Happy Vacation Moments, Chapter Six - Even More Friends

We got to go out for breakfast with Dave, Tracy & little Nathan.







Nathan is a little star.








I was really interested in him. I got to touch his tiny feet. I told him what "socks" are. I'm not sure he understood, but he's still a baby so he's got time to learn.

Happy Vacation Moments, Chapter Five - More Friends

I got to go to the Children's Museum in Grand Rapids, MI when we were there on vacation. I think I told you that another time. What I didn't tell you is that we went with some good friends. Here's me with Reuben in the percussion box. He liked the cowbell and the big drum.




Maya, his big sister, eating her fruit-loop necklace.









After the museum we went for a picnic in a park. This is Sandy, Maya & Reuben's mom. Her husband Jon was there too, but only for a minute. He had to go back to work, so we didn't take any pictures of him.

Happy Vacation Moments, Chapter Four - Some Friends

Me & my friend Hunter on a big tire swing.






Hunter & I gave each other a cheek-to-cheek buddy hug before we left. His mommy, Sheryl, is a good friend of my mom & dad.






Another friend, Jeannie, helped me down the slide when my shoes would stick.









Jeannie thought I was pretty neat. So did her husband Bill, but I didn't get any good pictures with him.

Day of Movement

I've had a rough week. Finally, today after a week and a day of constipation, I am pooping again. Once that got moving, I got that much busier too. I have been very busy all day. I am very good at climbing, so I climbed up on the coffee table under the window to look outside a few times.

Then I decided to read in the comfy chair, so I picked a book, climbed up and read it.









When I was done with that book, I dropped it on the floor and climbed out of my chair.







I walked to my box of books & picked through till I found the right one that I wanted to read next.








And climbed back into my chair to read again.







I think I read at least 8 books today - all by myself! I love to read. I regularly say "read book" and mom knows I just won't be happy till we sit & read. Books are great friends!

Happy Vacation Moments, Chapter Three

I don't know how many chapters there will be. Maybe a lot. And they won't be in order, because there are too many pictures to sort through.

We had a problem getting to Minneapolis on time to catch our second flight, and when we got there the plane was gone. But while we waited for another plane we made the most of the opportunity to stretch & run around in the airport.





I wasn't convinced when dad told me we were almost there.







In Grand Rapids at the children's museum. I really liked the balls.








My Grandpa Gerry attacked me in the front yard at his house one day. That was lots of fun. :)

Happy Vacation Moments, Chapter Two

Sneaking a grin between mom & dad on the beach.






Posing with my two favorite people.






Playing happily in the sand with my cousins: Anna, Rachel & Liesl (on the far left. She's mom's cousin's daughter, but we just call her my cousin to make it easier.)




All four of us kids got bubbles. They were mesmerizing. I think I've said that before.

Happy Vacation Moments, Chapter One

It's hard to know what to say about vacation, but I'll let a few pictures share the joy of our recent vacation.

(L-R) Rachel, me, Anna
My twin cousins turned 1 while we were all together.





I got to eat some of their birthday cake. I loved it. It was the same recipe my mom used when I turned 1, and it was just as good the second time.














Splashing in Lake Michigan was always a good time.



















Before eating the cake, my cousins & I each got our own. I think it was a sort of science experiment - the grown-ups wanted to see what we'd do. I poked mine. Methodically. Poke, poke, poke.

"My Yellow Balloon"

I have two of them, currently, and I take them everywhere. One goes up, one stays down.

Rainbow

Oh yeah - I also learned how to say "rainbow." The pictured item was seen from our back porch yesterday afternoon, and just like that I learned a new word about the beautiful world around me!

Climbing and Chatting

I have learned how to climb. I know "up" and "down."
I am starting to learn colors - and even say some short phrases. Yesterday I showed mom "my yellow balloon." She was amazed at my verbal prowess.

Mom bought me a stool to stand on so I can reach the sink to wash my own hands, but I like to use it all the time. I carry it around the house, set it down, and then sit on it. Quite proudly, I must admit. And sometimes I put my stool next to the couch or something I want to get up onto, and I use it to help me climb. Other times I just lurch & fall & squirm my way up onto a chair.

My latest favorite snacks are "ants on a log" (celery w/ peanut butter & raisins) and raw green beans. I can say: bean
bread
brush
blueberry (although it sounds more like boo-baba)
juice
keys
door
light
cracker
shoe (instead of the nasal "hyew" it's now "sh" followed by "hyew")
amen

And mom bought be a potty, which I love to sit on, climb up & stand on, and take apart, but I'm not quite sure what it's for yet.

August 13

Happy Birthday, Grandma Lizzy! I love you!

Talking talking talking

When my dad asks me how old I am, I now say "one" (sounds like "wunnnnn") and hold up my index finger, sometimes on both hands.

When I have a helium balloon on a string, I'll let it go up & say "up" and then when I pull it down I say "down." (sounds more like dunnn)

I'm starting to learn colors. I'm very good at "yellow." Blue is sometimes as it should be, sometimes instead it's "boom." Green & red are "geen" & "rud."

Yogurt is very clearly "ya-yo."

I have been heard saying "eyeball."

And recently I have made an attempt at my own name. Simon. Sounds a little more like "ay-uh," but at least I'm trying.

Yesterday when mom was talking on the phone to Grandma Lizzy, she asked me if I wanted to say hi to Grandma. I said "Ama. All-oo-ey." I think it made Grandma cry a little. She loves me!

Back from Vacation

Here's me with my grandparents & cousins on mom's side. Vacation was fun and busy! I learned all sorts of new things...but I'm too busy learning more to write about them all now. Maybe tomorrow. I just had to share how cute the family is!