You can dress me up...

but I'm still my father's daughter.

Don't worry, I'll be covered in grease before you know it!

14 months: Talk is Cheap

I believe it was Uncle Dan and Aunt Kirstin who noticed that -and I quote- "she really does tell you what she wants in no uncertain terms". Couldn't have said it better myself.

No captions even necessary- you all know what I want! Pleeeeease!

At 14 months I don't really say much...'da-da' and 'ma-ma' but even these aren't exclusive to my parents. Mommy is starting to worry a little because now all the other parents ask her "is she starting to string words together yet?" Uhhh, not exactly...I mean, I clearly have comments to make. There is no doubt I am talking, asking questions, making jokes, singing, carrying on entire conversations...the only trouble is- no one else speaks my language!!!

Luckily, as mentioned before, I have little trouble expressing my needs. A few baby signs help as well, I can sign milk, give, hello/goodbye ('wave' sounds so childish), water, more, play and down/let's go. To the amazement of my parents, I do not sign 'eat' but then again, I think I have adequately demonstrated why this is simply unnecessary.

I am a hilarious child- always entertaining. My favorite foods now are bananas (#1 for sure- I would go through the whole bunch in a sitting if mom would let me) macaroni (with or without cheese) ranks #2, and mandarin oranges- a close but definite 3rd. My favorite toys are balls, my big blocks, books (I enjoy reading them- not particularly being read to) and cars/strollers- anything with wheels. I am starting to get the whole coloring thing (I am right handed, by the way) and love interacting with other kids and feeding my puppies. I respond to many different cues- like "where's your water" or "give me five". I can blow kisses and bubbles (in the pool) and point at everything!!! I often point at something I want and then point to myself- again- really- who needs words?

I have also recently discovered the TV. My Aunt Quinny warned my parents that the new studies all say children should not watch any TV before the age of 2 and until about 3 days ago- I really hadn't. Please don't give all the credit to my parents- I just simply just wasn't interested until the other day--we were driving with some friends and they saw that we have a DVD player in the Honda. They pulled it down and voila! Baby Einstein popped up on the screen. I just couldn't keep my eyes off it- it's mesmerizing. Now every time I get in the car I point to the screen. Mom doesn't let me watch unless it's a long trip she feels guilty about taking me on, but either way I am enjoying the new entertainment.

Well, that's -in a really big nutshell- what I'm up to these days. I missed my 13 mo. report, so I wanted to get everyone up to speed. Everyday is a day I learn something new!! I am sure there are hundreds of things I left out, but you get the idea.

The Great BAM-bino

Who knew? Baby Ruth: Kid, not Candy.

Speaking of candy...a kid can't go to her first ever baseball game and not have a little fun, right?

I was doing just fine playing the sultan(ess) of swat when I saw the most beautiful thing ever- a big pink marshmallow!! (I really am pointing to right field not the cotton candy. I swear!)

A little for me...a little for daddy, now mommy, now YOU! I have to be honest- not as good as marshmallows (which is probably why I was so eager to share). Mommy and Daddy didn't complain, however, wasting $5 on a photo op beats a 45 minute drive with a one-year-old who downed an entire bag of sugar any day.

Astros lost by the way- shocking, I know! 8-7 to the Pittsburgh Pirates...yet another W for the north...

Home Team Advantage- or not.

Daddy pulled some strings and finally took me to an Astros game! It's moments like the seventh inning stretch -when we got up to sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" shortly followed by "Deep in the Heart of Texas"- that mommy and daddy are (dare I say painfully) reminded that I am, and will always be, a Texan!

Don't get me wrong- we love Houston, more specifically, we love Clear Lake Shores- we even love our not-so-hot Astros (at least Mommy does), but every once in a while, something like a verse or two of "Deep in the Heart of Texas" will just make you laugh and think..."what in the world are we doing here?"

Take me out to the ballgame

Off we go to my first baseball game ever! Here we are on our way to see the Astros, of course, at Minute Maid Park for some good daughter-daddy (and mommy too) bonding time. I love Mommy and all, but a girl can just never get enough quality daddy time!

Lil' Crunchies

Lil' Crunchies by Gerber Graduates...

Lil' snacks in a perfectly sized portion (so what if the label says 6 servings) for when you don't have to clean dish to dish them out in...

Unless of course, your toddler is like ours...and doesn't need one.

Oh so patriotic!

We started our 4th of July with the annual CLS Golf Cart Parade,

touched base with Uncle Sam (CLS has not treated him well over the years),

Then- it rained- and we lost our enthusiasm for American Independence...

so we dressed me up like a China doll and went our for sushi. God Bless America!

Uncle Dan and Aunt Kirstin came to visit for the weekend as well! They brought me this beautiful dress straight from China too! We had a lot of fun- thanks so much for coming to see us!!