San Diego!

Duckies in the pond in the morning!

Swimming!

Post-swimming in my Elmo towel!

Elmo's Portrait by Mama

Meeting ELMO

Right before this video, I shyly waved and said "Hi". Then, Mommy got the video rolling. If you look closely in the video, you can see at the very beginning I am waving my hand.

Grandma's Here and ELMO!

Grandma arrived yesterday from South Carolina. Unfortunately, she didn't bring Grandpa with her as he is busy toiling away with taxes....or is he really just watching basketball?

This morning, we started off the day wandering the neighborhood for the community yard sale. We were going to participate, but couldn't get it together. Instead, we visited and I bought a $1 sweater from Rebecca and Isabella.


We decided to go to Hollywood and Highland for the Sesame Street/Elmo exhibit. I was a little tired when we arrived and didn't even get out of my stroller for Hooper's Store.

I had to reenergize my body with peas (and avocado). Grandma and I watched an Elmo video while I snacked.

I saw Grouch....

And, then ELMO!

At first, I waved and said "Hi", but then I wasn't sure what to make of this huge red furry monster (see video above)

I got a little scared...

But, we got back in line and saw him again and I started to warm up...

And, even offered him some of my rice cake.

When we went to leave, I started kissing the monsters...

and Ernie...

After Elmo, I rode the escalators

And, we went to Pizzeria Mozza again. This time, I was awake the entire time and actually had some pizza and some yummy caprese salad. Mommy was so busy making sure I didn't fall off my chair that we don't have any food pictures to share our dining experience.

After lunch, Grandma, Mommy and I took a walk or in this case, a run...

And, I got tired and started crawling...

What a fun day!

18 months....where did the time go?

This picture is not from today, but from earlier in the week when I tried on Mommy's sneakers. They go with my outfit, don't they?

Today, Daddy bought me a Big Bird, Abby, Monst (Cookie Monster) and Elmo ring. And, then Nanny G put them on my shoes....a new fashion statement...

Tonight, after work, we had our neighbors over for a quick celebration of my 18 month birthday. What would a birthday celebration be without cupcakes?

Thinking that I would want an Abby cupcake (and not Elmo) given my recent facination with her, Mommy put an Abby cupcake on my plate. But, I wasn't happy until Lisa brought me over for an Elmo cupcake....was it Elmo or the chocolate? We will never know.

The missing picture is the one Mommy didn't take after I put my hands in my hair.....I was swept up and brought to the bathtub!

What a Wonderful Birthday....and my new kitchen!

Daddy's birthday started out with a little bit of singing in bed....."Happy Birthday to Daddy....Happy Birthday". You will hear me sing a bit in the video below. We read some books and then, we got a surprise visit (well, not completely a surprise) from Julie and Steven. They stopped in with some delicious ginger scones (homemade!). Yum Yum! They also brought Mommy and Daddy a refrigerator for upstairs (I think they really brought it for me because I will have as much milk as I want at my fingertips). Thanks, Julie and Steven!

(Sorry, no pictures of the earlier part of the day....long story short, Mommy left her purse in the carriage at the vegetable store yesterday....Daddy thinks the camera was in Mommy's purse....the purse was still there with credit cards, but no camera and no cash....we needed to buy a new one anyway because the old better camera was dropped in the ocean BY MOMMY and ruined about 5 months ago....maybe we just shouldn't let Mommy near the camera?)

For lunch, we headed to Pizzeria Mozza, as requested by Daddy. Pizzeria Mozza is Mario Batali's pizzeria at Melrose and Highland. I had been there before when I was about 2 months old, but obviously, didn't have the pizza since I was on milk only at the time. It was going to just be Mommy, Daddy and me, but Peri was a last minute fun addition to our celebration. When we arrived, I was sleeping and continued to sleep for quite awhile in Mommy's lap at the bar....I missed the first course (not pictured here) of fried squash blossoms.....and I woke up in the middle of the salad course (arugula, mushroom and some yummy cheese).

Then, came the amazing pizza. Mushroom pizza, my favorite! But, I really only had a little crust. Not really that interested in eating. Maybe it was because I had a half an avocado for breakfast and topped it off with Julie's delicious scone?

So, while Mommy, Daddy and Peri had pizza (they also had a gorgonzola and fingerling potato and one other -- of course, there were leftovers), I was busy sitting on the bar footrest reading some books...


Then, came dessert. We really weren't going to order any, but then we saw someone next to us eating what looked like the description of what we ordered....but it was actually something else. What we ordered was amazing.....no need to describe....here it is:

And, since Daddy went to Elmo's birthday party a few weeks ago, we decided to invite him along, too.

After lunch, we wandered up and down La Brea.....went into a few furniture stores and a lighting store.

And, after so much food and walking, I went running up to Daddy

and rested on his shoulder

Then, we came home....and remember how I told you Daddy is the best Daddy in the whole world? Well, he spent the next hour or so putting my new kitchen together (thanks Grandma and Grandpa!) while Mommy and I went to the beach with our neighbors. I helped out a little before we went to the beach.

At first, I was a little mad that the sink didn't actually work and kept saying "Help, Help" to Mommy and Daddy. But, then I got over it and happily played.

Daddy, I love you. I hope you had a great birthday. I had so much fun and thank you for putting together my kitchen!