Today’s afternoon snack conversation … Flora: (head down) “nigh-nigh, (head up) “moh crackah,” (eating more crackers) “mmm, nummy nummy crackah,” (points to drink) “Fworah deeble deeble dah,” (points to my drink) “Mommy blee blah,” (looks at me) “Dee-Dah?” Me: “Where is Dee-dah?” Flora: “I no know,” (points to me) “Mommy,” “Dee-dah,” (points to her birth announcement on fridge) “baby Fworah,” and so on. Flora now provides an endless running commentary of her surroundings.
Archive for July, 2007
Flora FM
Tuesday, July 31st, 2007Lazy Days of Summer
Saturday, July 28th, 2007
Aside from a visit to the Seneca Park Zoo with Michelle and Emerson (where I fell out of my stroller and bonked my nose rushing to see the elephant bath and later saw lounging tigers, big polar bears, and swimming penguins!), the rest of my Rochester days were spent chillin’ and grillin’ on the deck (mmmm, Zweigles hot dogs), swimming in the pool (“Cohd!”), and visiting friends and family. I also got to taste Mom’s favorite pizza from Chester Cab on Park Avenue, Dad got to sample a garbage plate like this from Empire Hots in Webster, and Mom and Dad made two trips to Abbott’s Frozen Custard. Hey, how did I miss out on that?
View Flora’s “Seneca Park Zoo” photos
Strong Museum
Wednesday, July 25th, 2007
Mom, Dad, and I spent the morning at Strong Museum. They had fun looking at the vintage toy collections and I had fun visiting Sesame Street, shopping at Wegmans, eating lunch with cousin Gregory at the retro Bill Gray’s, and riding the carousel! When I knocked on the door at 123 Sesame Street no one answered, so I went across the street to Wegmans where I filled up two shopping carts — mostly with birthday party supplies and carrots.
Charlotte Beach, Lake Ontario
Monday, July 23rd, 2007
My Mom and Michelle have been best friends since they were little, and I finally got to meet her and her kiddos, Annabelle and Emerson, on our recent trip to Rochester. After playing and picnicking at The Kindig’s house all morning, we spent the afternoon at Charlotte Beach on Lake Ontario walking along the pier, spying boats and birds, and playing on the playground. Then we ate dinner on the deck of Aladdin’s Natural Eatery on Monroe Avenue — I had yummy chicken and vegetable noodle soup! Here’s a picture of Mom at Charlotte Beach when she was just three years old.
Rochester, NY 2007
Sunday, July 22nd, 2007
Mom, Dad, and I just got back from our annual trip to Rochester, NY to see Mom’s side of the family. We stayed with Aunt Chris and Uncle Jack (and “dog-dog” Rusty) in Webster and got to visit Nana Swan, Uncle Greg and his friend Melanie, Cousins Gregory and Joshua, Great Gramma Swan, Aunt Jinny and Cousin Linda from Buffalo, cousin Julie, cousins Kathy and Gia from Long Island, and “Aunt” Michelle, “Uncle” Mike, and “cousins” Annabelle and Emerson from Austin! Needless to say we were on the go and we’ll be posting about our adventures throughout the week. When we returned home, I christened our arrival by pooping on the bedroom floor. Dad thought I could walk around after my bath without a diaper, but he soon found himself sorely mistaken.
Whee!
Friday, July 20th, 2007
18 Month Checkup
Friday, July 20th, 2007
Average is good. Flora grew .5 inch and gained 1 pound 7 ounces over the past three months, ranking her in the 63rd percentile for weight and 60th percentile for height, and again making her a well-proportioned kiddo. She now measures 32 inches and weighs 25 pounds 3 ounces. My arms are certainly feelin’ it! Dr. G was on vacation, so we saw Dr. Machinski for her 18 month checkup. Flora warned Dr. M that the outlet on the exam table was “dangah” and demonstrated that the little silver handle on the side was “fshhh” (the sound of the toilet flushing). Dr. M was impressed by her vocabulary and conceptual understanding (although I’m not sure what that handle was really for) and happy to hear reports that Flora can string two words together (“bye-bye dee-dah,” “nigh nigh baby,” etc.). While Flora played with the exam table, the doctor and I discussed such topics as night wakings, bye-bye binkies, and major toddlertude (you know … screaming, screeching, hitting, pinching, tantrums, the inability to share, and your basic uncooperativeness). Then Flora got a shot in the leg, which she didn’t even bat and eyelash at. Take that, nurse!
Adventures in Self-Feeding
Wednesday, July 18th, 2007
Flora’s been feeding herself for quite awhile now, and she’s almost mastered the utensil, but Lord does this child make a mess. This was yesterday’s lunch of polenta and peas — by the time she finished eating, she not only had it all over her face, but in her hair, in her ear, in her lap, and on parts of the table and floor that made me wonder “How the heck did she get it there?” I think I snapped this before she took on a piece of string cheese — semi-chewed pieces were smeared into the table and covered up with the wrapper, after which Flora proclaimed, “Shhh, nigh nigh” and patted them on the “back.” Luckily it was bath night.
18 Months Old
Sunday, July 15th, 2007
I celebrated my 18-month birthday by celebrating Andrew’s third birthday at a surf-themed party at his house in Arlington. There was a kiddie pool, a sprinkler, a sandbox, a pinata, and lots of kids! I had fun chillin’ in a beach chair and watching the big kids run through the sprinkler, and playing in the sandbox.
James’ House
Friday, July 13th, 2007
Now that I am all better, I met my guy pals, James and Henry, at James’ new house in North Reading this morning for a fun-filled play date. We got to eat lots of snacks, play in the sandbox and water table, climb up the big climber and slide back down, and play pretend house.
Extra Long Weekend
Monday, July 9th, 2007
Flora and I kick-started our extra long weekend by meeting Marty in the North End of Boston on Tuesday afternoon (shouldn’t all weekends start then?). We walked around the neighborhood, played at Christopher Columbus Park on the waterfront, and ate my favorite baked ziti at Dino’s before heading back home on the *big* train with Bova’s cookies in hand.
Wednesday was the Fourth of July (see post below), and Aunt Tracy and Chuck came to visit on Thursday. On Friday, we walked the very long way into Melrose Center, saw some of the historic sites (plus two very large turkeys), and ate lunch at The Blues Diner. On Saturday, we drove into Boston, did even more walking around and saw even more historic sites, got an Elmo balloon and a Red Sox hat in Faneuil Hall, and ate dinner in Chinatown (see post below for how well that went).
Sick
Sunday, July 8th, 2007
Yesterday I went into Boston with Mom, Dad, Aunt Tracy, and her fiancée Chuck. It was a super fun day … but I wasn’t quite myself. When we walked around Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, and the Waterfront, I just sat contently in my stroller. And when we had dinner at Peach Farm in Chinatown, I didn’t eat any tofu or vegetables — just some berries and milk. When we were close to our house I pulled a serious Linda Blair and threw up everything from dinner plus some of my lunch — what a mess! Dad had to stop the car while Mom and Aunt Tracy cleaned me up.
Today I’m so very tired — I even fell asleep in the middle of the living room floor. I’ve been running a fever and just want to snuggle, although I managed to eat a little bananas and apple sauce and pasta ’cause they’re good for my belly. Even though I took a really long afternoon nap, I’m looking forward to going to bed early tonight. Being sick really stinks.
Happy 4TH!
Wednesday, July 4th, 2007
Decked out in a sailor dress and sun hat for the 4TH, we headed to Melrose Commons to participate in the Doll Carriage Parade. Kids of all ages rode bikes and scooters … and pushed doll strollers and wagons … in a spectacular parade of silly costumes and tricked out vehicles. I pushed my baby in her stroller for several feet before Dad decided to carry me and avoid getting run over by the girl and her training wheels behind me.
Elmo Cookie
Sunday, July 1st, 2007
I love snack! Snack is the best. What’s better than snack? A BIG Elmo cookie snack, that’s what!
MMMM, colored frosting features. MMMM, m&m eyes. MMMM, rainbow sprinkles. MMMM, chocolate cookie face. MMMM, colored frosting features. Did I mention colored frosting?
Boy do I love frosting.