Gwammy and Bimpy!

Mom and I drove to the Hairport Wednesday night, where we found Gwammy standing outside the terminal waiting for us!  How exciting!  I really was overjoyed to see her, even if I got distracted by a Dora book at the worst possible moment. 

The best part of having Gwammy at my house is that we get to play together all day Thursday and Friday!  On Thursday, we had an epic tea party:

We went to the playground for a little while, then caught up on a little reading outside:

And blew some bubbohs:

On Friday, my Bimpy arrived!!  He was really busy on his laptop and phone all day, but not so busy he couldn't enjoy some delicious cookie soup:

Gwammy and Bimpy inexplicably disappeared Saturday morning (for the wedding of dear friends from their home), so I chilled with Mommy while Daddy was at work.  Then, Mommy went into the city for a taping of Jeopardy (look out for the one with Lewis Black!) while Daddy and I played late into the night (um, 9pm).

We all woke up bright and early Sunday morning, put on our party dresses, and went to brunch:

I really was a very good girl at brunch!  Brunch is nice, because you can eat as soon as you know where your table is.  Brunch is also nice, because they have a DESSERT BAR!!  I ate several marsha-mallows and then did some laps up and down the hall with the pink carpet.  I asked for more sugar, but didn't get it.  Eventually I told my dad, "I calming down," but he thought I said "I coming down."  Same difference?

Gwammy and Bimpy came back after brunch, and we got to play a little longer before they each had to depart again.  On the way to school Tuesday morning, I asked Mommy when I can see them again.  She said after Gavin is born, so I hope that is soon!

Showers!

We were back in PA the weekend after Easter for showers.  And not the wet, soapy kind (although I got one of those, too).  On Saturday, we went to a bridal shower for my cousin (more like an aunt) Jen, who is getting married to Jared.  The shower was really nice, with lots of yummy food and CUPPY CAKES!  Jen's brother, Russell, flew in from Alaska for the shower, which was really special.  I was most excited to see my cousin "Jamesman" (Jameson) Jamesman's cousins Laken and Lakota were also there.  I just called them "my fwends" because I kept forgetting their names.  I love my cousin Jamesman!  We played really nicely all weekend.  We even took a bath together! 

On Sunday, we went to a baby shower for Aunt Liz and Uncle Vinny for my baby cousin Nico.  Nico will be here just a little after my baby brother Gavin!  Two babies for me to look after!  Aren't they lucky to have me to watch out for them?  My Grammy says I'll probably be more jealous of Nico than I will of Gavin, because Nico will be stealing my Uncle Vinny's attention from me!  I don't believe it - I know Uncle Vinny loves me almost as much as I love him!  Lots of people came for the baby shower, and they brought so many tiny things!  I just loved helping Aunt Liz open the presents - I'm a pro at it. 

Baby Nico received many lovely things, including the same Baa Sheep play mat that I have!  I was a little confused and thought it was mine, so I took a little nap on it during the party with Jamesman and our friend Baby Lucas.  I'm sure there are pictures, but my photographer left the camera in Pop-pop's car. 

Even though it was a baby shower for Liz, Vinny and Nico, my mom and baby Gavin got a few presents, too!  I really liked the blankie and Blue Mickey Mouse that Gavin got as presents.  So I'm keeping them.  Mom says I'll need to share them when Gavin gets here, but we'll see about that!

Updated May 7, 2012: PHOTOS!!

The Mommy and Daddy to be

The soon-to-be newlyweds

Easter

Peter Cottontail has come and gone, but I am just getting around to posting about my Easter!  The short story?  Lots of egg hunts.  Lots of sugar. 

On Saturday, I went over to my friends' house for a fun egg hunt in their backyard.  My Grandma watches these two on the days she's not watching me.  We get along really well, even if I can't understand why they call her "Nanny Bernyce" and they can't understand why I call her Grandma!

 On Sunday, my mom put me in yet another party dress (wear 'em if you've got 'em!) bright and early.  As soon as I was dressed, I got to go on a "scabenger" hunt through Grandma's house!  Here's a photo of me with a fist full of clues, and looking for my next one.  I almost liked the clues more than the prizes.  Almost.  I really, really enjoyed all that "tato" (which Mom translates as Play-doh).

We went to church after my scabenger hunt where I was really noisy until I fell asleep just before Communion.  I told Mom I was a really good girl.  She disagreed.

After church, I got to eat LOTS OF SUGAR!  It was delicious.  I love sugar!  Mom and Dad ate yummy dinner with the whole family, and then it was time to go.  Cue meltdown.  I didn't want to leave Grandma's house!  I didn't want to get in the carseat!  I cried.  Then I told mom, "I JUST NEED MORE SUGAR!" and promptly fell asleep.  Happy Easter!

Extra! Extra!

I'm so cute, I made the front page.  Age two (and two months) and already famous.  That's how I roll.

(My friend is pretty cute, too.  I'll give him that.)

Strawberry Hugs

There is something about two-year-olds that just makes them completely, 100%, irresistably adorable.  Something in their mix of innocense, budding personality and imagination.  The mix is intoxicating.  I can’t get enough of it.

I got home somewhat late on Friday, having seen a matinee of Hunger Games* with some coworker friends.  Laura met me at the door with squeals of laughter and glee. 

Mommy came back!!  That’s my mommy!  Mommy home from work!! 

She jumped up in my arms as soon as I was through the door for the biggest, squeeziest hug of my life.  I love big, squeezy hugs.  They are the best, and I told Laura as much.  Laura responded by squeezing harder and harder, so she was dangling from my neck, as I set down my purse and moved into the family room.

It’s a strawberry hug, Mommy!  I make it for you!  I bake it in my kitchen!

Laura slid down to the floor, grabbed a bowl and spoon from her kitchen, and handed them to me.

Here Mommy!  More strawberry hugs!  I gib you strawberry kiss?

I snatched her up for another strawberry hug and this new strawberry kiss.  A big, wet, noisy kiss right on my lips.  And a few more strawberry hugs as my heart melted and I navigated us to the couch.

I heard from Nate a little later that Laura had told him strawberry hugs are much stronger than regular hugs, because she makes them special in her kitchen.  Strawberry hugs are the very specialist kind.  I was worried that strawberry hugs might be a temporary thing, as so much of being a two-year-old is fleeting.  Having received tons of extra squeezy strawberry hugs all weekend, I think they are around to stay.  At least for a little while.

I hope they stay for a long time.  Strawberry hugs are the very best hugs.  Ever.

*Hunger Games was fantastic.  I’m so glad I had a chance to be a part of it on opening day.  I loved the adaptation from the book.  But it was not nearly as awesome, in any way, as strawberry hugs.  How could it be?

March Recap

Some months I'm great at writing down all the hilarious things Laura says and does.  Other months, I start off strong... and then drop the ball a little bit.  March was one of those months.  Laura was absolutely hilarious and wonderfully TWO the whole month, but I was only able to jot done some of what "cwacked us up".  Here's what I have:

• Laura was wearing her backpack (a mouse), and "put" an imaginary backpack on Ries, saying "Ries hab a Dora packpack!"  This was one of those brief moments where Ries wasn't hiding from Laura (or stealing her food)
• Laura started reading a book to herself with "Hippopotamus time" - once upon a time
• I tried to get Laura to eat her dinner by saying, "Dora eats *her* dinner!"  To which Laura responded "My don't!"
• Laura is in a big girl bed!  She loves it, and has adjusted really well.
• I was being sarcastic, responding to something with "Oh! Who knew?"  Laura answered "Waura!"
• Nate was voicing Ries's thoughts: "you crazy kid." Laura says "I'm not a crazy kid!" (But she definitely is)
• After a few days of refuting her craziness, Laura started saying "I'm a crazy kid!"  (Because she definitely is)
• Laura has adopted a pair of "oben grubs" (oven gloves/mitts) for cooking with in her play kitchen
• Laura yelled at me to "Turn on the night, Mommy!" She was asking me to turn off the light.
• Laura has been showing some true abstract imaginative play.  In one example, she was feeding a stuffed dog, putting it outside, and buying it at store (the side table in the entry).
• Thinks number zero is the number "donut"
• Strawberry hugs.  Oh my, the strawberry hugs.  This needs a blog post of its own, the cuteness.
• Laura asked (so sweetly), "Watch Dora on the tv? Say yes?"  How could I say no! 
• Laura wanted help with something silly and shouted "Ayudeme!"  The Spanish phrase for "Help me!" which she learned from all that Dora. 
• Laura was sitting on my lap doing something ridiculous, and before I could say a word she put her pointer finger on my nose and said, "I cwack you up!"  Yes, Laura. You do cwack me up.

And since he doesn't have a place of his on (yet), Gavin started having hiccups in utero this month.  I'd forgotten how silly those feel!

Tiptoe Through the Tulips

I took Mom to Sherwood Gardens in downtown Baltimore on Saturday for my annual Tiptoe Through the Tulips photoshoot.  If you haven't been to Sherwood Gardens at the height of tulip season, you are missing out.  This is a spectacular public garden, beautifully maintained by the Guilford Community.  The tulips are so pretty, and the lawns are fantastic for running around on!  I thought you might like to see how much I have grown between my three photoshoots:

April 2010 - 11 weeks old

April 2011 - 15 months old



March 2012 - Two years old

 I have gotten so big!  My mom is holding me up rather awkwardly in the first picture.  At not-quite three-months-old, she was lucky I was holding my head up and sorta smiling!  I was definitely holding myself up (and even walking!) at the next photo session, but I certainly wasn't exploring too far from Grammy and Bimpy.  This year, Mom struggled to keep up!  Most of the photos she got were of me running away from her.  I only sat for some happy, still, smiling pictures when she bribed me with a snack.

Well, as if my tulip photoshoot wasn't enough excitement, Mom and I jetted off to the High School for the annual Catonsville Easter Egg Hunt!  I collected LOTS of eggs, helped my friends gather a bunch too, and then enjoyed the big lawn with some more running.

I have great friends!  We had so much fun just chasing each other all around!  Two year olds are the cutest, and we are the best at making fun wherever we are.

After the Egg Hunt, there was MORE fun for me!  Dad and I drove up to Philly to celebrate Uncle Vin's 30th birthday!  I got to go BOWLING!  I let Uncle Vin help, since the bowling ball weighed almost as much as I do.

What a jam-packed weekend!  Mom says my social calendar is filled through April too.  I hope my staff photographer (Mom) takes lots of pictures of all the fun!