2 and 1

Not much exciting to tell today. I am 2 years and 1 day old. Mom thinks I am exhibiting the "terrible two's" because I have been doing a lot of crying and whining to get my way lately. It's just so frustrating. I want to play. I don't want to take time to have my diaper changed or my clothes put on or jammies taken off or vice versa. I don't want to wear shoes or sandals and I want to watch the WIGGLES. I remember a time when all I wanted to do was sleep and eat and mom and dad had no problem letting me do just that.

This morning my dad picked out a Dodgers dress for me to wear because he thought it would be good luck and help the Dodgers win tonight. I was NOT happy about that. I don't know why, because I love my dad and he loves the Dodgers so I should want to wear the dress. But I just screamed and screamed for like 15 minutes. I lost. I wore the dress.

Unfortunately, it didn't really work. The stupid other team won. Now my dad is sad.

Happy Birthday Meatballs!

Okay, that's just a little joke. I personally think it's pretty hilarious to substitute random objects for real names in the "Happy Birthday" song. For example:

Happy Birthday, Fire truck!

or

Happy Birthday, this car!

Go ahead. Give it try. It's fun.

But to get back to the point - TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY! I'm officially two years old today and I couldn't feel better. Mom and dad got me up and dressed me in this cool Chinese pants suit that I really like and when I got downstairs, I had a special birthday breakfast of mush with a candle in it! I got to blow it out and it was really fun.

So after mush and a banana (I guess I was hungry) dad took me into school where I got to decorate my birthday crown using dot art. I put a few on but then I decided that was enough. You can see for yourself here:


The day was going pretty well. I had my crown, people kept wishing me a happy birthday, I was able to FINALLY play on the giant structure in the yard and no one was pushing me (which, if you haven't spent much time in a daycare, if a huge deal.) But then things got really good because I turned around and mom and dad where standing right there. In fact, things might have gotten a little too good because I wasn't sure what to do. I took my crown off to show my mother but ripped it in the process and then we had to go inside and it was potty time and things seemed to be getting a little bit away from me so I started to cry. But mom was right there with me the entire time so it turned out okay.

Especially when my birthday strawberries and cream came out:


Outstanding.

So I ate my special snack and when I was done J. told me that I had an important phone call and when she handed me the phone it was GOOFY wishing me a happy birthday. And you know how much I love Goofy! I'm a pretty lucky girl. How many kids get to have Goofy himself call and wish them a happy birthday.

But the best part was mom took me home after the party and we got to spend the rest of the afternoon together (even though at some point I had a diaper related emergency that required paper towels and Oxi-Clean.)

All in all, it was a pretty boss second birthday. I got some cool gifts, I took a bath and my dad opened the Elvis doll that baby J. gave me (even though mom said I might be a little too young for it. Am not! I'm two!)

So, a really good day. Except my dad tells me that the Dodgers bullpen let them down in the 8th inning. Tomorrow's the big game 5 so I'm wearing the Dodgers outfit that J. and D. gave me. Go Blue!

A New Day

So it was a pretty exciting weekend and to be honest, I definitely experienced my share of really super highs and really super lows (I vaguely remember refusing to wear a shirt to dinner last night. But maybe it was a dream...) Which is fun and all because you can't have one without the other but there's something to be said for a rock solid routine.

And today we got back into it.

I got out of bed at the usual time, I got dressed in my favorite striped dress and mom made me a smoothie for breakfast which, while not technically my normal banana or oatmeal for breakfast, was a welcome tasty treat. And then dad drove me into school, we listened to NPR on the drive and I walked down to Room 5 and put my lunch in the little lunch cubby.

And then I got my play on!

Since the day was so orderly and nice I was totally comfortable at dinner time, eating my mac and cheese and green beans and having a lovely cup of milk. The Dodgers were playing and I'm not sure what was going on but something seemed to be wrong with their pitching. I'll have to check in with my dad in the morning and see how it turned out.

All in all it was great day. And tomorrow's going to be even better because it's my official BIRTHDAY! And what that means is that I'll finally be able to go on the big structure at school rather than just watching the other kids play on it. I can't wait.

I'll let you know how it turns out.

B-Day Picnic

Today was a very eventful day. Mom got up early and said she had to run out for a bit. So Dad and I hung out, had breakfast and then wrestled and played and he let me watch Mickey Mouse on TV. I helped Dad make a big pot of Mac & Cheese and then mom came home. I'm not sure why, but I threw a holy fit when mom got home. I wouldn't let them put my clothes on, or brush my hair or put on my socks and shoes. I must not have realized why they were so interested in getting out of the house. Had I known, I would have been an angel for sure. You see, Mom and Dad threw me a big birthday picnic party at the park today and invited my bestest friends to come and play with me. L. was there with his mom and dad. I. & B. were there with their mom and dad, J. was there with his mom and dad. Plus, Miss V. was there and Mr. J. and his girlfriend Ms. A.

It was really cool. When mom said she was running out this morning, she actually went to the park to set up the party. She put scarecrows on sticks in the ground and hung balloons and put an orange table cloth on the picnic table. Plus she put a bunch of little pumpkins all in a group and called it Tesserroo's Pumpkin Patch. We used foam stickers to decorate the pumpkins and everybody had a lot of fun.


Oh, and I got a WAGON. It's a cool old skool Radio Flyer wagon and Dad pulled me all around the picnic area in it. Also, L. rode in the wagon and he even got in there once with me too. My friends are fun.


Mom made me a cake with a big pumpkin on the top and everybody ate it and said it was good.

It was good. I ate 2 pieces. I don't think my dad knows that. I ate my piece and then I ate most of my mom's piece. Maybe that's why I was such an H E double hockey sticks ION tonight.

After everybody left, Mom took me home so I could rest my body. It was much later than my usual nap time and I was pretty wired. I laid down for about an hour and a half and then mom came and got me up. That's where the "fun" started. For the next 2 hours or so I just screamed and cried and tore my clothes off and screamed and cried and kicked and screamed and cried and ate some Mac & Cheese and screamed and cried and opened one birthday present and screamed and cried and took a bubble bath and got my jammies on and brushed my teeth and got my picture taken and ran around while mom tried to read me books and screamed and jumped and laid on the ground and then finally I climbed onto mom's lap and gave her some kisses and she rocked me till I calmed down and fell asleep.

Sugar RULES. Goodnight.

MUSIC!!!

Somehow yesterday got away from me and I didn't get a post up. Sorry! But as a quick recap, I had a great day down in Room 5 and come Monday I will be an official member of that room. No more signing in in Room 1 no more picking up my stuff down there, no more nothing. My dad tells me that J. and M. will move all my stuff down to Room 5 and it will all be there waiting for me come Monday morning. I have to be honest with you; it's going to be a little weird not being in Room 0/1 anymore. I know it's been an couple of weeks that I've been going down there...but still. To be completely done with it? It seems weird. I'll let you know how it goes on Monday.

But anyway, today's Saturday...

We got off to a pretty good start. We slept in (although I've been coughing for some reason. It doesn't bother me but it sure is happening. In any case...) Mom came in and got me around 8:30 and all I wanted to do was color and I made sure that we did that for a while until it was time to go downstairs for breakfast. I really didn't feel like going down there but mom and dad insisted but I wasn't about to let them tell me what I could have for breakfast and I asked for crackers even though they kept telling me that I could have a banana or Cherrios or even an egg and tiny toast. Nope. I told them I wanted crackers so that's what I ended up with. Some nice saltines and a cup of milk. I guess I showed them.

It was a weird day. The weather had cooled down to like 70 degrees and the sky was totally blue and clear and the hills where in an absolutely stark relief against the autumn, crisp sky.

Even though it was a nice day outside, inside I was in a funky mood. Mom and Dad say it's the "terrible two's" even though I am not technically 2.

I did not want to put on my shoes or do anything that my mom and dad were telling me to do. Turns out we were going to take a bike ride but by the time I was done crying we didn't have time so we just drove the car up to the new park that my mom and dad seem to like and it was super fun. It was cool outside and I went down the slides all by myself and I climbed around and before I knew it we were having lunch at The Stand. I asked for a hot dog but it turns out I wasn't sure what I wanted but I did eat some fruit and pickles so I guess it was okay.

We went home and I took a nap (she screamed like crazy for mom until I just put her in the crib. She was out in about 30 seconds. e.g.) When I got up dad was there and we got changed and dressed and then we went to the...

COST-CO!!!!!

I don't know if you've ever been to this place but the aisles are really big and I can run around and it was super fun.

We eventually went home and I had my dinner, some ham and veggies, and then I had a nice bath and brushed my teeth and then it wast time for sleep. There's some kind of fund raiser taking place at the house behind me but I'm still going to sleep.

But I bet dad's going to call the cops!

Back to Normal?

So after the close call with Hand, Foot and Mouth disease and after being locked inside the car in summer valley heat only to be freed by the LAFD, I got to go back to school today. Because of Yom Kippur there weren't as many kids but that was okay. When I got there E. the security guard went back to his car and brought out his little plastic pig and let me look at her (I even gave her a kiss on the snout!) and then dad brought me inside and we looked at the fish (the center director has a fish mobile hanging in this window office. We walk past this every morning. - e.d.)

I was pretty brave and walked past Room 1 without crying but instead waved to M. who was feeling baby M. They waved back and I kept right on going.

The rest of the day is a blur of activity. I painted with a roller, I drank from the water fountains (which is my new favorite thing to do) and I played in the sandboxes. I even slept really well. Who knew sleeping on the floor could be so much fun. And so comfortable.

Before I knew it, dad was there picking me up and we came home and had a TexMex dinner of taquitos and avocado and some peas. When I was done, mom came through the front door and I ran up and hugged her and said, "Hi mom!" Then it was up for bath and jammies and tooth brushing and then books and finally songs.

I sure am glad to be back in the swing of things!

On The Mend

So today was a brand new day. I still wasn't allowed to go to school so mom and day split up the day with mom taking the morning shift. She got me up and dressed and we had a banana for breakfast (which I tried to dip in my milk like a cookie but mom said no dice to that) and then we drew and colored for a little bit and mom drew a giraffe. It was really good. It had spots and everything.

Next thing I knew mom was trying to get my shoes on and get me in the car and I really REALLY didn't want to go anywhere but she was pretty adamant but so was I so I kicked and cried until she just put me in the car shoeless which wasn't all that great. But we drove over to her doctor (I guess she had an appointment) and there was dad and he hopped into the driver's seat and we went over to a park where I got to go down a twisty slide and then eat my lunch (a soy nut butter and jelly sandwich and some tomatoes and cheese. Pretty tasty.) After a little bit mom showed up and dad left and we played some more and then ended up going home for nap.

When I woke up, guess who was there - dad! Pretty crazy. Every time I turn around there was a different parent there to look out for me. It's like they had this planned or something.

So dad got me up and he changed my diaper and we colored for a little bit (I pointed out mom's giraffe. Like I said, it's really good) and then we went downstairs. I asked to watch the Wiggles but he said no let's eat a snack so I got into my chair and he gave me a whole red plum to eat. Now I know I had McDonalds yesterday and that was good and all but nothing tops a fresh piece of fruit that's not cut up into little bits. I got to hold the plum and eat all on my own and I took the hugest bites I could because it was so delicious.

When I was done I figured I ask to watch the Wiggles again but dad said no, let's go to the park so he packed me into the car and we went to that new park mom and dad seem to like so well. It was pretty hot out so there was only a couple of kids there and I went down the slide and after a little bit guess who shows up - mom! I finally had them both together and it was fun.

The fun had to be put on hold for a couple of minutes, though, when after my parents strapped me my car seat and closed the doors they realized that the keys were locked in there with me. Yikes! Luckily I had a sippy cup of water and mom and dad called 911 and the fire department showed up like three minutes later. I was hoping they'd have to bust through a window or something dramatic like that but they had this inflatable bladder type thing that they wedged in between the door and the car frame and when they pumped it up it forced the door open. And once the door was open they put a big hook in there and unlocked the door. I was free lickity split. But to be honest I was a little worried only because I was inside and mom and dad where outside and they seemed pretty worried.

My parents told me that I could have whatever I wanted for dinner so I said "Nocci Nocci and peas: which means gnocchi and peas and that's exactly what I got. It was delicious.

Well, after bath and stories I'm going to bed and then I'm back to Room 5 tomorrow. It's been a crazy couple of days but it will be nice to see my friends again. I feel great and my rash is just about gone so hopefully life will back to normal come tomorrow.