Let the Terrible Two's begin!

Now that I've celebrated my second birthday, I am free to pitch screaming fits over everything from Daddy attempting to brush my hair, to Mommy refusing to serve fudgesicles for breakfast. It's been great fun.

But back to my birthday. I was feted in Washington, DC where Grandma and Grandpa Parr reside. We were joined by Aunt Dede, Aunt Trish and Cousin Ellie, who turned seven four days after I turned two. So, naturally, a joint birthday party was held. Here's the presentation of the cake -- which was delicious, by the way:

I received a modest amount of loot, as did Ellie. Here we are, opening and enjoying our presents. Later, we hung out in Grandma and Grandpa's backyard and shot the breeze. A grand time was had by all!

Cool lady.

The solution to this hideous heat wave? Just don a hat with a brim wide enough to cover your entire body. End of problem.

Eat, scarf, consume, partake, munch and be merry.

That pretty much sums up my time with Aunt Cathy and Uncle Steve this week!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a date with an ice cream sundae...

Pudding and Shopping and Keyboards, Oh My!

I'm staying with Aunt Cathy and Uncle Steve for a few days, and what a grand time I'm having! But don't take my word for it... check out the pics:

Vanilla pudding rocks!

Here I am all decked out in my church finery...

... and glammed out for breakfast.

Aunt Cathy took me grocery shopping...

... and back home, I wailed on the keyboard. Just listen to me burn!

Happy Mommy's Day

This morning, Daddy let Mommy sleep late, gave her a necklace and a bunch of pretty flowers, and took us to "brunch" at the 1069 Restaurant at the Genesee Grand Hotel. All day long, he would not let her clean up or do any work -- including changing my diaper. This odd behavior is due to my existence, apparently. Next month, it'll be Daddy's turn to be indulged and pampered -- again, all because I happen to be here. I'm glad to oblige!

Check out Mommy's haul! Some of these came from Grammy and Papa Bern, who are also very glad I'm here.


Here are some miscellaneous pictures of me and Mommy over the past couple of months.

My sneakers kick butt.

'Nuff said.

Ooops.

I'm learning how to drink from a cup. So this morning, I spilled milk all over Mommy's freshly-washed kitchen floor -- but that was just the warm-up. Later, I spilled a cup of orange juice all over the the Wall Street Journal, followed about an hour later by a cup of water on the front porch. Tonight, after dinner, I decided I had to remove my diaper this minute, and would not be dissuaded. Mommy thought it would be okay since she had just changed me. A few minutes later -- you guessed it -- I christened the floor. At that point, Daddy decided it was time for my bath.

It's not easy being a toddler.

My lexicon explodeth.

Today, I uttered not three... not four... not five... but six brand-new words (for me, anyway). They were...

"Couch"
"Birthday"
"Moose"
"Abby" (a friend of mine from church)
"Tickle"

and, most significant...

"NAOMI".

It came out more like "Know-me", but Mommy and Daddy knew exactly what I meant -- especially since I was pointing to myself at the time -- and went completely bonkers.

Hangin' with the 'rents.

Here I am having a meaningful conversation with Mommy...


... and trying to pound some sense into Daddy.

Why?

Here's the dialogue around our house lately:


Me: Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?

Mommy and Daddy (exasperated): Why WHAT?!??

(Brief pause)

Me: Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?... (repeat ad infinitum)

SNOW is a four-letter word

We got 18 inches of snow overnight! Mommy took one look out the window this morning and said, "I'm not taking Naomi to Childtime today!" Daddy took one look and said, "I'm not walking to work in this mess!" So all three of us stayed home and had a grand time!

Daddy shoveled our sidewalk like a good neighbor.


Mommy tossed me (gently) into the snowbank. I enjoyed it immensely, so she did it over and over again.


I was so bundled up, I could hardly move.


Mommy and Daddy waited and waited for something called a "plow" to come by. It finally came by in the afternoon, and completely buried the opening of our freshly-dug out driveway. Daddy had some colorful words to say about that.

A close shave

This morning, I decided -- quite impulsively and inexplicably -- to punch out the clear plastic sheet covering the window in Mommy and Daddy's bedroom. Mommy called for Daddy to help her paste it back in place, and while they were thus occupied, I wandered into the bathroom. In his haste to assist Mommy, Daddy had left his razor on the edge of the sink -- how convenient! I proceeded to shave my jowls, just like Daddy does, and was doing a fine job when Mommy walked in. My goodness, she sure can scream loud! And her face went white. She relieved me of my razor post haste and scrutinized my face, but I had held the blades facing outward and thus escaped unscathed. Never a dull moment!

Daddy's home!

And boy, am I excited!

Flushed with pride.

Don't get too excited. I'm just tryin' it out.

Happy New Year!

Today, Mommy and Daddy and I hosted David, Darle, Barb and Danny for a New Year's Day brunch. Mommy took this photo about an hour before our guests arrived. She set the table all by herself, but reassures me that, "Someday, this will be your job." I can't wait!


Last night, Mommy and Daddy and I went to a New Year's Eve party at Viki's house. They dressed me up in this groovy new outfit Grammy Bern gave me for Christmas. I was quite the little hippy chick!
Speaking of Christmas, it was a great one! Grammy and Papa Bern came to visit and brought about 8 million presents with them (actually, they shipped them ahead of time). I also received gifts from Grandpa and Grandma Parr, my cousins, and all my aunts and uncles. Oh, and Santa brought a few, too.


Her are a few pics of me cuddling up with various and sundry loved ones over the holidays. Enjoy!

Wake-up call

Daddy made the mistake of handing me his cell phone to distract me while he was changing my diaper. Big mistake. I proceeded to punch numbers randomly and ended up calling Grammy, Aunt Cathy and my babysitter, Darle, at 6:00 in the morning. I also may have inadvertently placed a couple of calls to Antarctica, or New Zealand -- Daddy won't know 'til he gets the bill!

Something to talk about.

I'm now consistently calling Mommy "Mama", and Daddy "Dada", and Felice "Kitty".

I can also utter reasonable approximations of apple, water, hi, flower, mail and ball.

And although I haven't said so yet, I totally understand what hair, nose, hands, juice, sippy, book, bath, hat, coat, apple, shoes, socks, fingers and toes are.

Wait 'til Mommy and Daddy find out I also know what #*%&^@**! means! Won't they be surprised!

Gobble!

Grandma and Grandpa Parr visited for a few days to help us celebrate "Thanksgiving"... a wonderful holiday that involves mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberry relish, stuffing, rolls, gravy, apple pie, pickles, olives and, oh yes, turkey. I ate a little bit of everything and am still bursting at the seams!

I read books with Grandpa...

...and showed Grandma my favorite toy.

A grand time was had by all!

Like father, like daughter.

'Nuff said.

From parties to pigtails.

My goodness, it's been a long time since I posted! Two weeks ago, we went to visit Grandpa and Grandma Parr to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Aunt Dede made a sumptuous dinner, and I played with my cousins Emily, Lauren and Ellie. It was great!


Next came Halloween. I wore the costume Grammy Bern gave me. Mommy called me her "little honey".



Now we're up to the present. My hair is now long enough to wear in pigtails. Aren't they cute?


Of course, pigtails do make for some interesting "morning hair".