Wiggles: The Class Bear

FINALLY!

That was the word that came into my brain the moment that the teacher said that it was my turn to take home the class bear for the weekend. Wiggles---that's his name---goes home with every kid from class over one weekend. You are supposed to take really good care of him. And then on Monday you bring in pictures and things for a show and tell. Mama even wrote a poem from the point of view of Wiggles for my teacher to share with the class. My time with Wiggles was AWESOME! Below is the poem and some pictures!

ODE TO MY WEEKEND WITH LEAH
By Wiggles

Oh joy! I won’t be all alone
It was Leah’s turn to take me home


***FRIDAY ***
Our first stop was to Grandma, she was at work
but soon baby sis went beserk
So, we quickly drove to Leah’s place
She was kind to show me around her space
She has Star Wars posters, stickers, books and stuff
She really cannot get enough
We jumped into bed, with the Star Wars sheets
And her Star Wars figurines were really neat
Then into the backyard to play on the slide
When we had a picnic, I was by Leah’s side
Leah’s Dada read us two books at night
And Mama snuggled us in so tight
The weekend had not even begun
And already I was having so much fun


*** SATURDAY ***
Off to the “eat store”---the store with food
Everyone was in such a silly mood
Mama’s camera took some pictures of me
With everyone from the family
Next, to the park with a great big lake
The geese and swans were real (not fake)
Back home we picnicked for our lunch
French fries, chicken nuggets, MUNCH, MUNCH, MUNCH!
We planted flowers, red, pink and white
Leah’s garden is a beautiful sight
While gardening we saw something in the dirt
Six snails that we did not want to hurt
Mama put them in a plastic bin
Leah used a microscope to look right in
Next up: a bath for Leah and the baby
Was the bath because we touched snails? Maybe.
A Star Wars book to end the night
And we kissed and said our good goodnights


*** SUNDAY ***
The aquarium was our destination
It felt like such a nice vacation
Fish and seals and starfish too
Really big sharks swam in deep blue
They even had a tarantula
Leah almost tried to pet her
Penguins and otters and a sea lion show
I was sad when we had to go
Back at home we played in the sun
The sprinkler was so much fun
Then, a bubble bath for the playhouse
Even the baby was pretty doused
A movie—Star Wars—ended our day
And there is only one more thing to say:

Thank you, Leah, for hosting me
I had fun with you and your family!

My 1st Dentist Visit

In early April I went to the dentist for the very first time. I was a little apprehensive because I wanted the dentist to like me. I brought unused lotto paper (that you get at the supermarket to fill out the numbers) because I thought he might like it. The lady who cleaned my teeth was really nice to me and showed me all of the tools. It was interesting.

When the doctor saw my teeth, he thought that they looked very sparkly, and he said that they looked good. He did say that I need to stop chewing on my blankie soon so that my teeth don't get hurt. That is going to be a really, really tough thing for me to do. I was sad hearing about that. But, I said that I would work on that (and I will!). Right now, I'm just enjoying my sparkly teeth!

Erin Can Participate Too Now

For so long, Erin was "stuck" in the stroller or Mama or Dada's arms just watching things. Now, when we go places, Erin can walk along with me and can do stuff too. She walked on her own (first real steps) at 14 months; now that she is 15 months, there is no stopping her!

Here we are at the aquarium recently. I taught Erin how to dig for bones, and we took in all of the animal exhibits (yes, the aquarium has monkeys!)

Best Buds

Sure, we "argue" over who will carry the Power Ranger cell phone around the house. And, yes, sometimes we nudge each other to get more room on the couch. And, of course, there are things (like crayons, markers, small toys and certain foods) that I can have that Erin can't and she gets upset about that.

But Erin is my best bud. And I am hers.

I always introduce Erin to my friends and teachers and everyone I meet. If anyone makes Erin uncomfortable or sad, I am quick to defend her. One day we had a fire drill at our school...we had to all stop what we were doing and walk outside. When my class got outside, I saw Erin's "baby class" a little ways away on the front lawn. Even though she was content I still wanted to reassure her that everything was ok. I yelled over, "DON'T WORRY, ERIN! WE'RE JUST WAITING FOR A FIRE!" I figured that I better teach her what was going on.

Even though Erin is still a baby, I know that I am her best bud too. She follows me everywhere (and I mean EVERYWHERE). If I close the bathroom door to go potty, Erin gets so upset. One day Mama "found" us in the potty together unrolling toilet paper. Mama was a little frustrated so I admitted the truth. I told Mama, "It was Erin's idea." Erin also has to sit in chairs with me, loves to play with (or, more likely, chew on) my Star Wars figurines and wants to do everything that I do.

I just can't wait until Erin is bigger and able to talk and play more. Although Erin does walk now (WOO HOO!), she is still easily knocked down.

Still, I love my baby sister very, very much, and I know that she loves me a lot too.

The Easter Bunny Visited Us!

We colored eggs a few days before the big day. Mama told me that the Easter Bunny, who happens to be good friends with Santa, comes to good children's houses, hides their colored eggs, and sends you on a scavenger hunt for them. When you have found all of the eggs, then the Easter Bunny leaves a goodie basket.

And sure enough! That's what happened!

And what a nice Easter Bunny...he remembered that I don't like chocolate, so he brought me gummi bears, stickers, a baby doll and little toys instead. He also knew that Erin loves to put necklaces on and off so he brought her fake flower necklaces called leis, an Elmo book (she LOVES Elmo!) and other little toys.

Thanks, Easter Bunny!

In Like a Lion...

Well, March went by very quickly...and I can't say that I will miss it!

Unfortunately, Mama and I both got serious cases of Strep throat (ugggg) in March at the same time that Erin got an ear infection. Thankfully, Dada was there to take care of us. It was a bummer that I wasn't feeling better because it was nice to have him home for a few weekdays.

Mama tried to perk us in March with a seemingly endless supply of craft projects---from putting stickers on foam door hangers (see video) to making princess crowns to baking cakes to "writing" cards to painting seashells that we picked up at the beach. Mama is pretty good at turning a dreary, "nothing" kind of day into something special.

One day, she even brought a big bucket of snow in from outside for us to play with (because we were still sick and couldn't go outside). It was sure cold and slippery...and we used up a lot of towels to soak up the melting snow...but it made us all laugh as we made "snow castles" right on the kitchen floor.

Still, I'm glad that the spring weather will be here soon so we can have more time outside too.

The Month of February

(First, let me give a "shout out" to Rebecca, Vicki, and Jillian...who may be the only ones still reading this since I haven't posted here in a long, long time. Hi, cousins!)

It sounds silly to say that we've been busy but I promise that it's true. February was a month of a lot of firsts. Here's a run down.


First time I joined gymnastics (I LOVE it...especially the trampoline!)


First time that Mama and Dada were away over night without Erin and me. (Ma and Pa watched us.)

First time Erin tried daycare. She's really taken to it; the teachers of her "baby class" say that she is very mellow, loves to learn and is very good with the other kids in the class. Yep! That sounds like Erin!

First time Erin started walking---albeit, with help. A week before her 1st birthday, she started walking, largely due to Dada and Pa's coaxing.

First shoes---for Erin, that is!

Erin first starting pointing to communicate (not just signing)


Greatma's first visit to the aquarium (I helped to show her around!)



and, well, Erin's 1st birthday! WHEW! That is a lot of firsts.



We also celebrated 4 other birthdays in February---cousin Joey's, Pa's, Mama's, and Dada's. I had cake for all of the birthdays (and yes, Erin's cake was green as evidenced by the smooshed cake on her face!). And Joey even had a pool party! It was so AWESOME (my new favorite word).


February was so much fun...and so very busy! But since it's the end of March...I guess I better update you on that month too. Yikes! I will soon!

One Incredible Baby

I just love my baby sister. Sometimes a little TOO much. Mama has a new saying, "Hugging, not mugging." But anyway, I just wanted to tell you what she has been up to lately...so many amazing things!

@9 months old: Erin signs for the first time; the sign is "milk." She also does this funny thing (like raspberries with her lips) to indicate water/binkie.

@10 months old: Erin says her first word; it's...drumroll, please...."MAMA!" While in the highchair one morning, eating breakfast, Erin wasn't too happy when Dada walked to the front door to leave for work and Mama and I went with him to give him kisses. All alone in the kitchen for a moment, Baby yelled out, "MAMA!" and it was as clear as if I had said it. In fact, Mama asked me if that was me. "No," I replied. "That was the baby."

@10 and 1/2 months old: It's official...Erin can crawl. She did it a little on one day and then the next day she was zooming all around. She can move pretty quickly. And now she's into all of my toys. Oh, man.

@11 months old: Erin uses more sign language; this time it's for the word "more." While feeding Erin during a playdate on January 21, Mama gave her a veggie stick. The thing is that Mama normally doesn't feed Erin veggie sticks but she saw Mama eating it and flipped---note to everyone: only eat things in front of baby that she also has on her plate. After a few veggie sticks, Mama stopped giving them to her. So, Erin proceeded to look down very intently at her hands. She made the fingers on both hands come together, then looked up at Mama and bounced the tip of her fingers off of each other a few times. We were stunned. Sure enough, Baby did the sign for "More."

Everyday seems to bring new wonderful discoveries for Erin, and I am so happy and proud to be a part of them. I'm definitely looking forward to the day when she says MY name!

Christmas Was AWESOME!

And I have video to share.

I sent Santa two letters before Christmas about what I wanted for Christmas. The second note I drew a picture on (see video), but the first note Mama help me write (I dictated and she wrote it down). It said:

Dear Santa,
I want lots of ships. I need Hammerhead and the guy with the musical instrument. I need three things. I don't know their names but they are the Star Wars figurines that I don't have. I want the green Boba Fett too, if they make it. I am not sure. I am nice. I am 3. This is my first letter to you. We will give you bananas and milk when you come to our house on Christmas. Please bring Ma & Pa some presents too. Okay? Thank you.

Then I called Santa too. Santa sent Mama my message through email so she could hear it again to. I reiterated what was in my letter. "I want lots of ships. Hammerhead and the music guy. Three guys, I don't know their names." (And, I'll get right to it: Santa brought me what I asked for...but more on that later!)

A lot of my family came to visit me, and I played with them before and after Christmas. I helped Dada set up our decorations outside. And helped Mama with the tree inside. It was so much fun (see video).

We also drove around quite a few nights to check out the Christmas lights that people had up. One house in particular was AMAZING. Mama couldn't stop saying, "Unbelievable!" the entire time we were there! It was THAT wild.

I'm not a big fan of chocolate but rumor has it that Santa is so I made Santa cookies the night before Christmas. Mama and I put them out, with a cup of milk and a note of thanks. And then...to my amazement...when I woke up on Christmas morning, well...here's the video:


Then I patiently waited for Dada, Baby, Ma and Pa to wake up---okay, I woke them up---so we could open presents. Santa brought me so many. I was speechless...well almost:



But, as happy as I was (and BOY, was I happy), when Mama asked me if I was missing anything, I did realize that I didn't have two specific Star Wars characters that I had asked for. It was okay...but...then all of a sudden, there was a knock at the door. Mama called down into the basement where I was playing, "Leah, someone is here to see you!" I whispered, "Santa?!" And lo and behold...it was!



And when I opened up that present, well...it was Hammerhead and the music guy! I pumped my fist and said, "Yes! I knew he didn't forget!"

It was a really great Christmas!

Our Playgroup's Holiday Party

With 10 moms attending and all but one having 2 or more kids, you can see that I had more than enough friends to play with at our holiday party. We went to Chuck E. Cheese, played, sat quietly (really!) and ate pizza, danced, then opened up our Secret Santa presents.

We spent almost 3 hours there, and had a blast! I'm in the holiday spirit!

Another Month Gone

Unfortunately, as you can tell, I don't get around to updating this blog as often as I once did. Truth is, my life is very busy. So, here's an update of the major points that you may have missed over the last month or so:

#1. Halloween
I was Princess Leia and Baby was Yoda. Not only did I dress up to walk around the neighborhood but I also visited "Greatma," aunts and uncles and was in a parade at my preschool. I LOVED dressing up...And I still LOVE Star Wars.




#2. Baby has 4 teeth; eats real food.
Now, I'm able to tear a few pieces off of my High School Musical waffles in the morning and feed them to Baby. She loves them. In fact, she loves every kind of food out there. She's a healthy baby.


#3. Baby "scootches" and swipes my toys.
Usually, I don't mind that the somewhat mobile baby grabs my Star Wars figurines and puts them in my mouth. In fact, we gave her a nickname after a Dora the Explorer character: Swiper!


#4. Christmas Pictures
If you know us, then our card is due to arrive in your mailbox in the next few days!



#5. Ma and Pa visit for Halloween.
That's right! They came to see us in our costumes. And Baby just goes crazy for Pa. In fact. she gives the emotionless "stone-face" to anyone who isn't me, Mama, Dada, or Pa.



#6. Thanksgiving
What a fun day! We hopped around from house to house visiting relatives. Best part? Mama and I decorated our Christmas tree in the morning and put on Christmas carols. At one point, I turned to Mama and said, "This is fun." Mama smiled.

#7. The lights
In addition to helping Dada put up our Christmas lights, I also drove around with the family (including Greatma) to look at the lights in our neighborhood. One house in particular was a glow with thousands and thousands of lights. The man who lives there even gave us goodie bags. How nice!


#8. Barbie and Star Wars still reign...But Playdates and Outings are Even More Fun!
Just give me a Barbie and/or a Star Wars and I am content for at least an hour. I can't get enough of imaginative play! That being said, we still get out a lot to playdates with friends, local museums and my favorite place---THE AQUARIUM! (Even in the wintertime, it's still a blast!)


#9. The Season of Sick Begins
November was a month of sickness for Baby, Mama, and me (especially Mama). One day Mama fell down the stairs and bruised the bone in her knee...the day after that she developed a bad sinus/ear infection. Two days later, I had the sinus/ear infection. Two days after that, Erin did. On top of all of that, I apparently brought home "pink eye" from school; even though I didn't actually get it, Erin did in one eye and Mama did in both eyes! Needless to say, Mama is the only one still battling the sinus infection from early November. Dada and I have been very good nurses and are making Mama rest whenever she can.

#10. Baby Gets Bottles Now
Unfortunately, after 3 ear infections in one month, Mama had to go on strong medicine to help her. That means, Mama had to stop nursing the baby. Mama was sad...but not Erin! She LOVES her new special formula and slurps it up like a milkshake. It's funny to watch how excited Erin gets when she sees the bottle coming towards her.