I love waving at airplanes!

You remember from the aviation day that Daddy and I went to last week that I liked waving at the airplanes as they taxied by or took off. Well, I wave at the ones passing overhead too. And if that's not enough, I even wave at airplanes on TV! This brings a tear of joy to Daddy's eye. I make him so proud!

Here's a short video clip of me waving and saying hi to some airplanes on TV. I'm Daddy's little girl alright!

What a workout!

This afternoon we went on a long walk - all the way around the block! I did really well although I did ask to be carried a few times (but mean Mommy and Daddy wouldn't pick me up). This was my first time walking this far all by myself, and it was a lot of hard work. (Mommy and Daddy thought I'd get tired afterward and take a nap, but I sure fooled them and didn't take any naps today!)

Daddy says we walked a little over a 1/3 of a mile. Wow!

I'm starting to run!

Today Daddy and I were out walking around the neighborhood and I was walking pretty fast. Well, Daddy made his "I'm going to tickle you" noises and I took off! Daddy thinks he definitely saw me run for 3 or 4 steps. They can't stop me now!

My parents are really weird!

Mommy and Daddy are really silly! "Blue Belle" (Mommy's 2000 Honda Accord) was approaching 100,000 miles and they were getting quite excited. You see, they had last passed 100,000 miles in Daddy's previous truck, the Ranger, and had a picture of the occasion, so now it was Mommy's turn. Well, Blue Belle had about 99,994 miles on it, so for no other reason we went out to eat. On the way back home, Daddy paid close attention to the odometer, and then suddenly pulled over into a nearby parking lot. Mommy and Daddy started acting really goofy and got out of the car, taking pictures.

Here's Mommy with a silly sign they made up.



Notice me in the back still wondering what the heck is going on.

And the site of this momentous occassion? How more Okie can you get than Van's Pig Stand Bar-B-Q? Incidentally, this is right next to where I was born at the Moore Medical Center!



Now if you're a stickler for detail like I am, you're demanding proof of 100,000 miles right now, so here you go:



Since I was so patient waiting for Mommy and Daddy to finish their silliness, they thought I might like to get in on the fun. So here I am helping them out. They're right, this IS fun!

Playing in the shower

Sometimes Mommy and Daddy will let me have "water play" in the shower. This is one of my favorite things to do - I just love splashing around and making a big mess. Only in the shower, it's not a big mess, so Mommy and Daddy don't mind! They will fill up a large bowl for me to splash in and throw some of my toys in it as well. Somehow, though, I always seem to end up dumping all the water out before I'm really done playing, and will look up and say "mo" for "more". Usually they'll be nice and refill it. :) Sometimes, though, I dump the bucket out and put it on my head, which Mommy and Daddy find really funny. I think it's pretty fun too! Here I am being a little "buckethead"!

What a GREAT day! Airplanes, nap, and ice cream!

Today Mommy had to go in to work, so it was just Daddy and me for most of the day! Daddy knew that the local airport was hosting an "Aviation Day" and so we headed on down to see what it was all about. We took the stroller, but mostly I wanted to walk all around and look at all the airplanes. I think I am becoming more and more like my Daddy (and Grandma too) - Mommy doesn't stand a chance!

One of the first airplanes we saw was this DC-3 that the FAA still maintains. It was used to inspect radio beacons years ago, and is actually a National Monument, making it the only one that actually moves! It sure is big!

Even the tire is bigger than me!

I almost got away from Daddy one time by walking right under the belly. He thought that was "no fair" since he couldn't walk under there too. After this picture I kept going to the other side, causing Daddy to almost crawl after me!

Then this plane pulled in next to the DC-3, and I immediately wanted to walk over and see what it was. Daddy said it was a "Cirrus" and that I had good taste. The pilot told me that all the cute girls like to come over to look at it! (Yeesh! Pilots!)

I walked back and forth between the Cirrus and the DC-3 several times. Daddy thought this was just fine because he figured I'd wear myself out eventually, and maybe take a long nap when I got home. Then I got thirsty, so Daddy put me back in the stroller and I had a drink while we looked at some more airplanes. This one really caught my attention! In fact, when Daddy tried to wheel us away, I fussed until he stopped. I wanted to look at it some more. I like the colors! It's a Cristen Eagle aerobatic airplane.

A bit after this an airplane started doing touch-and-goes on the runway, and some other visiting planes started to take off. This was very exciting, and each plane I heard taking off I looked at, waved at, and yelled "hi"to until I couldn't see the plane anymore! Here I am still waving to a plane that is barely visible in the photo anymore. It was fun!

After all this excitement, we headed back home. Mommy was still at work, so Daddy fed me lunch which was some left-over pasta. I love pasta, and scarfed it up as quick as I could, and then all of a sudden....zzzzzzz. I fell asleep between bites! I was so zonked out from all the activity this morning that Daddy was even able to wipe off my face and hands, get me out of the high chair, and put me down on my mat without me waking up. I slept for almost 3 hours!

And the best part was, when I woke up, Mommy was home!!! They were really hungry so we went out to our favorite Mexican restaurant, and then headed to a local pond to feed the ducks. We got to feed turtles and fish too! I kept wanting to go in the water, but Daddy stopped me before I got too close.

After the pond, we headed to Target to do a little shopping. While there, Daddy went to look at some new shoes and took me with him. As he was sitting down on the stool, another family came by with a boy about my size (turns out he was 5 months older than me!) We stared at each other for a minute, not sure what to do. Then his mom said "why don't you give her a hug, Lance". So he did! And I hugged back. They all thought it was very cute. Well, apparently Lance is quite a hugger, because he walked over to Daddy (who was still sitting on the stool) and held out his arms to give Daddy a hug. What happened next was absolutely despicable to me! Daddy picked him up and gave him a hug! The look on my face told everyone in no uncertain terms what I thought of that idea. So once they were done with this disgusting display, I walked over and held out my arms for Daddy to hug me too. Fortunately he picked me right up and gave me a big hug, letting me know I'm still his!

Now, coincidentally, Target also has a Cold Stone Creamery in the store, and also coincidentally, Mommy just happened to have some coupons with her. What a coincidence! So of course we had to stop for some ice cream. Mommy and Daddy both let me have some of theirs - Daddy's was cheesecake ice cream with strawberries, while Mommy's was chocolate cake batter ice cream with brownies mixed in. I liked them both!

We finished the ice cream and headed for home, ending just a wonderful day!

Had my surgery today

As I mentioned last week, I had to have another ear tube inserted in my left ear due to my recurring ear infections. So this morning we showed up bright and early at the hospital at 6 AM. Unlike last time, I was awake for the whole car ride in, I didn't fall right back asleep. But just like last time, I was a really good girl the whole time, even though I couldn't have anything to eat or drink!

The surgery was scheduled for 7:45, but the doctor was running late. In the meantime I did start getting a little fussy being cooped up in the pre-op room - I just wanted to walk around a bit! So we did, and I got to wave at and say "hi" to all the other patients and help cheer them up!

The nurse finally came and got me at about 8:20. Everything went great, and pretty quickly too! When the nurse was pushing me back into post-op on the gurney, I wasn't crying like last time. No, I was sitting up giving a big two-handed wave to all the other patients. You wouldn't know I just had surgery! I was really glad to see Mommy and Daddy again, and gave them big hugs. But then I saw they had some milk with them, and I got really hungry all of a sudden!

I feel so much better now. The doctor was able to suction out some of the infection, and even my balance is a little bit better. But I sure hope I don't have to go through that again!

Daddy caught me red-handed this time!

Remember my (formerly) secret hiding place that Daddy found, under the oven? Well, I tried to use it again, but this time Daddy caught me in the act!

After I stuck a few under there, I changed my mind and tried to get them back out. This was a little bit harder!

I did manage to get one, but Daddy had to get the others for me.

Helping Daddy mow?

I wanted to help Daddy mow, and walked right over to the mower when he got it out of the shed. Look how determined I am!

But both he and Mommy agreed that I'm just a little too young for that, so instead I watched him through the window of the house, smiling and waving each time he'd pass by!

Went to see Grandma and Grandpa again!

Today Daddy and I drove up to see Grandma and Grandpa Roslewski and spend the day with them. Mommy stayed at home, so it was just the two of us for the 2 hour drive up and back! I was a really good girl in the car, mostly quietly playing with I had around me, and talking to Daddy. I even got a little nap both ways!

Grandma and Grandpa were sure happy to see me! It had been a little over a month since they last saw me, and I've gotten a lot better at walking in that time. I spent the whole day running around the house, wearing everybody out, including their dog Shadow.

I did get to give Shadow some treats. She was very gentle!



Daddy had watched this show on TV called Mythbusters where they claimed you couldn't pull two phone books apart if you interleaved the pages. Well, when Daddy told Grandpa about this, Grandpa right away ran off to get their phone books so they could test it! Daddy and Grandpa are so much alike it's really scary sometimes. But it actually worked, they couldn't pull the two books apart! Neat!



I even got to take a nap with Grandma. I've had lots of naps with Daddy, and quite a few with Grandpa, but this time I decided to curl up with Grandma! It was sure nice. I was being really good holding the baby doll she got me too.



I had a great time just running around, babbling constantly, and showing off all my newfound abilities. Grandma even got me some new clothes, including these cool shoes that have flashing lights!



I sure was worn out from all this activity, and fell asleep on the way home. I woke up a little when Daddy got me out of the car and changed me for bed, but didn't fuss at all and fell right back asleep!

Big week

Well, it's been a big week. First, I learned that I had yet another ear infection, in my left ear, and that the ear tube I had put in several months ago had fallen out already! So the ear was getting blocked up and was very painful. I was very fussy! So next week (on Thursday 9/18), I'll be going back in to get the ear tube replaced. I'm not looking forward to it, but Mommy and Daddy will both be there again to hug me and make me feel all better. (And then I'll probably sleep most of the rest of the day!)

On Thursday I brought home some of the artwork I've made over the last few months. Mommy and Daddy were so impressed, that Daddy put it right up on the refrigerator. Aren't I artistic?



On Friday we went out to eat, Mexican food again. I love Mexican food, but that's really no big deal. What was different was that we drove up in the big truck, and Mommy drove! She had to get some practice driving the truck so she could use it while Daddy and I went up to Grandma and Grandpa's house on Saturday. She did really well. Daddy was hoping she'd take a curb or something so he could tease her (big meanie), but she didn't!

The other big news was that Daddy got a job offer with the FAA, to start in two weeks! He'll be doing mostly the same work he does now (designing approach paths for aircraft in bad weather), but as a government employee instead of a contractor. He's very excited since this is what he's been working toward.

Still learning to feed myself

I'm really good at feeding myself with my hands. I just grab a wad of food and cram it on in! Works for me, but Mommy thinks that I should learn to use utensils, like her (Daddy of course we won't talk about!) Although I've been practicing with them for a while, it still takes some work and I usually end up with the spoon sideways or backwards or the food falling into my lap. But I'm getting better! In fact, starting the last few weeks, if Mommy or Daddy try to feed me something, I push it away. But if they set it down in front of me instead, I'll feed myself! I'm a big girl, I don't need anyone feeding me. What do they think I am, a baby? I'm almost 15 months!

Here I am eating some yogurt, all by myself. Don't let the fact that half of the container appears to be on my face, hands, and bib fool you, I did really well! (Although Mommy had already wiped the big glob off of my forehead and hair. I'm not sure how it got up there.)

Learning to drink from a real cup

Mommy had a great idea tonight. You see, I've been trying to learn to drink from a real cup. Every time Mommy or Daddy holds a cup out to me, I get a big smile, reach out and grab the cup, open my mouth wide, and promptly spill lots of water down my shirt! So it's slow learning, and pretty messy. Well, Mommy decided I should learn during bath time, that way it wouldn't make a mess. I like this idea! I got in lots of practice today and really got better.

Here I am practicing (no, I'm not drinking bath water, silly!) Notice I'm ignoring all my other bath toys, this is serious business.



Hey, that was fun!

To the Zoo!

It's Labor Day today, and both Mommy and Daddy had the day off, so we decided to go to the zoo! I got to see lots of animals, although many of them were sleeping in the warm sun. I was a good girl all day.

First I saw a wild and vicious member of the feline species. :) Okay, it was just our neighbor's cat Smoochie who came over to visit before we left. I got to pet her a little. She's very friendly (and I tried to be very gentle)!



Then we really headed to the zoo. I got to press my face up against a lot of windows! We saw some exotic birds.



And here I'm pointing out the snow leopard to Daddy. I didn't want him to miss it!



We even saw giraffes! This is Grandma Roslewski's favorite animal, so we had to make sure to see some before we left. They're tall!



Hopefully we'll head back again when I'm older!