Trick-or-Treat!

Happy Halloween, everybody!

Tonight I went trick-or-treating with my friends Scarlett, Pippi and Finn. We had so much fun! Here is a very small glimpse into our fun night.

Catching Up On The Week

I've been a busy, busy toddler these last few weeks, and my mom has been super busy too (She has a new blog, did you know?). We've fallen a bit behind in posting, but I'm here to catch you up!

First of all, last Saturday, I went to the circus. Not just any circus though--The Greatest Show on Earth! My dad took some great pictures with his fancy camera, but until he finds a minute to upload them, here is a video of me after the show ended...when everyone had gone. It should give you some indication of just how much I enjoyed the circus!



I'll explain those pink plaid pants later...

I also started out the week being so good about the potty that I started wearing training pants during my awake and at-home hours. My mom can't stop talking about my "cutie booty." Sigh...she's so embarrassing. Anyway, I have since moved back to my diapers full time because I have stopped having so much fun going pee pee in the potty. In fact, I've decided that I want to see myself going pee pee, so I tell Mom I want to sit on the potty, and then I stand up when I need to pee. At least I'm still showing some interest in sitting on the potty!





Here's something I bet you didn't expect: I have a new smile. Really, I do. Here is my natural smile (taken by Mom when she surprised us by coming home for work early):



And here is my new smile, which seems to be in response to someone smiling at me:



My mom thinks I see how people's eyes squint when they smile, and I think I'm supposed to do that too. Apparently my cousin Elizabeth used to do this when she was little too.

And, finally, here are a couple of videos taken of me preparing for Halloween.

Here I am playing with my new favorite thing. It's a card from Babi that plays music! I LOVE it. So much, in fact, that I played with it constantly until it broke...within an hour of opening it. I'm actually still playing with it, but it doesn't really play the music like it did before. Let me tell you guys, Babi gets me. She just gets me. Every present she gives me becomes my favorite. Thanks, Babi!



And this video is of me singing my new favorite song, which happens to come from my new favorite book all about bones. Just in time for Halloween!



Happy Halloween, everyone! Come back this weekend to read about my first trick-or-treating adventure!

Wordsmith

Recently, and perhaps not coincidentally, I have had a surge of bad behavior that happened to go along with a surge of language. After Granny and some of my mom's friends commented about my growing vocabulary, Mom decided to write down everything I said over the course of two days. The results were nothing short of amazing! My mom had no idea that I actually knew so many words. Here is the list, in no particular order:

Help, Eye, Ball, Happy, Man, Turkey, Cheese, Mum Mum (favorite snack), Rain, Max, Leroy, Pippi, Scarlett, Lion, Monkey, Bunny, Shoe, Socks, Dirty, Potty, Poopy, Pee Pee (as in urine), Pee Pee (as in my no-no-special-place), Meatball, Chicken, Apple, Pear, Banana, Milk, Juice, Hand, Wash, Bo Xu (the name of my panda), Boogie (the name of my teddy bear), Bear, Turtle, Bag, Diaper, Elmo, Pillow, Puppet, Door, Moon, Ghost, Boo, Whoa, Wow, Up, Down, Bottom, Cane, Yay, Ready, Kitchen, Hello, Telephone, Hi, Bye Bye, Mommy, Daddy, Hungry, Water, Toothbrush, More, Please, Thank You, Love You, Night Night, Blanket, Book, Dumptruck, Bus, Airplane, Car, Backhoe, Choo Choo, Go, Boom, Yes, No, Bowl, Cup, Spoon, Uh-Oh, Yummy, Yum Yum, Kitty, Doggie, Fish, Bathtub, Bubble, All Done, Here You Go, Hot, Ice, Nice, Broom, Chair, Blueberry, Watermelon, Laptop, Backpack, Coat, Hat, Shirt, Toes, Baby, Two (after Mom says "One"),Boy, Dark, Light, Dip, Vacuum, Rock, That, Meri (my sheep), Duck.

Can you believe it? I'm also now starting to put two words together like "dirty shoe," when picking up Daddy's shoe. Does that count? Cause I hear Mom say "Don't pick up Daddy's dirty shoe, Carson!"

Boo At The Zoo, Part Deux

Scarlett and I celebrated our first anniversary by revisiting the scene of our first date: Boo at the Zoo. For a reminder of how that first date went, click here.

It's amazing how much can change in a year. So amazing that my mom put together a little video celebrating the thens and nows. Check it out!



Happy Anniversary, Scarlett! We ALL love you so much and are so happy you're my friend. Sorry I wouldn't kiss or hug you. I'll make it up to you when I'm 16.

This Is HUGE!

I got my very own potty today! My mom was a little worried about this new purchase when we unwrapped it and I immediately grabbed the bowl and did this:



But then we took it into the bathroom, and mom asked me if I'd like to sit on it and "pee pee in the potty," and guess what I did? I went pee pee in the potty! On the first try! Yay, me!!!!

Dr. Doolittle

Okay, so maybe I can't have a conversation with the animals, but I sure do know what they're saying!

The Great Debate

Do I create art? Or does my art evolve?

You're both right! Watch my creation evolve right before your eyes!











Masterpiece!

Sing-Along

Tonight, while Mom was at work, Dad taught me a new song. As you can see, nothing keeps my attention for too long these days--not even a good old fashioned sing-along. (Especially when our next-door neighbor is playing the banjo with her blinds open!)

A Visit With Tata and (New) Cousin Margaux

This Sunday, my parents and I took a little trip of to Providence to hang out with my Great Aunt Tata and her new daughter-in-law, Margaux. We went to the Roger Williams Park Zoo, which seemed to be a really nice zoo...except that it was freezing and all the animals must have been inside sipping hot totties or something. Okay, maybe they weren't doing that, but I couldn't tell you what they were doing 'cause I didn't see them! That's okay though, because I did see Tata and Margaux, and that was the whole point of our trip!

Here I am bundled up with Tata and my monkey.



We did actually see elephants (because we went inside their house). To tell the truth, they were really the only animals we were dying to see, because I've never seen a real one before. Also, I've gotten so into my elephant impression lately that I will pick up any curved object (part of my train track, the letter "J" from my alphabet mat, a slice of apple), hold it up to my face and make my elephant noise. Cute, huh?





Here we are: Tata, Poki and Margaux!



Thanks for meeting up with us! We can't wait to do it again!

Stepping Stones!

This Saturday, my parents and I met Scarlett and her folks at a nearby children's museum: Stepping Stones. It was so much fun!

They had a really cool water room, which they told us to go to last, but we couldn't resist starting there!





They had fun costumes too. I really got into character here--I'm trying to fly away!





They had this super cool mechanical thing-a-ma-jig. I LOVED it. Harwell family, who does this remind you of?





I also got to pretend to be an EMT...



And a fireman! (Their uniforms have really fun sleeves.)



Then Scarlett and I got to ride a big kid bike.



Some of us were more responsible than others (note the helmet).



We also listened to a story read by a woman with the thickest accent from who-knows-where (it was that thick). She was very fun and sweet though, and Scarlett and I listened like two little...what listens well? Like two well-formed and patient ears. (I know, I know...that's the best I could come up with?!)



Finally, we went to an awesome playground that was right next door to the museum. This was the coolest playground I've ever seen. Scarlett and I each got hurt like 4 times!





And, as is often the case on these double-family-outings, I fell asleep before we even left the parking lot (snack still in hand).



UPDATE:
I forgot to post this video of Scarlett and me, along with our daddies, on TV. I think it is obvious that my dad had more fun than anyone else doing this!

Jump!

Here's a little peek at one of my favorite new things to do:



Question: When thinking of songs about jumping, what does it mean when my mom thinks of Van Halen, but my dad thinks of The Pointer Sisters?



Mom! Why do you have to tell everyone when I am pooping? Sheez!

Boo!

To help celebrate Halloween, my mom put up paper ghosts, peering out our front door. I love them and say "hi" to them every time we walk into or out of the house. They look pretty spooky from the street, which is exactly what my mom was hoping for.



The trouble is, whenever my parents enter the front hallway, they see this:



Which scares the living *beep* out of them both. I think it is really funny, but the number of times they have each almost gone into cardiac arrest means that my ghostly friends might have to return to the attic (or the garbage) before Halloween even gets here.

Also, our jack-o-lantern has been chewed up by critters! His teeth are all missing and his eyes are slowly being nibbled away. I guess the only thing those ghosts are scaring are my parents!

Choo Choo!

Okay, some of you already know that my truck addiction has spread to all things motorized and mobile. Well, at the top of that list is trains, or as I like to call them: Choo Choos. As a thank you gift for having Scarlett hang out with us last week while her regular daycare provider was on vacation, Scarlett's parents got me the most amazing gift: A train set!

Here I am opening it. (Sorry this video is a bit long, but it was very exciting for us all!)



After a few rounds of my favorite game of "Pokizilla Attacks The Train Village," Daddy decided to build a special table to hold my train set. When it was finished, I discovered that is was the perfect height for me to climb on! (Great, mutters my mom).





Finally, after mom and dad set up the trains, I understood the real purpose of the table, and it has been a big hit ever since. Literally ever since. The morning after it was all put together, instead of my usual "Mommy! Daddy! Mommy! Daddy!" that lets my parents know I'm awake, they heard "Choo Choo! Choo Choo!" I immediately ran from my crib to my train table. I would only agree to breakfast if I could take a choo choo with me.



My awesome new train set doesn't just have trains, either. It has tons of other things, like trees, people, buildings, cars, and even an ambulance! But not just any kind of ambulance--a European ambulance. At least I am assuming it is European, based on its siren.



You may have noticed that the table has taken the place of my house in the playroom. Let's face it, my house is beginning to look more like a shack. We thought of getting rid of it, but the market is so bad right now...so it's still there--it's just pushed into the corner. Don't worry, cardboard house fans! It's still there!

Thanks so much, Scarlett, Lauren and Joe! This is the best present EVER! Thank you thank you! Come over anytime to play with it!

Favorite New Word

Poki on Pippi's Pretty Pink Scooter

Okay...even I have to admit it...I'd even make a pretty cute girl.

Poki in a Pumpkin Patch

Today, my parents and I met up with Scarlett and her parents at the Jones Family Farms to pick a pumpkin for Halloween. It was an amazingly beautiful Fall day, and we enjoyed every minute of it!

The farm was really fun. We went on a hayride...







Which was pulled behind this awesome tractor!



And there was plenty of space for Scarlett and me to run free!



Just look at the leaves in the distance. There's just nothing like Fall in New England, people. How could I not run toward that view?



And, of course, there were pumpkins. Lots and lots of pumpkins!





I had a difficult time choosing which pumpkin I wanted to take home.



Want to know which one we finally chose? (By the way, we are teasing Joe in this video because he told us how much all the pumpkins were, but he was off by like $50 for each pumpkin).



After we left the farm, Scarlett and I went home to take naps, but then she came over to my house to play and carve our pumpkins.





Aren't you curious to see our finished product? Here he is!



We can't wait for Halloween now!

Déjà Vu

Me and Mom: Looking Ethereal (Part 1 and 2)

October 11, 2008




September 2, 2007

PSS: The Season Finale

While looking at this post, please imagine that this song is playing in the background.

Today was my last day with Scarlett...forever. Or until Saturday when we are going pumpkin picking. Anyway, it doesn't matter when I will see her next. It won't be tomorrow. And it won't be all day. And I am sad.

Our day started a bit differently than the last few days. As soon as Scarlett arrived, Mom changed us into clothes we could get dirty. She had a very special treat planned for us. While she got it all ready, we played in my house.




Then it was time for our treat. Mom decided to face her fears and let us paint!



I loved painting so much. Scarlett liked it to, but she tried to eat it...alot. Anyway, as you could probably guess, we got very, very messy painting, so we got a bath.



After our bath, we were very, very sleepy. Luckily it was time for our naps, so Mom just put us in some pjs and we read some books to chill out a bit. But we didn't really need help chilling out. We were ready for bed.





We crashed big time, people. Mom had no problem at all getting us to sleep.

After our naps, Mom had a very special lunch planned for us. Now, I know what you're thinking--what kind of nutritious, homemade, "fun" lunch did Mom attempt to get us to eat today? Well, you're wrong! The lady finally wised up and made us some chicken nuggets! She did, however, keep to her rule of having a fruit or vegetable at least on the plate, even if she knew we wouldn't eat it. However, that fruit just happened to be watermelon! It was totally the best lunch ever. Here I am trying to fit as many chicken nuggets in my mouth as possible.



Poor Mom. If we had known she was going to make us such an awesome lunch, we might have been nicer to her here:



Did you hear Scarlett mocking her? Oh well. She'll get over it. So, to celebrate our amazing week together, Mom got really gutsy and took us to the playground.









Luckily, we really like playing together, so it was pretty easy for Mom to keep track of us. That is...until I tried to run off with the wagon.



Then we got home and ate some supper. Daddy was there and Scarlett got a little shy and clingy with my mom. Trust me, my mom hated every minute of it--can't you tell?



Finally...it was time to go. Get out the hankies, people. This one is a definite tear-jerker.



Okay, maybe not--but man, Mom really tried to make it a tear-jerker for you! She tried!

Oh my Scarlett. I really will miss you. Mom and I both will. We already do! That's why this post is dedicated in memory of you, Scarlett, and our magical week together. (Start singing the song again, people. Remember? This one.)