Motor Skills, Activate!

Okay, so it might not seem as cool to you guys as the talents of the Wonder Twins, but to my Mom, it's amazing. In the last couple of weeks, I have suddenly discovered how many of my more complicated toys work. For example, I can sort the rings on my ring stacker. Oddly enough, I usually do it in size order, with the exception of the middle, purple ring. I just don't like that one. I usually throw it across the room and move on to the second smallest blue ring.

I have also discovered how to put my square and circle blocks into the shape sorter that my cousin Tully got me for Christmas. Until now, I thought those blocks were made for chewing on, but it ends up, they actually fit into the holes. I can't quite get the triangle one, but I always get the circle and I sometimes get the square.

You may be wondering why I am telling you this instead of just showing you in a video. Well, truth be told, my Mom has tried desperately to catch these amazing feats on video-- but the minute she picks up the camera, I'm like: Oh look! Shiny thing with buttons! And then it's all over.

She did, however, get one of my new tricks on film today. All you regular Poki-vision viewers know that I have been a little...umm...let's say resistant during meal times. My mom now has to distract me with things to play with while she sneaks spoonfuls into my mouth. One of my favorite things to play with are my colorful plastic cups. See for yourself:



Hopefully you'll get to see my other skills soon. I'll try not to be so easily distracted.

"It's Like Human Foosball"

Um, yeah...that would be soccer, Dad. Sheez he's embarrassing.

So Mom and Dad bought me my first real ball today. I have lots of little ones, but I saw this one at Target and I had to have it. Daddy decided we needed to play "human foosball" (groan) when we got home. Then Mom tried to reenact a game we were playing in the store where Daddy would hold the ball and I would smack it out of his hand, making it bounce. I thought it was so fun...but when we got home, I was so over it.

Daffodil Festival!

This Saturday, I had a date with my girlfriend Scarlett. We met up at the Daffodil Festival and Scarlett had a surprise for me: she borrowed a car just like her own so we could both drive around all afternoon. It was so much fun and we were the absolute hit of the whole festival. Every adult oooed and ahhed, while every child eyed us with intense envy. When I would catch one of those other kids looking at us, I would just smile and wave. Not to rub it in their faces or anything, I just wanted to wave.



Sometimes I would try to put my arm around Scarlett, just in case they were looking at her and not our cars. She didn't like it very much though. She thought I was getting fresh.



Of course, it was not all about how we looked. We actually drove our cars too.



I especially liked going in reverse.



Here are our daddies pushing us. I suspect they liked the attention too.



Not only did I get to drive my first car, I also rode my first horse.



It would go really fast! And up and down!



Here is Scarlett and her mommy. Don't they look pretty?



Even prettier than this llama that I met at the petting zoo. (And I thought she was pretty fantastic.)



And maybe even prettier than the real live Miss Connecticut Teen.



Just in case you were wondering, there were daffodils at the Daffodil Festival.



Even though I was, at times, more interested in dried leaves. Scarlett didn't understand why either.



I decided I'd better impress her fast, so I showed her how to properly play with a daffodil. First, you break it in half.



And then, of course, you eat it.



Have you ever noticed how couples start to look alike after a while?



Seriously.

Brusha! Brusha! Brusha!

Now that I have teeth, my pediatrician and my mom's dentist say that I should be brushing them. When they each told my mom that, she thought: "Yeah...like he's gonna let me do that!" Was she right?
(Sorry it's so dark...it was my bedtime).

Cuteness? Check!

Jaunty Sunhat?
Check!
Clamdigger Overalls?
Check!
Super-Cute Sandals?
Check!

Yep. It's Spring!

Another Beautiful Day

Today was another gorgeous day in New Haven! Mom and I took a nice, long walk...when I spent most of the time yelling at dogs. Not in a mean way--I love dogs. I was just trying to get their attention. After our walk, Mom and I played in the yard. Mom thought that I looked so sweet and peaceful sitting amongst the grass and flowers that she took some pictures.








And then I remembered that I am Poki, and Poki is not supposed to be sweet and peaceful! At least not for too long a stretch!




Now how do I get this thing off?!

A Shower for Baby Jean

One of my mom's best girlfriends from high school, Caroline, is having a baby girl in July and we went to her shower this weekend. We had so much fun!

I like to make an impression, as many of you know, so I made sure to soak my diaper and clothes during the 2 1/2 hours car ride. My mom carried around an extra set of clothes for the first 6 months of my life, but I never needed them, so she didn't bring one this time. Boy, was that a mistake! When we got to the party, Caroline's mother was so nice--she washed my clothes for me and gave me a really cute pair of Japanese pajamas to wear during the party.

Since I entered with a bang, I couldn't just sit around and do nothing the whole time--I had to show all those ladies just what a crazy monkey I am! I was getting into everything. I was going after plates, glasses, shoes, pens, coasters, paper--you name it, I wanted it. My mom was on me like butter on toast! She was slightly embarrassed, because all the other babies there were nice and quiet. Not me! I was walking and crawling and climbing and grabbing and talking...basically, I was trying to terrify the mommy-to-be. Poor Caroline.

Even though I was a crazy monkey, Mom still had a blast seeing her girlfriends. Olivia and her daughter, Michaela (7 1/2 months) were there too. Here are some pictures from our day:

Here I am talking to Michaela and her mom, Olivia. She is a seriously happy baby.

I got a marker! My mom let me play with it for about 5 minutes, until I tried to take off the cap. Apparently, I had some peas on my face--don't worry--it's not marker. Aren't I cute in my Japanese pajamas? They had blue crabs on them!



Here is the Walnut Hill gang: Courtney, Mom, Caroline, and Olivia (with a sleeping Michaela).



They wanted to get my and Michaela's picture in a chair. Good luck!



Actually, I'm being pretty good...



Still being pretty good, but...



Yep--I want down.



And then there was Michaela.



Congratulations Caroline and Baby Jean! We can't wait to meet you!

The Many Faces of Poki

...in a very messy highchair.

I Scream, You Scream...!

Tonight, my mom finally broke down and gave into my dad's 10 month long wish of letting me try ice cream.

My family went to dinner with Scarlett's family tonight. After driving half the restaurant crazy with our "talking" and cracker toss games, we went to Mom and Dad's favorite place in New Haven: Ashley's Ice Cream. Mom got a sample of vanilla for me to try, and big surprise! She filmed it.

Pretty Days-- Finally!

We've had a really nice week here in New Haven, and I took full advantage! Mom and I went for long walks every day, and we played in the park and in our yard. Here I am playing in our front yard. I discovered grass and I really like it!







I discovered something else that I love, but my mom doesn't want me to play with it because it's "dirty." Whatever that means. It's fun--why can't I rub my hands all over it and then try to put it in my mouth? I don't get it. As usual, my mom had the camera attached to her hand, so she was able to capture my initial discovery on film.



These pictures were taken today. It was a beautiful, sunny, 76 degree day! How much better does it get, people? These are taken right as Mom and I were headed out for a walk...and right after she smeared me down with my very first sunscreen...and right before I had an allergic reaction to the sunscreen. Yep, it's true. The right side of my face got all red and blotchy--but don't worry--I am fine. Mom tossed me in the tub and scrubbed me down. I was back to normal in no time. When my mom looked at these pictures later, she wondered if the signs weren't beginning to show.

First Word!

I've been repeating the word "kitty" for a little while now, but I haven't said it without my Mom at least asking, "where's the kitty?" Well, today, I was playing on my mom and dad's bed, when Max jumped up on the bed to play with us. As soon as I saw him, I yelled out: "Diddy! Diddy! Diddy!" At first, my mom thought Sean "Puffy" Combs had entered the room, but no! I was saying "kitty!" And I said it all on my own. That means it was my first word, right? Cool.

So later in the morning, while I was eating a very messy breakfast of bananas and cheerios, Max came into the kitchen and I did it again! This time, my mom caught it on film. It's not quite as clear as the first time I said it (I did have a mouthful of bananas, after all), but check it out:

Mmmmmmmmm...Maaaaangoooooo...

I've been eating mango for a little while now, but today, I decided that I love it. I ate an entire mango--no joke. Maybe it's because it was perfectly ripe...who knows? The point is that I love mango. If it weren't for Scarlett, I might even marry it. My mom was cracking up while I was eating my entire mango for lunch today, because I was making the same noises that Leroy kitty makes when he gets canned cat food.

10 and Change

I'm sorry, everyone. I have been in hiding this last week. My mom has been really busy with work, and now that I am walking, she can't be on the computer until I am sleeping. She has to watch me like a hawk all the time--and even still, in the last couple of weeks, I have given myself a bloody lip and a black eye, I've put my head through a glass door (don't worry, I walked away without a scratch or a tear), and just last night, I smashed my finger in a door. Just imagine what could have happened to me if my mom wasn't right there next to me! I'm truly a boy. There is no doubt about it. Let's catch up, shall we?

So, as many of you already know, I turned 10 months last Friday. For my 10 month birthday present to my mom, I gave her the scare of her life. I was saying goodbye to Daddy, looking at him through the glass door in the living room. When I couldn't see Daddy anymore, I turned around and plopped down on my bottom. When I did, my head went back and knocked the door. The glass pane just broke. I didn't get hurt, I didn't even cry. But Mom was terrified. I had little pieces of glass in my hair, which Mom promptly rinsed out over the kitchen sink, but I didn't have a scratch on me. Amazing, huh? I'm super tough.

That night, Mom and Dad went to a party and I got to stay home with my (and the kitties') favorite baby-sitter: Julie. I love her. I don't even cry when Mom leaves the room when Julie's there. And...I gave her a hug. Yep, it's true. I love her.

The next day, I went to the zoo with Penelope and Charlotte (and their Mommas, Marna and Liz). They are alot older than me, which I find fascinating, so I watched them more than the animals. Here is a picture of us looking at the baby rabbits at the zoo:



Then we went home and met up with Daddy. It was such a beautiful day that we decided to go up to the park and play. I wore my new favorite t-shirt, given to me by my girlfriend, Scarlett.







This video is sideways, I know...but it is too cute not to put on here. Every time my mom stopped galloping, I would try to get her to go again. How cute am I?



After the park, we went to have brinner (that's breakfast for dinner, for you novices) at IHOP. I had many firsts there. I had my first crayon, which Daddy tried desperately to get me to draw with, but I only chewed on.



And I had my first kid's menu...which I crumbled, tore and shook until I finally chucked it to the ground.



I also had my first taste of hashbrowns and pancakes. I loved the hashbrowns, but promptly threw the pancake on the floor. It was too mushy for me. Daddy wanted me to have maple syrup, but party-pooper Mom forbid it.





The next day, we went shopping and to the park again. It was a really fun weekend! I can't wait to see what all I do for my 11 month birthday weekend!

I Really Don't Need Any Toys...

A water bottle is much more fun! So...why did my parents spend so much money on all those toys behind me? Good question!

Pick A Poki Portrait!

Granny had my portrait made, but we can't decide which we like the best. Check out the proofs below and vote in our poll to the right.