Grand Camp!

This is my journal from last week at Grand Camp. Mommy was in San Francisco for a conference, and Daddy was studying for his tests, so I spent the whole week with Grandmom and Grandpop Miller in Pennsylvania! These are the notes and pictures I sent to Mom and Dad through email every day.

Hi Mommy and Daddy ~
I am at Grand Camp and Grandpop is giving me my first piano lesson. Love ~ Lauren


Hi Mommy and Daddy ~
This is a picture of me with my new friend, Wade, on the train at Lititz Springs Park. It was cold, but we had fun playing and swinging and sliding together. I love you. Hugs ~ Lauren


Hi Mommy and Daddy ~
What a fun day I had today. Grandmom and Grandpop took me to a place called the Hands On House. There were lots of fun things to do there and there were lots of little kids too. I'm sending you a picture from the dress up room. Do you like my ensemble? I'm being a very good girl for Grandmom and Grandpop. I think we're going to Hershey tomorrow. Yippee!
I love you both very much ~ Lauren

Hi Mommy and Daddy ~
Santa flew into the Lancaster Airport in a little airplane and I watched him land and come in to see me (and a thousand other kids). He read us a story and we had cookies and orange juice and then I got a chance to meet him. I found out that I only like him from afar. On Christmas, I hope he doesn't remember that I screamed at him. I love you both very much. Hugs ~ Lauren
P.S. I'm wearing reindeer antlers.

Hi Mommy and Daddy ~
This morning, Grandpop, Grandmom and I went to church. It was snowing outside and it was very cold, but we still went. I played in the nursery and had lots of fun there. I went into church when Grandpop and Grandmom took communion and some man named Pastor Dave put his hand on my head. I wonder why. I love you two very much. See you on Tuesday.
Lots and lots of love ~ Lauren

Hi Mommy and Daddy ~
I can't wait to see both of you tomorrow. I have been a very good girl and have had lots of fun at Grand Camp. Here is one more picture of me that was taken when we went to the play gym at Park City. I love you. Hugs and kisses ~ Lauren

Doya

It's been over a month since I last wrote! I've been busy... but I'll write about all of that later. This morning, Mom and I went to the library for story time. It was fun and there were A LOT of kids there today! We saw a little girl Adler and her mommy Tess, that Mom says I know from the park. It was fun to watch her dance and sing, but I don't remember her from the park. Maybe I'll see her again, then I'll remember her.
Before story time, we were looking at the books, and I picked up a book and saw a funny green animal/person on the front. At first I said "puppy", because I thought it was a puppy. Then I said, "moo", because I thought it might be a cow. I wasn't sure, so I looked to Mom for help. She couldn't see the picture, because it was facing me. Then I looked back at it, and I made a funny face, because I didn't know what it was. So, I said "woof", then completely confused, I looked back to Mom. She looked at the book and said, "Oh, that's Yoda". So I said "Doya". I think I said it wrong.

In my hands

My two favorite things to carry around are coins and rocks. My second favorites are crayons and acorns.

Bangs

I got my first haircut today.
Mom finally gave in and cut my bangs. I like it - now I don't have to wear those barrettes all the time!
Mom saved the hair that she cut in a little silver box that says "First Curl". It's not really a first curl - it's just some of my bangs.

Crayons, Cows, and the Green Festival

On Friday night after Mom and Dad picked me up from Mimi's house, we went to dinner at Tonic with Aimee and Barrett. They used to have paper covering the tables and crayons so I could draw, but they changed it. So, before dinner, Mom and I walked to the Dollar Star and bought crayons and a coloring book. I had fun drawing and holding my new crayons, and dipping everything in the mustard.

On Saturday, Mom and I went to the Zoo in the morning and saw Tulip and Rose the cows running! They make a lot of noise when they run. After my nap, we went rollerblading in the park (Mom pushed me - I rode in my stroller and ate snacks).

This morning was church, then we went to the Green Festival in the afternoon with Jess, Ariel, Christian and Savannah. It was great!
Mom was laughing because I interrupted a game of "bean bag toss" by throwing away my milk cup in the milk jug (that was being used for the bean bag toss). I thought it was a trash can!

We ate lots of yummy snacks there, and I got to run around with Christian and Savannah. We also watched a fun lady sing songs. She called herself Mother Earth.
This is the lady that sang songs and called herself Mother Earth. I'm sitting in the stroller on the left.


This is Savannah after she got her face painted like a butterfly. I couldn't stop looking at her and smiling!

Baby Lolo

I started saying my name a couple weeks ago. This is what it sounds like.

I also have some other new words that I can say. They are Claudia ("Clala"), cloud, thank you ("da doo"), light, sit down, nap ("nat"), Here you go ("hee doe") and elk ("eck"). But I understand so much more than I can say.

No new bed

Since my last post where I said I climbed out of my crib (and pack n' play), I have not figured out how to replicate the steps I took to do it that first time. So, Mom and Dad are holding off on the big girl bed for now. And I think they're keeping a close eye on me!

Obama!

Jingly hat and fun pictures

Here are some fun pictures that I like. This first one is me with a funny, jingly hat on. Someone found it next door when they were going through some Halloween costumes. It only fits me.
This is when we were in New York. Mom and I were riding around on little bikes.
This is Tim, Andrea, and me on a motorcycle out back (Miss Kelly's brother's motorcycle).
This is me the other day when Mom and I went for a walk to pick up rocks in the alleyway.

Halloween!

I had so much fun on Halloween. Grandmom and Grandpop Miller (I call Grandpop Miller "PopPop" and sometimes "BaBa". I'm still working on "Grandmom") came to celebrate with me. We went trick or treating to Mimi's house and in the neighborhood. I was Pooh Bear. I carried around my red sand bucket and walked up to people's houses with Mom or Dad. The people said something silly, then held out a very big bowl of lots of wrapped up things.
Walking down the alley with Grandmom (dressed as a witch!) and Grandpop (a scary red mask!)
I figured out later that I was supposed to take one of the wrapped up things and put it in my bucket. So, that was fun once I figured that out. But my favorite part was looking at all the other kids dressed up (and being out after dark). I chewed right through a Tootsie Roll wrapper, which Mom and Dad didn't think was a good idea.

I stopped to dance to "The Monster Mash" in the middle of the street! (The street was closed off).

Playing horsey with Grandmom and Grandpop.

Nana and Boompa

Nana and Boompa (that's what I call Grandma Susan and Grandpa Randy) came to see me last weekend! We had fun reading together and going to the zoo. I really liked looking at the tigers and roaring at them.

Grandma and Grandpa reading me "The Belly Book". I love bellies.

Orangutan!

Mom and I saw lots of gorillas and orangutans up close at the big ape house at the zoo last week. This guy liked to spit on the glass - his lips were really funny!

Bye Bye Crib

I cilmbed out of my crib today during my nap, so Mom and Dad say "bye bye crib!". Looks like there's a big girl bed in my near future.

Feeding Puss

This is my trial at feeding Puss.

Day with the Cousins

Last evening after dinner, Mom and I went down to Fredericksburg to see Uncle Todd, Aunt Jennifer, and cousins Sean and Liam. (Mom, Todd, and Jen stayed up late to watch the Phillies beat the Rays!). Mom let me sleep in bed with her this morning -- neither of us got a great night sleep, but we were cozy. Today was really fun. Had a lot of playtime with Liam this morning (chase! peek-a-boo!). I'm almost able to say his name. After nap and lunch, we went to the park, then to Sean and Uncle Todd's school to see their rooms. Boy - those school kids are big! Then we played on ANOTHER playground at the school.

Two faces. One afternoon.

I was feeling animated today.

Powderpuff game, Larriland Farm

Last weekend we went to the zoo with one of Daddy's friends from medical school. He brought his family and his two little girls, Sadie and Maggie. We had fun! Then we all went to a powder puff football game at Daddy's school and we ordered pizza. I ran around with Sadie and Maggie and watched people light sparklers! They were really pretty.
On Saturday, we went to Larriland Farms in Maryland for a hayride and apple picking with the Friends and Family group from Luther Place (although we didn't actually pick any pumpkins or vegetables). Here are some pictures from the weekend.
Me riding on the tractor
Emily, Alec, me, and Dad after the hayride
On the hayride! I lost my shoe in the hay (but we found it).
Mommy and me on the hayride. It was a pretty day!

My new words are puppy, goat, owl, and hot dog.
Sunday night we went to the zoo and got to say good night to Tulip the cow. We ran in just as they were closing the barn (Mommy asked the lady and she said we could run in really quick!). We ran over to Tulip and said good night. Mommy said Tulip was going to go to sleep and so I put my hand up to the side of my face (because that's how I say people and animals and dolls are going to go to sleep), and Tulip laid down! She really was going to sleep.
Now I'm going to go to sleep. Good night!

...to that tall skyline I come...

New York! This past weekend we spent a few days with Uncle Paul, Aunt Emily, and cousin Isaiah in New York. The ride up was fun - Mom sat in the back with me, and let me drink a little bit out of the lid of a water bottle. Emily and Isaiah met us on the porch when we got there. Isaiah's big since I saw him at the beach! He can crawl now. I had fun hugging him and handing him toys. We took some walks, went to the park, to a street fair, and to a big yard sale (I found the stuffed animal area and stayed there). Mom and Dad bought me a truck, and Emily and Paul bought Isaiah a turtle sandbox. I liked when Uncle Paul played airplane with me.

Dipping

I learned that it's really fun to dip food in another type of food that's called "dip". I say "dip" when I want to dip something. Usually I put something on my fork and say "dip", then Mom or Dad holds up some applesauce or yogurt for me to dip my food in. It's really fun to eat food like that. And even when I don't like to eat the food by itself - like a carrot or some zucchini - I'll eat it if I can dip it first.

Kwaikee

Last week, Mom and I went to the zoo with Milo and his Mom and Dad. We looked at the frogs and horses, but more importantly, I taught Milo how to do push ups (see the first picture below). We tried to figure out the drinking fountain together too. That was on Thursday.

On Saturday, we went to visit Mom's college friends. I got to meet a lot of new kids - they were mostly older boys, but there were two other little girls there too. Then we spent the weekend with Grandmom Miller in Lititz. We went to the playground, park, and pumpkin patch. We also went to church, and I played in the nursery. I just learned how to say pumpkin! (But I say "kwaikee"). I like to see the pumpkins on people's porches. I also now can say our neighbor's names, Aimee and Barrett (but I say "Ahhmee" and "Bart").

We also spent a lot of time at the library last week. We went to a different library for storytime. Mom said we're going to go there tomorrow too. Yesterday, Mom took me to the library then out for a muffin at Dos Gringos. I sat in a tall big girl chair! It was so much fun - Mom didn't even cut up the muffin. I could just eat it whole (I used both hands). Then, Dad, Mom, and I took a walk together after Dad got home from school. He has his tests at school this week, so he's been busy studying. But he'll be done on Friday!!

Last Day of September!

It feels like fall is coming. I've been wearing my jeans a lot more often. We had a fun weekend. Mom and I went out to West Virginia for a retreat on Saturday and Sunday, and we got to walk around a lot in the woods. I loved touching the moss and collecting acorns on the trail. It was very quiet there.


When we got home on Sunday, we went to the Mount Pleasant Festival that was happening up the street. There were so many kids there to look at! Some of them were blowing bubbles - I really loved to watch them. I also danced when we passed by the music. Here's a picture of Mom and me with Mayor Adrian Fenty! I put on my disinterested look for the picture, but it was actually fun to meet him. He smiled at me, said my name, and shook my hand.

I went back to Mimi's house today and got REALLY worn out. Boy -it's hard work playing all day with my friends.
Happy last day of September! See you in October!

Minnesota

This weekend we went to Ms. Aimee and Mr. Barrett's wedding in Minnesota! It was so much fun - I got to meet a lot of other kids and play outside in the gardens at the wedding.
Mom and Dad sang during the wedding, and I wanted to be up there with them, so I was. Well, just in the beginning.

Ms. Aimee and Mr. Barrett during the ceremony. They covered themselves with a star quilt during the ceremony (they told us it is an old Lakota tradition). It was very pretty.
Later, Grandma Susan and Grandpa Randy came to pick me up, and we went to their hotel and swam! It was fun to ride on the plane - they gave us lots of chocolate chip cookies. Andrea and Tim rode on the plane back with us, so I could look back and see them during the flight. I screamed a couple times because I was so excited to see them. Now I'm trying to catch up on my sleep. It's not easy!

Pasta, Pizza, and Pushups

We had a fun weekend. I went on a bike ride to the park with Dad yesterday, and Mom and I went to the zoo to play on the big pizza playground this morning. Dad's helping me get into my new fall exercise regimen.

And my new words this week are .... (you'll have to watch the video to see!).

One and a Half

I turned one and a half on Tuesday! Mom and I went to celebrate at the Building Museum downtown. I was very busy building tall archways and making sure the dump trucks stayed full of beanbags. Of course I had to wear my safety gear during these tasks to make sure my eyes and head were protected and that people could see me. Afterward we met Dad for dinner at Lauriol Plaza. I wasn't very hungry, but did get my own cup and straw for my milk (which is all I really wanted anyway). I fell asleep on the walk home.

Tired

I got really tired at the park the other day. I slid down the slide by myself about 10 times over and over again, then I got tired for a nap, so I just laid down in the wood chips in the middle of the park. Then I started covering myself with wood chips, pretending they were my covers. Then I got leaves in my hair.

Kitty Piggyback

I played in a big sandbox today at the park. It reminded me of the beach. Also, when I got home, Puss let me ride on his back. I thought he'd take me across the living room, but he just laid down instead.

Rain and Red Shoes

We had a fun weekend! It rained all day yesterday, so in the morning, Mom and I walked around outside in the rain and got soaking wet! Barrett saw us and took some pictures (Mom's going to ask him to send some to her, so maybe I'll put one on the blog). Then we built forts and went to the thrift store with Andrea and Tim. Mom bought me a pair of shiny red shoes that I've worn every waking moment since yesterday. I got sad last night when I had to take them off to go to bed. Today, we went for a walk in the morning, then played around the yard after my nap. Talked to Grandma and Grandpa Snell on the webcam tonight while I ate dinner. That was fun!

Labor Day and Schottische Dancing

Mom and I walked to church on Sunday morning. We saw Dad up front singing, then I played with Mary, Judy, and Danny when I went to the nursery during the sermon. I fell asleep on the walk home from church, then we went to the pool (for the last time this summer) after I woke up. It was really fun - there were a lot of kids there. Sunday evening we went to Uncle Todd and Aunt Jennifer's house. After dark, we played with glow sticks in the driveway. Today, we had french toast for breakfast, and I played played played with my cousins and Grandmom and Grandpop Miller. When we got home, Mom and I walked up the street and went to a Norwegian Dance. Mom and Dad said the band was from Decorah, IA, where my Great-Grandparents Snell live. We did the polka with Andrea, and the two-step with Aimee! I ate a cookie, then we went home to bed. It was a really fun weekend (and Dad had off today too, so we got to spend a lot of time together!).

Day at the Park

What a day! We went to the Farmer's Market this morning, then Milo came over after we got home! I'll post a picture of us eating lunch together at my new table. After our naps, we went to the park and met Daddy and our friends Kate and Andy. It was hot, but we didn't mind. There was a big sandbox with a little wooden house we could play in, slides and see saws. Then we got blueberry ice cream and celebrated Kate's birthday! The car ride back to Milo's was fun - he makes me laugh when he acts silly and makes funny noises. Mom and I took a walk later, and she let me push the stroller most of the way. I liked stopping to collect rocks and twigs (I'll post pictures of that later, too. Mom says the camera needs new batteries).
Fun day!

What I Gave Mom

Here's what I handed to Mom today.

Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes

I've pretty much mastered the names of most parts of the body. If Mom or Dad says, "where's your ___?" I can usually point to the right part, as long as it's eye, ear, nose, mouth, foot, or hand. I'm working on knee, chin, arm, leg, and tongue too. It's a pretty fun game.
We went to Milo's house yesterday to play in the pool and have dinner. Chad and Sarah gave us blueberries, strawberries and raspberries for dessert. Milo ate 2 whole ears of corn!

Today, I went to Sra. Maria's house in the morning, then Mom and I went to the pool. I enjoyed picking the leaves out of the pool, then had fun walking around showing people my hat. I had dinner when we got home (I fed myself almost the whole dinner!), then went running with Dad. Yesterday I was helping him do push-ups. I stood by his legs and pushed on them and squatted when he went down to the ground. That made Dad and Mom laugh (and I laughed too)! I've really started to dance more when I hear music. Mom and I have fun dancing in the kitchen after dinner.
Good night!

Cherry Tomatoes

One of my favorite things to do lately is pick ripe (and not so ripe) cherry tomatoes off the plants in the garden, and eat them on the spot (and carry a few around with me in my hands). Mom and Dad let me do this every day - usually before lunch or dinner. Mom even let me do it late tonight. Yum! They are so good. Here's a picture of me with one (or two?) in my mouth.

Milo and Me

Ladybug

A ladybug landed on my hand today at the pool. It was the first time that happened - she was really cute, then she flew off.

Kisses

Did I mention that I love giving kisses? I start kissing from the minute I get up until the minute I go to bed. First, I see mommy come to my door and I start making kissy noises. Then, after she picks me up, I point to one of my animals - most likely bear or lamb, and mommy picks them up so I can give them a hug and kiss. I see Puss Kitty when we leave my room and I point at him and make a kiss noise. Mom sometimes puts me down so I can pet him and make the kiss noise at the same time. Then I see daddy in the kitchen, so I can give him a kiss and a hug too. When friends come and go, and when I see dogs and birds outside, I give them kiss noises. Sometimes when a car or bus goes by, I'll kiss too. But when I go to bed, mommy and daddy sing me a song then say a prayer. I keep my head rested on mom's shoulder for all of this. But, in the middle of the song I always turn my head and make a kiss noise toward dad. He comes over and kisses me. Then I do the same to mom and she kisses me. Then I go to bed. (But first I kiss lamb again... then make a kiss noise when mom's leaving the room so she'll come back and kiss me when I'm lying down). Good night kisses!

Buckethead

End of (Our) Summer Update

I think I'll be writing more regularly now that summer is coming to a close. Today was a big day for my family. I started going to baby school today... that's what I call it. Some people call it daycare. It was really fun and I met a lot of new friends. I was so excited that I didn't sleep at all until I got home! The other big thing that happened today was that Daddy started back to school. We both started school on the same day! I don't know if he had as much fun as I did.

Well, here are a few updates from the last time I wrote:
1. I can "doggie paddle" for about a foot under the water when I'm going for something I really
want.
2. I really like to give kisses and hugs now.
3. I can now say three 2-syllable words. They are "cracker" "thank you (a version of it)" and
"mommy". And I just said "beh buh" tonight (belly button).
4. I have 4 new molars.
5. I can - kind of - feed myself with a spoon...with both hands! Look! (the first bite was hot).



And here are some things I've been up to since I last wrote:
1.Mommy, Daddy, and I went to Grandmom and Grandpop Miller's house and Philadelphia with
Barrett and Aimee, and we watched Mommy and Aimee do a triathlon.

2. I went to Minnesota with Daddy in July.
I went to work with Grandpa Randy!
Swimming with Grandma Susan
Meeting cousin Stacy and new baby cousin Ida

3. We went to New York to see cousin Isaiah and Aunt Emily and Uncle Paul.
Rollerblading with Mom, Dad, Isaiah, and aunt Emily
4. We spent a week at Bethany Beach with Grandma and Grandpa Snell and Emily, Paul, and
Isaiah.

If you listen closely, you can hear me say "weee!" (what I now call all swings and slides).
What a fun summer!

The Hamper Mishap

Mid Summer Update

It's been over a month since I last wrote! Mom and Dad have really kept me busy this summer, and we have had some fun! Today we rollerbladed down to Alexandria and got a banana smoothie. I drank it through a straw. I also saw some airplanes flying really close to the ground. We were near the airport. They're huge! Like giant birds. We've gone to the pool most days, and I've been (this week) working on swimming about two feet (underwater) to the side of the pool, and pulling myself up. I've learned how to give kisses, I can point to my eye, nose, ears, mouth, and foot when asked, and my new words are "weee!", "up", "sss" for shoe, and "hi". I weigh a little over 22 pounds and I now eat everything but peanuts.

Highlights from the summer so far -

Trip to MN for my cousin Isaiah's baptism

Trip to Rehoboth Beach



Trip to PA for July 4 and Grandpop Miller and Great-Grandmom Dorothy's birthdays
(Don't worry - I actually started to enjoy the fireworks. Just wasn't sure of all the loud noise at first)...


Riding bike with Dad and Mom

Swimming!
Hope you're all having a great summer!