside after they finished the yardwork. It was a very nice evening with fun playing and yummy food.
Sunday had two things happening at church that was amusing. The Old Testament scripture reading was the story of Noah and the ark. What made that amusing was that we had all read that exact scripture Saturday night after dinner while playing with my Noah's Ark toy. We were trying to find the name of Noah's wife, but it wasn't mentioned. Kind of funny that it was the exact scripture in church the next day. The other thing that was amusing was that when Dad had to come get me from the nursery, he found me trying to lead a rebellion out of the room. I had Chloe (a 16-month old) with me at the door banging to get out. Dad took me outside to play on the playground before going back in to the service. The nursery is nice and all, but I enjoy being with Mom and Dad more. We had dinner later that evening with our neighbors and got to meet Lacy and Elizabeth's cousins who are visiting for a couple of weeks.
Dad was off work Monday for Memorial Day so I got extra time with him; I can never get enough!
Lastly, the girls' oldest sister, Elise, is here for the summer and babysat me tonight while Mom and Dad went to the new Star Wars movie. The rest of this week will probably be spent getting ready for our Martha's Vineyard vacation which starts on Friday. I think it'll be tons of fun, once we get off the long flight.
One more thing before I forget: Happy Birthday Uncle Matt and Timothy! Love ya!

Memorial Day

Yesterday was a special day, for two reasons. First, it gave us all a chance to reflect upon, remember, and appreciate the men and women who have served, and are currently serving, in our military forces. It's a day we honor heros. Second, Kel's son Dylan Thomas was born yesterday afternoon. Mom and Dad said we will try to go by the hospital to see the happy family later today. Congratulations Kel and Michelle!! I can't wait to see cute little baby Dylan!

Travelin'

Goodness, it's been a while since I've blogged. Not too much has been happening with me. Just lots and lots of riding in the car. Mom, Dad, and I have been making trips to Cincinnati that are quite long in my car seat. We just got back from said trip yesterday. I did have fun while I was there. Mom and I went to lunch with Aunt Martha and Uncle Cliff Friday before going to the children's museum at Union Terminal. There was a lot to see and do at the museum. I played in the ball pit a little and picked up a lot of building blocks in the construction area. I saw many other children who were also enjoying themselves. I found myself at the zoo on Saturday morning instead of my usual nap. I saw lots of different types of birds as well as giraffes, elephants, monkeys (they were very entertaining), manatees, lions, bears, and more animals than I can remember. I ate dinner at Aunt Martha's house later that evening. I had fun with Dad and Uncle Gene in the backyard running and log-rolling down the hill. Mom and Aunt Barbara could hear my happy squels from the deck while I played. Sunday was spent mainly in the car (which I'm officially tired of, in case anyone asks). We did all have dinner with our neighbors after returning the rental van and I had a lovely time playing with Lacy and Elizabeth. I also enjoyed the watermelon we had for dessert; I'll add it to my list of yummies along with cantaloupe and honeydew. Ah, it's good to be home.

Mom and I tried My-Gym a couple of Fridays ago. There were almost 15 other children in the class we attended. There were lots of stations to play on. Mom said she wants to try the Gymboree class before making a decision of which to do this summer. Otherwise, things are pretty set here. I pretty much eat, sleep, play outside, play with Dad when he gets home, help Mom around the house, and just enjoy being me. Maybe Mom and Dad will upload some new pictures on my website soon. Now, go enjoy the pretty weather outside!

Warming Up

I think the warm weather may be here to stay. I so enjoy going outside to play. There are so many things to see and do while outside. Last week, Lacy and Elizabeth showed me how to draw on the pavement with chalk. I also like picking up and tossing rocks and sticks. The fresh air is so good for the body!

I think I've realized that avacados and apple-cinnamon oatmeal are my favorite foods. I tried blueberry yogurt for the first time today. I like yogurt plain, but the blueberry was even better! Mom said I have apple yogurt to try too, maybe tomorrow. The other foods I enjoy are: broccoli, squash, green beans, chicken, macaroni-n-cheese, lots of different types of cheeses, carrots, bananas, salmon, onions, pasta and marinara sauce, bread, crackers, cheerios. I usually try a little of Mom and Dad's food, whatever they are eating. It's fun trying new foods. I also enjoy drinking out of my SpongeBob straw cup. I usually have water; sometimes watered-down orange juice, apple juice, or lemonade.

Well, Kindermusik is over for the summer. I had a program this past Saturday where I got to see Hannah and Jack, and my teacher Marie, one more time. I think Mom and I are going to My-Gym tomorrow to check out their classes for the summer. Lacy and Elizabeth have a new babysitter now that school is close to ending, so Mom and I don't have to pick them up any more. I still plan on playing with them a lot. They're so much fun. And, I hope to do more playing at playgrounds and swimming in the pool. But for now, I shall take a nap to rest up for an active afternoon.

Whee-kend

This weekend was quite nice. It started Friday night with my next-door neighbors. The Findleys (mom-Christina, dad-Brian, & Lacy and Elizabeth) babysat me while Mom and Dad went on a date. For over a month, Brian and Christina had offered to babysit me so I could play with the girls. I enjoyed myself very much! We played with my toys that I took to their house, plus lots more that they had. I ate my snacks there and also played with their dog, Rose. Rose is quite old and is much calmer than Lily. Rose let me pet her and lay my head down on her. When Mom and Dad came to pick me up, I was curled up with my taggie on Christina's lap watching a video. A fun time was had by all! Mom, Dad, and I went to Opry Mills Saturday. We did a little bit of shopping after eating in the food court. We ate dinner at home, then I had lots of play-time with Dad. Mom played too, but it was extra special because I got to see Dad so much. Sunday, we went to church where I played in the nursery. Mom stayed in there with me for a while because I wasn't quite ready for her to leave. We had lunch at Carrabba's followed by a trip to Costco. During my afternoon nap, Mom and Dad worked on stripping Mom's old toybox. After a quick trip to Lowe's for paint, we spent the evening at home, in a nice and calm manner. It was cooler than it has been lately, and doesn't allow for the same outside joy that warm days foster. I'm hoping for the return of spring soon. Guess I'll go eat my yummy snack of apple-cinnamon oatmeal. Bye!

A Flurry of Activity

I guess I should have used this title in the winter, but we never got too much snow. I think "flurry" describles the pollen falling from the trees better than any snowfall I've seen. And with all this pollen falling, I've been a busy little bee. Mom and Dad took me to the zoo Saturday. It was a beautiful day with lots of sun and warmth. Lots of other people thought it was a perfect day for the zoo, too. The first thing we saw was 2 pairs of beautiful macaws. They were a deep blue color and were probably each bigger than me. They were the biggest birds I've ever seen! I found them very intriguing. I just sat in Dad's arms and studied them for about 5 minutes. Mom was watching me watch the birds and saw me processing the new creatures in front of me; she said I got this little grin on my face that said, "I understand now." They were in pairs and looked like they really liked their partner. We also saw an elephant at the new elephant habitat. After that, I found the people more interesting to watch. Dad driving the stroller was fun too; he likes to keep me guessing about where we may end up and also goes fast to get the wind in my hair. Saturday night Kel, Jason, and Jason's girlfriend from Frace, Sara, came over to my house for dinner. Mom cooked and we all ate outside on the deck. Afterwards, the guys had fun playing with my knubbly-ball. Sunday was lots of fun too. I took a nap after church and then went next door to Lacy and Elizabeth's house. Their parents cooked lunch and I played with the girls. They have a slide that Dad helped me go down; I found it exhilarating! There was also a dog named Coco that came to play with Lily (the girls' younger beagle). He was almost as energetic as Lily and they both liked to come tap my face with their noses. I played so hard that I came home and took another nap. Today was Kindermusik class. It's one of the highlights of my week. It's sunny and warm outside, so I think I'll rest up so I can play outdoors with Lacy and Elizabeth when they come over after school. Good-afternoon!

So Much Fun

The past few days were a whole lot of fun! Jon, Steph and Betsy came to visit Thursday. Jon went to Dad's office with him while we girls stayed at home. We went to Buca di Beppo where I tried ravioli and meat sauce for the first time. Mom also shared some of her chicken and garlic bread with me. I sat in a booster seat and made quite a mess! Betsy sat in front of me and ate lots of good food too. We all went to Noshville for lunch Friday. I ate my bananas and 7-grain cereal Mom brought for me. Dad and Jon went back to the office afterwards and Betsy and I took naps shortly after getting home. I got to try pizza for the first time Friday night; it was quite yummy. We had it delivered and ate outside on the deck. Dad left the door open for me so I could go in and out of the house as I pleased. I really like playing outside. We all had strawberry shortcake for dessert. Betsy and I did lots of playing with my toys while the adults talked. It was kind of different for me having someone smaller than me play at my house with my toys. Mom and Dad talked to me about sharing and showed me how to share my toys. After Betsy was here for a little while, I would hand her my toys to play with and she would hand me hers. She liked my keys and I liked her Link-a-doos. I enjoyed having a friend around. Saturday, we all had breakfast at Puffy Muffin here in Brentwood. Jon, Steph, and Betsy had to leave afterwards to catch their plane back to Seattle. Steph wasn't feeling too good; I hope she's feeling much better now. I really liked meeting Betsy; Mom and Dad really like seeing Jon and Steph. I hope we get to visit them in Seattle sometime soon. Jon starts a new job in July so maybe we'll go out there after they all get settled.

Things are pretty routine otherwise. I ate at the 5 & Diner with Mom and Dad on Sunday afternoon. We missed church because of an odd sleep schedule I decided to adopt for the morning. We just ran errands and enjoyed the rest of the day once I had my nap out of the way. Kindermusik is tomorrow and is always fun. Not much more planned that I know of. Hope everyone reading this is well. Later!

What's Happening?

Whew, I'm exhausted! I've run almost non-stop for about 3 days now. Dad had to take his van to an auto shop in Franklin yesterday. He came home at lunch and Mom & I followed him to drop it off, then we had lunch together. We took him back to work after lunch. We had to pick him up afterwards too. He got delayed so Mom gave me my avacado snack in the back seat of the car. After getting a rental car, we met Rohini, Mark, Roan, and Sitha at Centennial Park. They were passing back through on their way back to Kingsport. We ran around a lot in the grass and then all had dinner at Bread-n-Co. I had fun playing with Sitha; she calls me "Coffee." I kind of like my nickname.
Today, I had lots of fun at Kindermusik. The other Sophie and Hannah were there. I think my favorite part was swinging in our blanket-hammock. Dancing the Virginia Reel was fun too. What am I saying? It was all fun!
I took a nap when we got home to get ready for Elizabeth and Lacy to come over. We had so much fun playing. We went outside for a little while and I did plenty of walking in the grass. It tickles when it rubs on my legs. And our tulips are finally in bloom. We have pink and purple ones that are up. The whole barrel is about to burst full of color. I'll tell Mom and Dad to take pictures so we can share our prettiness with everyone.
We ate dinner with Kel and Jason tonight; I ate more avacados and carrots than Mom or Dad could have imagined based on my last days of eating so little. Well, I think tomorrow will be spent at home, with maybe an outing for groceries. Mom has ballet class in the evening so I'll spend some quality time with Dad.
I hope we get some good pictures with Betsy and her parents to share after Thursday and Friday. Bye for now!

The End of the Weekend

It's been quite busy this weekend. Thursday, we all had lunch with Preacher and his grand-daughter Amy. Amy is a junior in high school and they were touring Vanderbilt. We met them after their tour and ate at SATCo. We had dinner later with Kel and Jason. Friday, Mom and I spent the day at home since I hadn't been feeling 100% since Wednesday. I had to have a little Tylenol for a low fever. I also haven't been eating very much. Mom and Dad think it may be a tooth starting to come in somewhere. Some friends from Kingsport came in Friday night and spent the night. They left Saturday while I was taking a nap. We went to church this morning, but I had Mom stay in the nursery with me. I eventually started playing with some of the toys, but Mom was reading books to me and 2 boys so she stayed. It was nice having her in there with me. I got to have the best of both worlds: Mom close by, and friends and toys with which to play.

This week has a couple of fun things planned. There's Kindermusik on Tuesday, of course. Plus, Lacy and Elizabeth come over on Tuesday and Thursday. Also, I get to meet a new friend Thursday when Betsy comes to visit with her parents, Jonathan and Stephanie, from Tacoma. Looks like pretty weather for most of the week so maybe Mom and I will get a couple of walks in using my cool jogging stroller; we used it today with Dad while he took a break from working on his van. Guess I'll have to wait and see what else is in store for me this week.

Long Time, No Write

Well, hello there. It's been quite a while since I've posted. A couple of weeks, I believe. Things have been quite routine so I've waited a while.
It finally feels like Spring. It is beautiful outside. The sun is shining, the birds are singing. The birds actually sang all last night, but that's beside the point. Maybe I'll visit the neighborhood playground after my afternoon nap.
Easter was this past Sunday. It was rainy and chilly but I still wore one of my new dresses. The church nursery was very full and I didn't stay in it too long. Dad came and got me early and I got to hear the choir sing the Hallelujah Chorus at the end of the service. Easter is a very special holiday and Mom and Dad were glad to go to church and spend time as a family. They always like that, though. We all had dinner at our neighbors' house that night. Their dog, Lily, has been getting out of her fenced-in yard and visiting us when she escapes. It was fun seeing her in her own house. I like watching her run around; she's very active. I don't necessarily care for her kisses, but I think they mean she likes me. Grandma came to visit last week during her Spring Break.
I think some friends from Kingsport are coming in on Friday. I hear we may see Preacher from Cincinnati sometime this weekend, too, as he comes through town with Carolyn and their grand-daughter, Amy. And next week, I think Betsy is coming, with her parents Jonathan and Stephanie, from Washington state. I like seeing new people; it keeps things interesting.
I went back to Kindermusik yesterday, after being off last week for Spring Break. It was so good to see my friends. I took Hannah a Peek-a-Blocks toy for her birthday. She turned one on Easter. There are 4 girls in my class, and one boy; all the girls had dresses on for Spring yesterday. Can you tell I like Spring? Dad says it's his favorite season. I think it's Mom's too, but it runs a tight race with Summer.
I hope this weekend is pretty. Maybe Mom, Dad, and I will go outside to blow bubbles and fly kites. Hope everyone reading this is enjoying the beginnings of their Spring season. Don't forget to "spring forward" this Saturday night, whatever that means.

Beyond The Edge

We had lunch outside on the deck of Beyond the Edge, a restaurant near Jason's new house. Dad & Kel helped him move, then we all had lunch. I had fun running all over the deck in the sunshine!

Cold Snap

Spring is to start Sunday, I believe, but I thought Spring was supposed to be about warm, sunny, breezy days spent flying kites and having picnics. If the weather continues like today, I don't see many picnics happening. There was snow on the ground when I woke up today and I had to wear my winter jacket outside. I then saw snow falling outside tonight. I don't know if it'll stick or how much will come down, but I do know it's cold. And speaking of Spring, next week is spring break for the schools so Kindermusik and Mom's dance class are cancelled. I don't think I'm old enough to fully appreciate spring break. And the weather prediction of rain every day doesn't necessarily make things too enticing. Oh well. Mom and I will find things to do to fill the time. Or so we hope.