One, and Half Monster

Trick or treat.
Smell my diaper.
Candy really makes me hyper.

Happy Halloween!  As you can see, I debuted as a furry blue monster last night.  My parents helped my pick this costume because my favorite book is "I See a Monster."  Trick or treating was really fascinating.  I knocked on strangers' doors, they said I was cute, then they gave me some candy and we left.  Am I not cute enough to get candy everyday? 

Last year, my mother kept almost all the candy that I got.  This year, things are going to be different, although it appears that most of my peanut butter cups and snickers have already mysteriously disappeared.  So far, my favorites are sweet tarts.  They make me spin in circles and laugh.   I also love lollipops.  I've got to get my hands on some chocolate today.

My parents carved this lovely cat-o-lantern for me, but I wanted absolutely NOTHING to do with it.  I refused to help scoop guts, carve, or go near it once it was lit.  Maybe next year.

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In other news, I am 1 & 1/2 years old.  The growing is slowing: 2'8" tall (78%) and 24 pounds, 12 oz (69%).  That may not be exact, because I did not like my new pediatrician's office, and did not care to participate in these measurements.  I've got 12 teeth.  My curls are growing a little everyday.

My spoken vocabulary:
-dog
-Dada/Daddy
-Mama
-hi
-look
-show (I want to watch a show)
-meow
-uh-oh
-guck (drink?  juice?  milk?)
-stop! (usually referring to stop tickling me)

Other words have come and gone, and I have many, many words that my parents haven't figured out yet.  I understand most of what my parents say, although sometimes I pretend not to.  But if they ask me to do something that I want to do, I understand very clearly.

Let me tell you about the basic facts of my life as a 1 & 1/2 year old.  I'm still selective about what I eat.  My favorites are grapes, mac & cheese, mandarin oranges, and ravioli.  I can use a fork, but I quickly lose interest.  Why feed myself when I can multi-task and have my parents feed me while I play?  I still love the water, and no matter how many times my parents tell me not to, I love to stand in the dogs' water dish and turn on the bathtub faucet and throw stuff in the tub.  I like to talk on the phone.  If you have not had a phone conversation with me lately, give me a ring.  I'll answer all your questions.  I have discovered playing in my room--it's not just for sleeping anymore!  As soon as I get one of my parents in my room with me, I run and shut the door so they can't escape.  Then I get out my blocks and my books and some other toys.  I love to read books, and I love to watch Yo Gabba Gabba and dance.  I like to color on paper, as well as walls and sofas.  I am very attached to my blankets and my dogs.  I enjoy my beauty sleep--about 11 hours at night, and 2-3 hours during the day.


Gotta get a nap in before I watch the Patriots game with my Dad.  More updates soon!

Big Girl, and Big Sister?

Greetings from GracieLand!  I just wanted to give you a little progress report on my most recent "big girl" activities.  We didn't go on any exciting outings this week, but I've been busy just the same.  One of my favorite things to do lately is brushing.  I like to brush my hair, which is growing, by the way.  I like to brush my dolls and my teddy bear.  I also like to brush my dogs' faces and my parents' hair.  Most importantly, I like to brush my teeth.  I have 12 teeth now, and I want them to stay pearly white. 

In other big girl news, I have been going to sleep by myself for the past couple of weeks. My mother has tried to help me learn this many times in the last 18 months, but I've always given her a really hard time about it. I just loved being cuddled and rocked to sleep. But seeing how I am almost one and a half years old, I have decided I will do it on my own. Really, it's not so bad at all.  I've also decided that I like to take showers.  It's nice because I can dance in the shower, and I can catch water on my tongue.  I've been washing my own hair, too.  Hygiene is important.

I hang out at my new playground several evenings every week. It's right up the street from my house, so I hop in my buggy and have one of my chauffeurs take me every chance that I get. In addition to swinging, I've been expanding my playground fun to climbing and sliding by myself too. I can see some geese and cranes from the park, but I can't get to them.

Well, I guess this is supposed to be the big news of the day:  I am going to have a little sister.  She should be here around the middle of March.  Today, I was supposed have a live videoconference with her, but stuff like this is all they showed me.  It doesn't look much like a little sister to me.  I won't believe it until I see her up-close, and then I'll decide how I feel about sharing my parents and my dogs.  For now, see what you make of this alien-looking creature... 

A Little Local Flavor

Hello everyone! All is well in Gracieland, Georgia. My updates have become less frequent, so get ready for some extra pictures! I've been keeping myself (and my parents) busy around the house. I am becoming an excellent singer and piano player, a great helper by washing EVERYTHING in the bathtub, and am finding unique hiding places for my toys, including the refrigerator, toilet, and kitchen cabinets. My dad has been teaching me about football, and I have been teaching the dogs about hugs.







More importantly, we finally took some breaks from unpacking boxes and rearranging furniture, and ventured somewhere besides Target and Home Depot. Last week, we went to Oatland Island Wildlife Center. We took a long walk through the marshy forest. Well, my parents walked, and I walked a little but mostly I had my chauffeurs push my stroller. That's the life! I think that my dad was afraid that I would be eaten by one of the animals. We saw cougars, foxes, large birds, and bison. But the most exciting animals that we saw were alligators. My dad is not a fan of alligators, but I liked them.







Yesterday, we had a brief trip to the beach at Tybee Island. Now that was exciting. I started off by trying to catch some seagulls, but no matter how fast I ran, they wouldn't let me near them. Then I noticed the water... the biggest pool I've ever seen! My mom and I put our feet in, but we weren't equipped for swimming. I tried anyways--face first into the ocean. When my mother wouldn't let me play in the water anymore, I noticed sand. Good dirty fun. I can't wait to go back there with my swimsuit and some buckets and shovels! Do they make a seagull-catcher?
















Our stop at the beach was a sidetrip on our way to a Pirate Festival. It was arrRR-right. There were a lot of interesting people there, and a little petting zoo. Let me tell you about this picture though. The reason I look so displeased is because right before this photo was taken, my mother tried to give me away. Don't let her tell you any different. She set me down next to these crazy looking pirates, and she walked off. True story.
No big plans for this week, except I've got to convince my parents to take me back to that beach before long! For now, time for a nap. Talk to you soon!