Little Green Thumb

Mom and I have been working in the yard to make it nice for Nana and Papa's visit. I am a very good helper with my spray bottle. My favorite thing to do is spray the flowers and plants in our yard (sometimes I sneak next door to spray their red rose, too!).There is no job too big... or too small.This is hard work! Mom said that her grandmother taught her to spray plants with water and talk to them so they won't get lonely. Maybe the neighbors think we are crazy when we sit on the porch swing and talk to the gardenia!
I'm pretty quick with my spray bottle now- I can even get Mom! But, sometimes I get confused about which is the front end of the nozzle...
After a long afternoon of giving TLC to our plants, we head to the back for some relaxation. I'm such a big girl now!

Happy Mother's Day!

We're calling in sick for Mother's Day this year. I'm still working on my big fever and haven't let anyone sleep for 3 nights. So, Dad let Mom sleep late this morning and she said it was the best day, ever! When she woke up, I introduced her to "Mama Elmo" and "Baby Elmo", the new titles I made up all by myself. Then we had a yummy breakfast and gave Mom her presents.
She was so grateful that she went around the house taking pictures of her babies: Maggie and Moxie Dad Me (learning to use the squirt bottle),And, the huge gardenia tree by the front porch that blooms every year for Mother's Day. Mom said she is the luckiest girl in the world!

Happy Birthday Kelsey!

Happy 2nd birthday to me! I am a big girl now, complete with big girl attitude!

We kept things easy today, since I am sick with ear infections and not feeling so great. We just loaded up with Motrin and had a playdate with friends, followed by good nap time.Mom said we would have a "do over" birthday weekend soon when my Nana and Papa come to visit. We had a fun party this week with my friends from school, complete with my favorite chocolate cupcakes. I loved wearing the crown and singing the Happy Birthday song! Can you believe that I have grown so much? Here are some pictures from the last year: Mom wanted to mention some amusing things that have come out of my little toddler mouth recently:

"I tooted", with a giggle after passing a little toot.

"Scooz me", navigating around all 80 pounds of Moxie when he was laying in the hall.

"Mother Ducker", in Dad's car after hearing a radio host make a funny prank call to his friend. Not so funny when I repeated it: "mother ducker, mother ducker, mother ducker" all the way to daycare. Mom pleads innocence because all we listen to in her car is the Mama Mia soundtrack.

"Cookie, No Bite!", while scolding toy Cookie Monster for biting Abby Cadabby.

"Sowwy", Cookie's reply to Abby.

"No hitting, no pinching... Hugs!", giving Cookie an alternative action with his friends.

"My Elmo!", the frantic cry at 3:30am, with big pitiful tears because Elmo was not in the crib. After 5 minutes of genuine distress, Mom found Elmo in the playroom and saved the night.

And the favorite:

"More hug!", after hugs and kisses from Mom and Dad.

"I Yike Nolan"

This week Mom and I were talking about my friends at school when I said: "I yike Nolan!". Usually we talk about my BFF, Sophia ("Pia"), or my favorite teacher, Miss "Tish". So, you can imagine her surprise when I made this announcement. Later, when Dad confronted me about it, I just giggled and ran out of the room. Lately I'm saying all sorts of funny things... yesterday I was coloring with Dad when I looked up and said "Hi Tim". He laughed for a long, long time! Mom and Dad are weird, they just laugh at me all the time.

Little Lady

Mom and Dad said that I am becoming a very serious little lady. They wish that I would joke around more or show a playful side... it's so hard to get me to come out of my shell. Even in my pretty dresses I am a prim and proper little princess. (Did the sarcasm translate as I scratch my bootie?). Mom says I am growing into a sweet little comedian.

Elmo's House

This weekend we went to the new Sesame Street section at Busch Gardens... or, what I like to call "Elmo's House". I was in a state of amazed shock for most of the visit, seeing Big Bird and Elmo, flying on Snuffy's elephants, playing hide and seek in the tunnels with Dad, and climbing through the tree house with Mom.I wasn't big enough to play in the bouncy box, but I liked watching the big kids play. We saw some pretty birds, too. Dad declared himself the Lorikeet Whisperer and tried to hold one. After it chewed a hole in his knuckle we nominated Mom to hold the little cup of nectar to feed it.She had to hold her arm far away from me, because I had a tough time learning the difference between petting it gently and slapping it across the room. We ended our visit with a great show, watching Elmo and his friends sing and dance. I hope we can go to Elmo's house every weekend!

Happy Easter!

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter! We started the morning with a surprise visit from the Easter Bunny. He must have dropped by the house last night while I was sleeping, and filled up my basket with fun toys. Then we went to church for the family service, where I tried to grab a "cracker" from the "old man" in the front during communion.
I think the best part of being a kid is that every holiday becomes a month-long celebration leading up to the actual day. Mom and Dad have been reading bunny and chick books to me for weeks. I've met (and hugged) 2 Easter Bunnies, and been to 4 Easter Egg hunts. The first Easter egg hunt was confusing... Dad had been teaching me competitive maneuvers all morning, so that I was whipped into a frenzy by the time we all lined up. I didn't understand that you have to wait for the signal to go snatch your eggs. That's me, screaming on the ground because Dad wouldn't let me run into the field ahead of all the other kids. I managed to squirm away and run for it- this is him, carrying me back to the line. In the end, I got my egg!