Wooo Hooooo! The Jacksonville Zoo!

We took a road trip Tuesday to the Zoo in Jacksonville and had a blast!

The weather was sunny and warm, in the 80's (February!) and several of your friends came: Kristina and her mommy, Snezana, rode with us, and we met Lucas, Kaitlin, Sydney, and their mommies at the zoo.

You have been before with Daddy and I, but this time was more exciting because it wasn't so hot, and you weren't as sleepy.

You got to pet goats this time, you got to eat chocolate ice cream (no photo of that, darn it!) and you got to ride the train and carousel (mommy too)!

You and Kristina went berserk over the otter and you were screeching and laughing, watching him swim and play.

You and Lucas with Bosco the jaguar.

You're such an animal lover, you remember the real names of everything from jaguars to scarlet macaws to flamingos and storks, and you are very interested to see them! (thanks to Dora the Explorer's cousin, Diego for familiarizing you with the scarlet macaws, jaguars, sloths, pygmy marmocets, anacondas, pumas, etc. It was like meeting old friends!) You're such a smartypants!

Silly Bonobos

The giraffe wanted your juice!

Then I actually touched her!

I video taped a lot of great footage, but no camera, so thanks to the other moms for sharing these great photos!!!

Your friends: Katelin, and Bosco the jaguar (there IS a glass wall between them!)

Your friend Sydney, chatting up Bosco.

Some other funnies from this week:

I just went to help you get up from your nap and you asked me what time it is, like you've got somewhere to be! You crack me up! Now you're watching Dragontales.
~
A couple of days ago we went to WalMart and you got a set of 3 pets: a monkey, a puppy, and a kitten wearing a baby bonnet, all 3 small enough to fit in your tiny hands. You were holding the kitten, and you were smitten! You started cooing, "Oh you're sooo cuuute my dahlin', dahlin'. I loove yoou my little dahlin'!" It was truly priceless! Now I refer to her as dahlin' cat. You know just what I mean because this scenario has played out a couple more times since then! Your dad was really tickled when he heard you, its just adorable when you talk that way to your 'baby'.
~
This morning a man from GA Power came to our house to do an energy audit and see why our electricity bill was so high. I explained to you that he was coming to our house to fix it because it was a little bit broken. You thought for a moment and said, "He needs some tape". I said, hmmm maybe, trying not to laugh. Then you said, "He needs a hammer!" Too bad he couldn't fix our outrageous power bill!

~

Last week we went to the park and you were so friendly and well behaved!

You got along with the other kids (Katelin even shared her baby with you, AND you gave it back...after a little coaxing - thats almost sharing!) and...

...you also got along well with 2 dogs that came to the park with a mommy and her kids. This is the smaller dog, who you claimed was Puppy Dog, you said the big one was Doggy Dog.

You also held hands with Krissy, sometimes both hands-which made for an interesting way of walking, and we all walked to Mellow Mushroom (slooowly) to meet up for lunch.

I love, love, love this photo of you and Lucas riding the alligator, you guys know how to have fun!

Our group table at Mellow Mushrom, yuuummmmy!

Every single day is a brand new one, and each one seems so much shinier with you here!

Love you Booba!

~Mommy

Saturday with the Girls

Today was the Southern Women's Show. You and I went and met up with Auntie April, Lindsey and baby Maggie, Elena, Sarah, and (new mommy-to-be) Shana. You were dressed up so cute in your baby blue velvet dress with white cotton knit tights. We got lost early from the group and with no cell phone we couldn't get back in touch - walking around looking didn't help, either. You got bored quickly and we left before I could really 'dig in' to the booths and see what the SWS had to offer. You did get some free samples of both a chicken & rice dish, and ice cream. And you got a childsize fireman's hat and a hackey sack. I got 1/2 a makeover, what more could I need? (You did not like for the makeup artist to touch my face at all! You were scared at first, but even after I explained that she was putting makeup on me and you could have some too, you didn't let up. You'd normally love makeup, but today you wanted me to hold you. When I did you put your tiny hands on my cheeks and looked at her and said, "No, don't put it, don't touch Mommy!" I was really surprised! And a bit frustrated.)
As soon as she finished my eyebrows we bolted, and I decided it was just in time to save me from buying a ton of stuff, you smart girl!

But the best thing was when we walked outside for fresh air and the sunshine was just pouring over the grassy lawn in front of the river. We took a nice break there, and I decided to abandon the show. While we were enjoying the sunshine, I overheard that the ferry was free today and asked you if you'd like to ride a boat. Oh yes, you did. We excitedly rushed to the ramp to line up and ride the ferry across to River St. We had a burger and hummus at Olympia, and as we were finishing up, our group of girls walked in! So we went and sat with them and had more tea and some calamari. You had a great time entertaining everyone and chatting with us. You also got a real kick out of watching baby Maggie, coloring on napkins, and running to the door to go outside, again and again. All the girls were taking turns playing with you.

After lunch, instead of walking to our car thru traffic, we just got on the ferry and went back to the trade center parking lot where we left our car this morning before the show. As soon as we got off the ferry and were walking to look at the river one more time, someone called my name. It was Kari from the mom/kids group we're in. You got to play with Lucas for a good little while, as we caught up and chatted about you two, and I met her family. You little guys had fun trying to balance on things, chasing seagulls, and getting as close as possible to the fence by the river, which made Kari and I pretty nervous! You also tried to hug Lucas, somehow knocking him over, and you were very interested in his pacifier. We had to go before long, and you slept most of the way home (and then some) in your carseat. It was nice hanging out with the girls today!

p.s. when we got home you had your bath, ate dinner, read a few books while listening to your new cd which was extremely soothing and then you had gock, played until I turned off the music, and finally exhausted, went to sleep in your Big Girl Bed, with mommy rubbing your back. First time ever (backrubbing, instead of cuddling or drifting off with gock).

SWS

Friday in Charleston

So, we had to go to Charleston, SC to tie up some loose ends, a 2-hour car trip but we made it worth your while...we read your library books and had snacks all the way to Charleston. Then you spent one hour waiting patiently and 30 minutes out in the lobby with Mommy while Daddy waited alone and we discussed the flower arrangements and the water fountain out front. But as soon as that (and lunch) was over we hit the aquarium!
Nicole, as I expected, you absolutely loved it! First we saw Joey and Marvin, who you knew immediately to be Macaws (thanks Dora!) and you started saying you wanted to "go help the animals in trouble"! I explained the animals here were not in trouble (at least I hope they're not!). I would post some pictures of the birds, but they literally went down the toilet with my phone, along with video footage (cool phone!) of a gorgeous sea turtle, some "silly otters" playing and swimming, you watching the amazing comb jellyfish (in this pic you can't even see the rainbow colors coursing through it like electricity, but it was really beautiful, and entrancing) and lots more very cool stuff.

They even have a touch tank, where we can pet animals like horseshoe crabs, sea urchins, starfish, hermit crabs, etc. You weren't up for that but you watched me do it! Usually they have small sting rays that you can touch or feed, but that exhibit was empty and seemed to have been out of use for some time.
We had to bypass the Children's Museum and the I-Max because you were just pooped by the time we finished.
We will definitely go back! You chose to bring home a tiny, purple, plush seahorse and a sippy cup with otters and sea turtles on it. You were extremely well behaved and learned a lot!
I loved how excited you were over all the exotic animals and even just going from one fish tank to the next, you'd say, "Fish Mommy! Different fish!". You cracked up watching the otters swimming in their tank - they're just as energetic as you! I had video footage of you laughing and remarking comically about those "silly otters". If only I hadn't left my cell phone in my back pocket, from which it splashed into the auto flush toilet, then FLUSH! Gone. Gone. Gone. All my lovely photos and vidoes! boo hoo!
Maybe I will get a new one for Valentine's Day. Your Dad and I are going to give you valentines (probably books) and let you hang out with your Baba and Diado while we go out to dinner at a really delicious italian restaurant where they serve dinner til midnight (just to ensure we get to go - sometimes things 'come up' with toddlers!)
I love you booba!

Why now, suddenly?

Even though you have always been quite a comical little chickadee, lately I find you're saying the most hilarious things! More and more your chirpy little voice pipes up, opening my eyes to a perspective all your own. Now, its not as though you've only just started talking, oh no, far from it! But I've just gotta put this stuff down somewhere so one day, you can laugh about it too!

Right now you've just turned 22 months old.

Some of your words that crack me up:
Hooray
siiilly doooog
Actually...
never!
gock (although you can and do say "milk")

Today you told me your baby's name is "Sofa". hee hee. Vladi and I thought you meant either Sofia (your cousin) or Sophie (playgroup) but when I asked again, after trying to clarify, you still said Sofa.

About a week ago you were sitting at our kitchen table waiting for me to finish making lunch and you had a bendy straw in your mouth. Both ends were sticking out the corners of your mouth. You kept trying to tell me something but I was having a hard time understanding you with that straw in your mouth. Finally I decided you were telling me you were a "monster". I said, "Like Cookie Monster?" You said, "Nooooo." You kept trying, finally it was clear you were a lobster, and that straw was your antennae. (you looove to look at the lobsters at the grocery store) This cracked me up beyond all - I was telling everybody!

Now this one is sort of in the way you said it - your precious little chirpy voice added a lot to the humor. Your dad was driving home from Baba & Diado's house and was at an intersection where you're not supposed to turn on red, someone did, and they cut him off. He got mad and before thinking did some loud grumbling and honking... then some backpeddaling when you asked, "Whats wrong Daddy?", sounding a bit alarmed. He said, "That man is a bad driver" But you heard, "That man's bad." So he explained the man couldn't drive very well. Then, a day or so afterwards when you heard a horn honk, your eyes lit up and you said, "Its that BAD MAN Daddy! He can't DRIVE!" Your dad is working to keep his temper around you.

"Time to take a bath, Nicole!" Noticing that in my haste I've forgotten to bring your towel, I step back across the hall into your room, shouting over the running water, "I'll be right back honey, I'm going to grab a..."
I come back in to see you seated in the tub, watching the water pour in full force, somewhat entranced by it. I do not normally leave you alone to take your baths since you're not even 2 yet, but this time you showed me what a big girl you are, climbing in there all by yourself so quickly...fully clothed.


This past weekend we bought a twin size mattress and Vladi started constructing your Big Girl Bed (twin sz platform bed > don't need a boxspring = lower to floor, less fall hazard).

Meanwhile, we've started putting you to bed there and you wouldn't have it any other way (we hyped you up about it before buying it and explained the wonders of being big enough to have a Big Girl Bed. We even went all out and bought fancy sheets/quilt & sham / fuzzy blanket / rug / fuzzy moon character to hang over your bed - pictures to come...daddy's almost finished painting your bed). You're really excited about it and have been bouncing on the bed, oooohing and aaaahing over the sheets / blankets / the bed itself, and you have been sleeping better, I think! I'm so excited for you to be so happy with it! Its less crowded in our bed now, and I like that too, but you can bet that if you wandered into our room at night I'd let you snuggle up with me!

Your second day of gymnastics is tomorrow morning, maybe this time you'll let the other kids "hang" (a single, overhead bar). I love you my little suga boo. ~ Mommy