Ants in My Pants

I'm building character. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

I was playing with a puppy and we were both super excited. Well, she ended up jumping up and scratching my face around my eye.

Plus, I fell and fell again. And again. I got lots of bumps and bruises.

Today, we went out to Shelby Farms, a 4500 acre park at the edge of the city. I had so much fun running around the open spaces, up and down hills, through tall and short grasses...until I stopped in the middle of an ant hill. Fortunately, Daddy was there to scoop me up and Mommy was there to wash all the ants off quickly.

It has just been a traumatic few days. But, you know what, apple sauce makes it all better. Don't believe me? Stick your hands in some apple sauce and wipe it all over you face. You'll be better in no time, I promise!

Whoo-Hoo!!!

Daddy only has one job now!!! Whoo-hoo!!! Thursday night/Friday morning was his last commitment working at the airport.

And that means two things. First, it means that he will have more time and energy for me and Mommy, so he'll be a better Daddy and a better husband. Secondly, it means that he will have more time and energy to devote to his students, so he'll be a better teacher. (It also means that he will be able to sleep more, but he doesn't care much about sleep anyway.)

Anyway, me and Mommy (and Layla) are super excited to have Daddy home at night.

No Fear!

I am a climber. It's official.

First, I started climbing up onto Mommy and Daddy's bed.

The other day, Mommy walks in the living room and I'm standing on top of the coffee table.

Then, yesterday, at the park, I climbed up onto a picnic table.

And, today, I climbed up onto the seat of the step ladder in the kitchen. I was standing and waving my arms and squealing in delight. (We'll be giving that back to you soon, Grandmommy!)

Five minutes ago, I climbed onto the armchair and onto the arm, at which point I had to be saved from falling onto my head.

The list goes on.

I have no fear. I climb on anything and everything I can. So, you better watch out.

Spatial Skills

I learned a new skill today. Grandaddy got me some wooden 'Kathedral' blocks for my birthday. Usually, Mommy and Daddy will build things...and I will destroy whatever they build.

Today, though, I discovered that the cylindrical blocks will fit through these other blocks with a hole cut out of the middle. You know, round block fits through the round hole. And I spent the next fifteen minutes practicing my new skill with Mommy before proudly showing Daddy.

Recognition Skills

Guess what! I am so smart.

Mommy was reading a book today and came to a page with a dog and a cat and a bear. She asked me where the dog was and I pointed to the dog.

My recognition skills are getting better by the day.

Outside

We have a little cold/cool front coming through the MidSouth, which means that being outside is suddenly tolerable again. So, we are taking full advantage of the situation.

Yesterday, me and Mommy went swimming with my friend, Michael, and his Mom.

Then, today, me and Mommy and Daddy went to the big park (that would be Overton Park). We had planned to meet up with Uncle Grant and Aunt Kelly, along with their new puppy, Maya. It turns out, they invited a few friends, who also brought their respective doggies. Plus, several other dogs at the park decided to come say hey. So, I ended up playing with lots of dogs.

And, in addition to running around the large greensward, I figured out that I can (and like to) climb on picnic tables. This morning, I discovered that I can climb onto the coffee table and, of course, I had to apply my new skill in a different context. Mommy does not like me using my new skill.

The Ultimate Showdown

Vocabulary

My vocabulary is increasing, along with my recognition of objects. When I see a dog, I say, 'dog.' When I see a duck, I say, 'duck.' (Really, it's more like 'dah' and 'duh,' but they are different and distinct from each other and from 'dad.')

Also, I am learning sign language, which helps me not get as frustrated because it allows me to communicate what I'm feeling better. So, I can sign for 'more' and for 'please.' We're working on 'all done,' but I'm not quite there yet.

I'm over saying, 'bye bye,' but I still wave on occasion. And I like to clap at things that make me happy.

And, of course, I like to run around the house, screaming like a crazy person. It's so much fun. In fact, you should try it. It's so much better than antidepressants!

'It Was A Good Day'

To quote Ice Cube, 'I got to say today was a good day.'

Me and Mommy got up and played this morning ('Just waking up in the morning, gotta thank God'), letting Daddy sleep in. And we made blueberry muffins for breakfast ('And Momma cooked a breakfast with no hog/I got my grub on, but didn't pig out'). Then, we woke up Daddy and the two of us played while Mommy got ready for church. At church, I got to sleep in Ms Jobe's lap. They say she is spoiling me, but I don't mind.

After church, we went to Central BBQ and Mommy tried to feed me food from home. Well, I wasn't having any of that! Would you? I wanted some BBQ. And I got some BBQ!

Mommy and Daddy had to do some shopping and drug me around the mall all afternoon. That wasn't very fun at all. But, on the way home, 'saw the police and they rolled right past me/no flexin', didn't even look in a [toddler's] direction.'

On the way home, though, we saw some friends playing soccer ('Which court, are y'all playing basketball?...um, I mean, futbol) and Daddy told me he would take me up there after we dropped off Mommy. We didn't play any soccer, but we sure did play! Well, at least I played. Daddy just talked to a couple of friends while I ran all over the big field.

I played with Lockard a little, but only from a distance because he has a runny nose. Then, I played a little with Edens and Will, but they are a little bigger than me. And I played with a big dog some, too. But, mostly, I just explored the huge sideline area of the soccer field, getting some much needed independent time.

Back at home, Mommy and Daddy let me play with my food tonight! And I wiped apple sauce all over my face and all in my hair! It was way fun! You should try it.

I tell you what, 'Today I didn't even have to use my AK/I got to say it was a good day.'

New Member of the Family

Uncle Grant and Aunt Kelly got a puppy yesterday. Her name is Maya and she is a mix between American Bulldog and Labrador Retriever (and possibly something else, considering her resemblence to a Pit Bull). I like her very much. She is a lot smaller than our dog, Layla, so I had to be careful around her. Maya is very pretty, almost as pretty as Layla.

Farmer's Market

This morning, me and Mommy and Daddy got up and went to the Farmer's Market downtown at Central Station. It just may become a regular part of our weekly schedule, now that Daddy is working during the daytime.

We saw quite a few of our friends and listened to some good acoustic music. And there were many great vendors, one of which gave me a popsicle. How cool is that?!? It was yummy, but I was so tuckered out afterwards that I crashed.

Oh, and I should mention that my friend Preston from back in Atlanta, who is two weeks younger than me, is now a big brother. So, congrats to Preston and his (ever expanding) family!

ABC Tilly and the Wall!!!

So, for those who don't know, I love Sesame Street. And the Sesame Street website is my favorite. I even have my own screen there, called 'My Street.'

Anyway, here's one of the coolest things on My Street:

Molly Gonzales' La Casita

My family loves Molly's. All of them do. Someone from my family goes at least once a week.

Well, I love Molly's, too. But not just for the food. I love to run up and down this ramp they have that connects the two main areas of the place (formerly, smoking and non). When I start getting restless, just set me loose. And I'll run up and down...and up...and down..and...well, you get the picture.

It's so much fun. You should come to Molly's with me and see for yourself.

In Praise of Naptime...

The NY Times editorial staff, of all people, came out in praise of naptime this week. How about that?!?!

Naptime for one, naptime for all.

Check it out: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/05/opinion/05wed4.html?_r=2&th&emc=th

Sid!

Mommy went to the movies (to the movies!) with Aunt Sandra, who is in town from Atlanta visiting.

That means me and Daddy are having boy's night!

Anyway, we were watching some cartoons online (I love online cartoons, by the way) and we found this cool song from 'Sid the Science Kid.'

Check it:

Big Kid School

Mommy and me went to Daddy's school--that's the big kid school--to help him get his room and door decorated.

I got to meet Daddy's colleagues and they are all so nice. Of course, they thought I was something special and some kind of cute!

Big kid school starts Monday morning.

Oh, and Daddy will be coaching baseball in addition to his teaching duties. Check out the crazy Wildcat, the school mascot:

Learning New Things

So, Mommy and me are staying home again. That means no more school, right? Wrong. Everyone knows my Mommy is the best at teaching little ones and, well, I'm a little one, which means she's teaching me.

For a while now, she has been trying to get me to learn some sign language. And I have been putting up pretty stiff resistance. That is, until today, when I said please in sign language.

And I now recognize both a fish and a car. How do you know? Well, I make associations. When we get to the fish page in one of my Eric Carle books, I make a fish face like Mommy has taught me. Then, when we get to the car page, I go 'vroom vroom' like Mommy has taught me. I've been barking at dogs on and off for a while now; it comes and goes. And, as previously mentioned, I like to go 'mooooo.'

Daddy, who officially reported for duty at his new job today, has taught me to make a fun clicking noise with my tongue and the roof of my mouth. That makes us both giggle.

Big Day

Today was a busy day, full of family and friends and fun!

First, me and Mommy played so Daddy could get some sleep. Once, I crawled up into bed with Daddy and tried to wake him up, but he was out cold.

We were planning to go to Aunt Cathy's house for lunch and swimming, but the weather did not cooperate. Aunt Cathy called to say that she didn't think I needed to be out in the pouring rain. She and Ms Joan were in midtown and could just stop by to see me. So, Mommy made lunch for everyone, to go with the peach cobbler she was making with the peaches Pa and Mema picked in Georgia. And we had good times.

After they left, me and Daddy let Mommy take a nap. We played, then I took a nap, and then we played some more. Finally, I went and woke Mommy up.

Then, Grandmommy called. She and Grandaddy were in midtown and wanted to stop by for a short visit before heading home for dinner. So, we played and read books. They brought mail for me, a birthday card from Aunt Johnna and Uncle Pat that I just loved. It had Sesame Street folks on it and I had to show it to everyone several times.

All in all, a good day.