Dialectic Ruminations on "Advanced Maternal Age" (DRAMA)

I'm about to be two whole years old. Aunt Shay, Sassy, and Mr. Jim had a big birthday party for me. Aunt Shay sure knows how to throw a party! We had CAKE! Remember how much I liked CAKE last year?? Well, it's even better when it has Lightning McQueen on it! We had presents, and I really enjoyed playing with the paper! It was fun to throw it up in the air, but it was even more fun to clean it up! We had so much fun playing with our new play doh and blowing bubbles. Here are some pictures from the party. Great news, too. Mommy says we are having ANOTHER party at Papa Mac's house next weekend! Ohboyohboyohboy...CAKE again! I'll post pictures if I can remember to take them. With CAKE around, I might be a bit distracted.

Ready to get started.

I know this has a purpose.

Ohhh... they got me a tie. How nice.

Now that's better than a tie!

Here Aunt Shay...clean up, clean up.

How liberating!

I agree...it is liberating!

You won't beat me!

Almost there!

So worth it!

See what I can do after CAKE???

Hi, Everyone! I've been so busy getting used to my new home that I've trusted Mommy to keep you up to date with everything. I finally figured out that she's not doing a great job at it! I'm here to fill you in on everything I'm doing these days.

I'm so big! Over 30 pounds at my last doctor visit and 32 1/2 inches tall. I think I'm close to being totally self-sufficient. I'm even going to "school" now. We've had a hard time finding the perfect school for me. There isn't a Mrs. Fran here. I really loved going to Pineview's Mother's Morning Out program. I miss Tiffany, Jennifer, and Toni a lot, but I'm making new friends at Primrose. Landon is my new best bud. I'm the youngest in my class at Primrose, but I'm the tallest and the smartest. Mrs. Fran taught me all my colors and shapes a long time ago. But that is okay because I'm learning other things at school like what's expected of me, how to sleep on a cot, and that we don't hit our friends. That is a lot of rules, you know.

I LOVE to play outside on the swing and the slide. I love to finger-paint and read books and dance. I love to jump and to run. And I still love to eat. I love to "help," and Daddy has taught me how to use my "crewsdriver," wrench, hammer, and pliers. I'm really good at using the broom and the "shovel" (aka dust pan). I even helped Daddy do laundry this weekend. Apparently, it's a good thing that he listened to me when I told him I put Mommy's ipod in the dryer. Did you know ipods don't go in the dryer? Again with the rules!

I'm funny. I like to make jokes and tease. Apparently, I'm very good at it because Mommy and Daddy are always laughing at me. For example, sometimes I'll call Mommy "Momby" because that makes her laugh. I'll offer Daddy a toy and then pull it away just before he gets it. He thinks that is pretty funny. I make faces and mimic and laugh. Adults are so easy!

I talk...a lot. Pretty much all the time. There is so much to say, and I know how to say it all. These days, I think it is really fun to say pepperoni and quesadilla. I know way too many words to count. I almost always speak in full sentences, and I can put together ideas. I also remember things. I might remind Mommy of a new story several days after we read it. And I often tell Mommy what is coming next in a story. Last week on the playground, the toddler teacher came out, counted her students, and said she had 5 little monkeys. I looked at her and said, "Five little monkeys jumping on the bed. One fell off and bumped his head. Mama called the doctor and the doctor said...no more monkeys jumping on the bed." She just stared at me! I can count to 10, and Mommy is working with me on eleven and twelve. I don't always remember those yet. Mommy and Daddy are also working with me on letter recognition. When I'm not talking, I'm probably singing. My favorite songs right now are Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Old McDonald, but I know lots more songs.

Nemo and I are best friends. I help take care of him. I'll tell him he needs to eat his food. I'll take his treat to him so he can chew on it. I give him toys when he's just laying on the couch. Each morning I'll ask him "how did you sleep, Memo?" And I tell him "I'm so happy to see you, Memo" when I get home from school. You always have to be gentle when you are petting Memo, and you can't ever throw things at him. Those rules are really hard to follow sometimes.

When I play, there are two things that are always fun...breaking something and throwing it. Mommy and Daddy are both really serious about not breaking or throwing some things. We've had some battles. I don't understand. What else are you supposed to do with something? If you try to break it, you see how it is put together. And if you throw it, you can see if it bounces.

As you can see, things are really great here in Alabama. I'm just trying to navigate all the rules!