The Facets of February

BLOWING A KISS

I blew Mommy's friend, Alexis, a kiss at Dinner on Wednesday night when I found out she was carrying a tiny baby. I hadn't blown any kisses before and haven't blown any since. My kiss was meant to provide good wishes for the growing baby.

POINTING

I pointed a couple of critters out to Mommy in my books yesterday. I pointed at an illustration of a teddy bear (Teddy Bear's Picnic) and a Tea Kettle (I'm a Little Teapot) in the Nursery Rhymes book. This morning I pointed to a real life chair.

CLIMBING STAIRS

I may not be able to crawl yet, but I can make it up quite a few stairs if Mommy or Daddy is behind me to make sure I don't fall back down. Mommy and Daddy are going to put a gait at the bottom of the steps so I won't be able to climb stairs unsupervised. It sure is fun!

DIVING OFF THE BED

I love the idea of diving off of the edge of the bed onto the floor, head first. But when I scoot over to the edge and start making a move, my parents intervene. Sometimes, they give me an assist towards the floor and it's just so much fun!

BA.... BA...

So many things beging with Ba... ball, bottle, boppy, box, block. Sometimes, I try to say 'ball' and Mommy and Daddy just aren't sure if that just might be my first word (aside from MaMa and DaDa and BaBa and let's not forget I-yii-yiii-yii-yiii). I can't get the 'l's out very well, but sure, I know how to say 'ball'!

I-YII-YIII-YII-YIII

My real first word! Mommy calls me on the phone sometimes and all she has to do is say this and then, I repeat it and we have a great conversation this way. She even did this on Valentine's Day in front of Nana and Papa and we got to show off how well we communicate! I am on my way to being a master of words!

PACIFIER PILFERER

I didn't use a pacifier when I was wee-little. Mommy offered it to me a couple of times at five - six weeks, but I spit it out. I didn't really like it. But I can often be found in Daycare with a pacifier in my mouth, usually one that I have pulled out of the mouths of my friends. I don't know why I love them, but I do. Mommy and Daddy say I don't know how to use one and it's probably true. They call me the pacifier pilferer because I take them from others. I was found with a pacifier in each hand this past Thursday when Mommy picked me up.

KIDZU

Kidzu is an alright place! It's located in Chapel Hill next to the new Pepper's Pizaa, across from Top of the Hill where Daddy made the Targoyles. Mommy took me there today and I played with Charlotte, Aunt Liz, and a bunch of toys! It doesn't usually matter where I am - as long as I am with the ones I love, I am happy!

DANCING WITH MOMMY

When dancing with Mommy, I learn how to move to the music and feel the emotion behind songs. We still dance to My Little Moonboat (an Asian lullaby that Mommy still doesn't know the words to) and a few weeks ago, we danced to Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue! She spins me around and around and throws me up and swings me around - usually I am either smiling and laughing or my mouth is agape as I take in the motions and the music! When I get heavier, I'll be dancing with Daddy!

THE HIGHEST NOTE

No one else can produce a higher note in the house! I have heard Balthezar the Cat yowell impressively in an effort to say "Uncle" to the other cats, George and Ivan, but his isn't any higher than mine! Mommy and I were comparing notes the other day and her voice cracked as she tried to take her voice up a notch. It made me giggle watching her try!

PLAYING WITH BOXES, CUPS and CONTAINERS

• I like to put things in containers and then, take them back out again. It can be a challenge just figuring out how to open and close them.
• I am beginning to push shaped objects through appropriate holes in my "cookie jar". Mommy puts the object halfway through the hole and I give it the extra push.
• Sometimes, Mommy puts a big box on her head and I get to remove it so she can see again. When she puts a box over my head, I can remove it all by myself.
• I made a "rattle" Tuesday night by putting an object in a cup and shaking the cup around right side up.

GRANDPA'S CRIB

Mommy and Daddy are trying to assist me in my independence by encouraging me to sleep in the crib. I've spent quite a few hours in it the last few days and I may even sleep better than when I do in between Mommy and Daddy. I like my crib because I can pull up in it and when I fall down, it doesn't hurt because there is so much cushioning inside.

Happy Valentine's Day!

MY 10-MONTH BIRTHDAY

Today is my 10-month birthday! It's been a fine day! I got to play all morning at home and then, I went off to Butterfly Kisses Academy to finish out the day. Mommy wrote a short poem called Ode to the Chrysanthemum!

Roses are red

Violets are blue

I like Chrysanthemums!

How about you?

VALENTINE'S DAY

I hope you all have a happy Valentine's Day! Believe it or not, I don't have any crushes yet, but I do love my friends and family, so for me, Valentine's Day is just one big exclamation of love! I'm sending out Valentine's Day Greeting Cards tonight in hopes they will arrive on time, but I kinda think some will be a day or so late. If I miss you in my haste, please email me and tell me and I'll forward one along!

NEW CLASS AT BUTTERFLY KISSES ACADEMY

I moved up to the older infant room at Butterfly Kisses last week because I am more mobile than younger infants. I was really tired after the first two days, but now, I'm getting used to it. My new playmates are so active, I can hardly keep up. But I do like being able to crawl around more so I don't spend as much time in high chairs, bouncy seats, and jumparoos!

COUSIN HARRISON'S BIRTHDAY PARTY

Cousin Harrison celebrated his second birthday this Saturday! I really enjoyed visiting Harrison's home in Newton, NC. I got to spend time with Aunt Jennifer, Uncle Jon, "Crazy Aunt Lizzy", Granny, and Grandpa! Cousin Harrison shared his toys with me and before I left, he rocked me in my carseat carrier and then, kissed me on the cheek several times. It really tickled me!

FUN TIMES SPENDING MY TOYS-R-US GIFT CARD

For Christmas, Granny and Grandpa bought me a $100 gift card to Toys-R-Us. Well, jeepers! I can't speak yet and I have no idea what toys are off-limits or on, so I let Mommy and Daddy pick some toys out for me. They bought me a baby swing for the swing set, two balls (both pink; one soccer and one basketball), a jumbo leggo set, and a pinata for my first birthday in two months. I'm gathering Cousin Charlotte will probably bust it open. It looks like a castle and will be filled with lots of yummy candy!

BEDTIME BLUES

Mommy and Daddy are planning to put me in my crib soon! I usually sleep in between them in their bed, but lately, I guess I squirm around so much in the middle of the night that I wake myself up and then, they wake up and have to feed me. They think that if I am in my own bed, I will probably not wake up as often and I will learn to console myself.

FOLLOW THE LEADER

My new favorite game is Follow the Leader! When Mommy and Daddy walk or crawl into the next room, they invite me to come along and I do! It's so much fun! Sometimes, I get to be the leader and I crawl deep into the kitchen towards the cat bowl and they scoop me up before I can explore its contents. They have begun putting gates up to keep me out of those areas, but sometimes, after sweeping, the gates come down and that's when these opportunities present. So far, I haven't even tried one scrap of cat food!

KITTY CAT PLAY

There are three cats that wander around! One of them, Ivan, likes to nuzzle against me when I'm sleeping. He rubs his fuzzy head all over my scalp and purrs like crazy! Sometimes, I like to grab Ivan by the fur and tug on him. He doesn't seem to mind at all. He even lets me yank his tail every now and then! George and Balthezar are not so much fun. They don't tend to stick around when I crawl over.