I Am No Longer A Baby

Hello readers,

Before beginning this blog post, I must inform you that you are no longer reading the musings of a mere baby. The author is now officially a toddler. I have 13+ months of wisdom and experience under my belt. If you thought my prior posts were witty, amusing, humorous, and yet simultaneously informative and thought-provoking (which, by all objective measures, you should have), then just you wait for my pieces from here on out.

Now that I have your attention, I would like to get something off my chest. I'm a narcissist. I've said this before, more so in jest than anything else, but this time I say it as an earnest and somber confession. One of my favorite activities is looking at pictures of myself on M & D's phones and, since this is a confession, I should reveal that I also kiss those pictures of myself repeatedly. In an effort to teach me numbers, mommy counted the number of times I kissed the picture set as the wallpaper on daddy's iPhone (a picture of yours truly at 4 months). 16 kisses ensued before I lost interest. Pure narcissism. I also sit very still (which never happens under any other circumstance) and watch with the utmost attention when mommy shows me videos of myself.

And, in true narcissistic fashion, let me tell you a little bit more about - what else - me:

Current passions: Garbage trucks (I watch them in the alley from our kitchen window and the garbage men wave at me each day), dogs, toy trucks, balls (an unfailing joy), leaves, the pumpkin on our stoop, my new Cozy Coupe, reading books with M & D, playing in the courtyard, playing with my neighbors Tricia and Jack (so what if they're 7 years older than I am; we connect on an intellectual level), dancing and twirling around in circles, giving kisses, waving, clapping, going to the zoo, snuggling with my stuffed animals and with M & D (I wouldn't have pegged myself for a snuggler a couple of months ago, but I must admit I love it now).

Favorite books:  Quiet Loud, Moo Baa La La La, Alphaprints, Panda Bear Panda Bear, Trucks, Hush Little Baby and Baby Says Peekaboo. I like to read this last book over and over again, which sometimes annoys daddy. I know he'd rather be reading me Dr. Seuss or Walt Whitman (but Walt Whitman sure as heck doesn't have any flaps I can lift to reveal hidden pictures of babies).

Favorite stuffed animals: Big Dog, Jingle, Ham, Snoopy, Sheep, Froggie.

Favorite games: mommy lines up all my toys and tells me what to pick out and bring to her. It's not a terribly complex game. But apparently mommy is bewildered by the fact that I am able to pick out exactly what she names. Mommy is so simpleminded sometimes. Also, I am constantly asked to point to my nose and mouth. Drives mommy wild when I do it. I also like to play peek-a-boo with mommy. I duck down behind the sofa and mommy thinks I have disappeared. She wonders out loud where I've gone and then I jump up and surprise her. I do this about 15 times in one sitting and each time I duck, she has no idea where I've gone. Poor, naive mommy.

Favorite recent photos of myself from the last couple of months:

My favorite recent picture of myself. I could stare at this one all day long.

A couple of months ago, Mommy took me to a Cubs game with the other mommies and my buddies; apparently, I wasn't happy about it at first.

I was moderately content once we got to our (nose bleed) seats.

Definitely was NOT happy toward the end of the outing

Mommy thinks I look like a three year old in this one.

Visited the splash pad at the zoo towards the end of summer. 

Photo credit to Grandpa. 

Staring at the fish at the zoo.

Daddy and me at Bubbles open play.

I love the bunny painted on the wall at Bubbles.

We took a pontoon boat ride on the river for Papa John's birthday and they insisted that I wear that ridiculous vest.

Pre-music class fun at Miss Megan's.

I love my chair.

My contemplative, I-refuse-to-smile-for-the-camera face.

Okay, this time daddy caught me smiling.

Frozen yogurt date with mommy.

The duck whisperer.

Trying to walk in M & D's shoes.

Party Val gave me a Cozy Coupe for my birthday. Daddy and I had fun putting it together.

First family photo booth session. I need to work on my happy/smoochy/skeptical faces. I've got the shocked face down.

Hi there.

This is much more fun than actually playing my drum.

I got into some dirt at the park. Turns out, dirt tastes good.

Mommy and daddy let me eat it.