Mama's Day

I came home from my business trip a weary traveler on Mother's Day. What a delight to be back home with my wonderful family! I missed them very much. Hubby had prepared our bikes so we could all go out for a ride. Peanut LOVED it! Her seat sits between my handle bars. We talk and point out squirrels, birds, dogs, etc. as we ride along. We've biked many times since then and she can't get enough. The park is only a mile away, so we have made frequent trips to it. Unfortunately, swings trump bikes... so it is sometimes difficult to convince her to leave the park! Here's a photo of her enjoying a little swing time! ;)

Peepee on the Potty

Boy oh boy do we have a big girl on our hands. The question is becoming what CAN'T she do... Last night we had a very exciting moment... We occasionally sit her on the potty just so she can get used to it, and last night as she sat - the cutest nudie you ever did see - we heard the delightful sound of "tinkle tinkle tinkle" down below... yay!!!

I'm sure she thinks her mama's a kook. I had to express my joy so she would know this was a very good thing that she did. We sang "if you're happy & you know it"... clapped hands, shouted hooray... you get the picture.

I'm sure we have many more dipes in our future, but it's pretty cool to have taken this first step!

p.s. yep, mama cut her bangs! Whoops - hopefully they'll be neater next time :)

Teeth, Words, Bikes & Separation

The canines are coming! The canines are coming! :)
Well, that is to say, the little muffin is getting more teeth to add to her already impressive collection of 10 lovely, pearly whites. She's had a few restless nights, chews her fingers a lot, but is generally taking it in stride.

She's talking a lot more these days. She loves that she can say & recognize things like: ball, moon, hat, elbow... Best of all, she has started saying her own name! It comes out more like "emmull" than the real deal, but it's so close & she's so proud that she can say it!

Mama & Dada are on a mission to get us all geared up & outside riding bikes! Purchased & en route to our house are: baby bike seat, elmo helmet & elbow pads, bike helmets for Ma & Pa, a back of bike rack/bag... I can't wait! I think she will love it!

We'll have to wait a week or so to test them out since Mama is leaving town for the week - going to San Fran for work. Mama has very mixed feelings about this... very sad to leave my honies, but it will be a good work opportunity and I'll spend the last day with a good friend of mine that I haven't seen in years. So while I'm looking forward to it, I will be a little lost without my booboo. We are hoping to squeeze in a web cam session each day, but it will be tough to get the timing right. I know she will be just fine in the tender loving care of Dada & Auntie J, but the mommy-guilt is built in, so I have to live with it! :)

Well, we knew it would happen sooner or later... She has decided that "Nooooo" is the answer to everything. Do you want a drink? "No" .... frustrated cuz she can't move an immovable object? "NOOOOOOOO".... Doesn't want to be doing what she's doing? "Noooooo"...

You get the picture. Somehow we consider this adorable, cuz she just is, although we are encouraging her to explore using other words to express her feelings. The good news is she understands pretty much everything we say so when the rest of her vocabulary kicks in, she's going to tell us a thing or two!

We all had a great time at the Children's Museum on Saturday w/ our friends K D & J. Great place & so great to see them again!!

Muffin & Daddy had a nice day at the park this weekend. Mama & Dada are tag-teaming yard work tasks in preparation for hydro-seeding. Dada had yesterday off and did even more work on that project. It will be nice to have a lawn again!

Where to begin... I feel like there is so much to catch everyone up on since I haven't been the best at sending updates lately.

This is a photo of us at the local park last weekend. The sweater is great-auntie's handiwork handed down from the China gang.

Muffin is still the easiest, sweetest, smartest & most fun kid ever! (total mama bias, but it's true!)

Yesterday evening, I transplanted a few bulbs and she was right by my side, shovel in hand, digging. She did a great job not eating the worms we found. She brought them to Dada instead.

She's a great talker - babbles incessantly. Her "real" words are becoming more & more frequent amid the babble though. Her whoa's, wow's, oh's, & uh-oh's are extremely well placed in conversation.

We discovered her first freckle this week. An odd milestone, but there it is! It is on her left leg, just above the ankle in front. The first of many I imagine given Mama & Dada's coloring.

Tomorrow we head to the children's museum w/ friends! I can't wait. It will be a fun adventure for us.