Happy 13 Months to Me!

Today was my 13 month birthday. Didn't I just have my 1st birthday, like yesterday? Anyway, I started out the day with another walk on Venice Pier with Mommy. Mommy didn't bring the camera, but she really should have....I kept staring at my shadow and then tried to touch it. Mommy explained to me that everywhere I go, my shadow will follow me. Not sure if I really get it. We met a nice Russian lady who has a grandson my age and then we met a woman whose daughter just had a baby and she wanted to know about my stroller. While walking on the pier, I really can't see the waves/ocean, but I then noticed them through a "vent" in the pier near the handicapped station. I bent down to see them....wow. Beautiful.

After our walk and a small breakfast (big teething day so I didn't eat much), Mommy took me to Lisa's house where we looked through over 200 board books. We bought 40 to add to my collection at only $1 per book! Wow, my library really expanded today and I am so excited.

Mommy and I went shopping for a little bit in Manhattan Beach (where Lisa lives). Mommy was looking for a few shirts to go under suits for her trip to Seattle tomorrow (boo hoo). She ended up getting a very cool jacket and I got some great Haba wooden blocks (using my birthday money from Mema and Pepa). I was going to order them over the internet, but now I don't have to. I still have some money left over. I am sure I won't have a hard time figuring out what to do with it!

Then, this afternoon, Mommy and Daddy took me to Playa Vista. The last time we went, I was only crawling and it was very hot so it was hard to enjoy it. I had so much fun playing with the big kids. I went down 3 different slides, but my favorite was the round enclosed one because it was a very fast slide. We ended up meeting Julie's friend A and her daughter, A. I shared my snacks with A. I hope I can see her again soon.

This is my favorite slide.....so FAST!

I am dizzy..

I am uninhibited.. (not like I even hesitated for a minute to jump down the slide and Daddy was surprised. Could you hear him?)

More Milestones

BLOWING A KISS: At the end of this week, I blew Mommy a kiss when she was leaving to go to work. (Mommy melted).

NEW WORD: Today, I said cheese (just like I say Peas -- "Chee-ce", rhyming with "Peace").

TUMBLING SKILLS: A few weeks ago, I learned to "tuck my head" on command so that I can do somersaults. I do it at the gym, on the bed and on the floor at home. Mommy was showing me how she does headstands the other day, but I think it will be awhile before I do that!

SLIDING: At the park in the last week or so, I have been going down the "big" spiral slide all by myself. It is so much fun!

Fishing on Venice Pier on Saturday Morning

This morning, Mommy took me to Venice Pier at around 7 am. I was still in my jammies, but Mommy thought a little bit of exercise and learning to fish would be a good activity for that hour. Who doesn't exercise in their jammies? It was a beautiful morning and all the fishermen (well, there was one woman) were busy catching fish. Here I am trying to figure out exactly what they are doing. I walked almost the whole length of the Venice Pier. After that, I was thrilled to get in the stroller as I was exhausted and hungry for Daddy's yummy breakfast of salmon and cream cheese omelet with avocado!

Under the Sea with NannyG

Today, I went to Under the Sea with NannyG. Here I am in my mobile home (I wish I could upload the video of me cooking for NannyG, but unfortunately it is too long and Mommy hasn't taught me how to shrink it.) I jumped around in a bouncy house and played with a lot of toys and people (both big and small).

Playing in the Park with Baby Grace

Soccer Girl!

Sharing...

Hugging Grace at the Park Today

Duck, Duck, Goose

Tonight, when we went to the Duck Park, I kept pointing to ducks and saying "Duck!"

Reuben Visited Today!

Visiting Nicolas and Ella

Today, we went to Long Beach to welcome Nicholas (he is almost 10 weeks old) and to visit with Ella again. It has been awhile since I last saw Ella and we had fun together (even though I was in a slightly bad mood).

Ella sang to me while playing the piano. I sat in the Elmo chair while being serenaded.

Ella gave Daddy many kisses...

And, here's Nicholas with his Mommy (above) and with Ella (below)! He is so sweet and slept most of our visit.

Just Peas Please and Maybe Some Milk

"Just Peas", the mama's secret to getting your child to eat A LOT of greens. Even the kids who don't eat greens love these things. Now, I am not one of those kids, so I REALLY love them. If I see them nearby, I want them for breakfast or a mid-afternoon snack. Or, tonight, after dinner, I decided I wanted MORE peas after eating A LOT of them today. Now, most parents wouldn't buy 3 LARGE 8 oz containers of them, but I went through a 3 oz container very quickly and they were SO much cheaper on Amazon if you buy them in bulk. The trick is to put them in the freezer so they stay fresh, or at least that is what Mommy heard. Not only do I like eating the peas, I now know how to say "Peas" (my version sounds like "Peace"). When we were at Trader Joe's tonight buying more milk for me, I was reaching to the gallon and said "Milk". So, instead of making me wait to drink it with a sippy cup, Daddy opened up the gallon in the store and I had some out of a regular cup. I just couldn't wait.

Now, I know 12 words:

Mama, Dada, Elmo, Bye Bye, Hi, Baby, Ball, More, Doggie, Up and PEAS and MILK

Now, if I can just add a few verbs, I can start to talk in sentences :)

Just another Thursday....laundry and trips to the park

Today was just another Thursday. I spent the morning singing and dancing with Mommy and rocking in my rocking chair with Elmo....(oh, and yawning a little).

Then, when Nanny G arrived, it was time to do laundry....and of course, I volunteered to help.

Bye, Mommy. She is going to work.

Nanny G took me to the park to spend time with Baby Grace and her nanny. We climbed and walked and played and spent some time swinging (see video below).

Tonight, after Mommy came home from work, we all went to the duck park. Here I am with a huge grin on my face after sliding down the slide. I will sleep well tonight!

And, here are a few videos from tonight (first video) and today (second video)...

BIG MILESTONES!, another new phrase and other big girl things

First, Grandma, these pictures are for you. I can finally wear the shoes you bought me!

Don't I look cute? (okay, this is Mommy talking...I am really not that vain)

(Again, Mommy hijacking my blog while I sleep). So you want to know what are the big milestoneS! They are no binky/no bottle since MONDAY! Three nights, no binky and three days, no paci. And, tonight, Gabrielle took her first big bathtub bath alone (she has bathed in the big bathtub but always with me or Allen).

As I put Gabrielle to sleep tonight, she rolled over and said "Hi, Meme". "Meme" = "Mommy" to Gigi. She is such a sweet kid.

(back to me from my dreams) Thanks again, Cousins Alyse, Peter, Abby and Jacob for my new bath toys....can you see the mirror and the floating toys?

And, thanks, Julie and Steven for the alligator. I almost bit him while in the bath tonight!

Goodnight!

I love my Nanny G...and my baby

Eating with Utensils and More on "Hi, Baby"

Yesterday, I ate with a spoon. Okay, so it was fish salad that was basically stuck to the spoon. And, Mommy put it on the spoon, but I ate from a spoon. Tonight, I ate from a fork. Mommy would put some of her pasta/mushrooms/chicken on a fork and I would come back and give it to her for more. We're getting there.

On "Hi, Baby" ... I realized this morning that I say this to Gabrielle ALL THE TIME. I didn't realize it until I said it twice this morning.

Dress Up Time at Zoe's

Tonight, Mommy, Daddy and I went to our neighbor, Zoe's house. Zoe is 2. Then, Rouslan (sp?) who is 3 came with his Mommy. Daddy smoked a bunch of meats (chicken, salmon and ribs) and we had a delicious meal. After dinner, we dressed up!

The dress I am wearing is Zoe's. It was given to her by a business acquaintance of her Daddy who lived in India and the dress was entitled "Western Dress".

Here I am on Zoe's Learning Tower. It looks like I am going to fall over. Mommy and Daddy are going to get me this (or actually, I think I might use my birthday money from Mema and Pepa). It will be great to be able to help Daddy cook. Tonight, Zoe was helping her Mommy bake an apple pie while in her Learning Tower.

And, here I am struggling to get out.

I was reading and playing with Play-Doh while sitting at Zoe's table.

HEEERE'S Zoe (in the background)

And, here's Zoe, Rouslan and me. No one "forced" Rouslan to put on a dress. He WANTED to :)

Farmers Market and Petting Zoo

This morning, we went to the Farmer's Market in Santa Monica. It is so much more fun to go to the Farmers Market when you can walk. I tasted cheese and fruit....and surprise, there was a PETTING ZOO.

I petted and fed goats...

I had a long conversation with a pony...

I hugged the sheep...

I watched the ducks cuddle...

And, I touched the chicken and played with it while Mommy held it...

I even gave it a hug...

And, then we sat and listened to a band play while we had some breakfast...

And, then I did a bunch of walking to walk breakfast off...