"It Was a Long Travel"

Today we drove, with our car packed to the hilt, to Poppie and JuJu and Me-Me’s house to live until our house sells and after Shelby is born. You have always been a great traveler (you’ve been taking long road trips since you were 4 weeks old) , and today was no exception. After absolutely no complaining, 1 box of Mike and Ike’s, 1 bag of Gummy Savers, and two movies, we arrived in Haughton. As you were getting unbuckled out of your carseat, you told Poppie and JuJu “it was a long travel!” So cute!

"My Car is Hot"

Dee Dee came over today to spend the last day with us in Mandeville. Y’all played and Mommy got things together and cleaned house. Went to lunch together and even skipped your nap, in an effort to allow as much time for Dee Dee to soak up as much of you as she could before we left for Shreveport to go have Shelby. While Dee Dee and I were gathering things to load the car, you played in the garage “driving Mommy’s car, among other things. When we went out to take a load, there was a horrible burning smell and you announced “my car is hot.” You had put one of your matchbox cars in the microwave and turned it on. It was smoking and stunk of burning chemicals. The ironic part: It was a police bomb squad truck!

"The Blue Ghost"

April 26, 2009 – “The Blue Ghost” – As our last hurrah with Miss Stacy and her three boys, Ty, Drew, and Ryan, we went over to play at her house this afternoon. You all played cars, trains, swang on the swingset and jumped on the trampoline. While jumping, the distant sound of the melodies of the ice cream man came closer. Of course, you were the only one who heard it and went racing for the gate to get some. We all went out and got ice cream. You chose a blue ice cream popsicle in the shape of a ghost and the others got red and yellow Sponge Bob pops. We ate them outside, as they dripped their myriad of colors all over your clothes. In an effort to eliminate some of the mess, Miss Stacy got out the hose to wash off hands. One thing led to another and before long , we had three completely naked boys and one partially clothed one running and screaming in the front yard. You all took a bath together and learned a new song: “Diarrhea, uh uh, diarrhea, uh uh!” Thanks Stacy!

"I'm Shrinking!"

While playing in the bathtub tonight, you said “Help, I’m Shrinking!” I replied, “you’re shrinking? What does that mean?” not expecting an actual definition. You looked at me and put your fingers together and said “I’m getting smaller, and smaller, and smaller.” I was amazed that you knew what the word meant and that you could give me a synonym for it! You are well beyond your years!

"I Love You So Much"

You have started telling us, out of the blue, that you love us so much. It is so sweet and special to hear you say those words, unsolicited and unexpected. You are the sweetest child known to man I think! It is also very comical when you use those words to manipulate a situation, like when you know you’ve done something we are not particularly fond of. You have started young working on our emotions!

"I Got Mangoes"

Another visit by Mr. Okra. Mr. Okra is an old black man who has an old truck decorated with fruits and vegetables, and sells his wares out of the back of his truck, as he motors through the French Quarter on a bull horn announcing his specials of the day. In a very monotone voice, he announces “I got mangos, I got pineapples, I got onions and potatoes,” and whatever other selections are available. You always listen for Mr. Okra and get so excited when you hear him in the distance, and even echo him. We always go downstairs, meet him in the street, and you buy an apple and an orange.

"Just Say No to Port-o-Lets"

Spent the weekend at French Quarter Festival in New Orleans with Dee Dee, Papa & Nina (Daddy, unfortunately had to work). You had a great time; you love to listen and dance (with Dee Dee’s flip flops on) to the music. Particularly enjoyed strolling through the French Quarter and on the river checking out all the sites and sounds. You love to people watch. We’ve been trying to work on potty training, but you are way too busy to take the time to actually go to the potty. That is, unless it is an interesting venue or a novel idea. Case in point: Dee Dee had to go to the bathroom during one of the concerts, which means a trip to the port-o-let. You all of a sudden needed to go to the potty too. I told you it was ok to go in your pull up, and you were not hearing anything of it. You insisted on going with her. With antibacterial wet ones in hand, Dee Dee took you with her. You tried, standing up, to go but you said it was too stinky! All in all, it was a great weekend, listening to good music, eating yummy food, and spending time with people we love.

"Here Comes Peter Cottontail"

This year we spent Easter with JuJu, Poppie, and Me-Me. The Saturday before Easter, we continued our tradition of dying Easter eggs. This year, you were very "hands-on." I took great care in setting up an organized dying spot, with lots of paper towels and spoons to transfer eggs to and from dye. Well, let's just say you had your own ideas! By the time we were through, your fingers were brown, as were many of the eggs, as you would switch one from blue to orange to purple to green. You certainly had some lovely creations. We also made an Easter bunny cake. You were more enthusiastic about mixing the cake batter than anything. Easter morning was a bust. It was pouring down rain, and Me-Me ended up going to the emergency room, and was admitted with pneumonia. So we just stayed home, enjoyed our rainy day, and ate way too many sweets!

"Problem Solving at Its Best"

Today you found some cutouts of cars from your Motor Trend magazine in the diaper bag. They were all wrinkly and you asked me to fix them. So I tried to smooth them out and then a lightbulb went off in your head. A few days ago,we were watching Maggie and the Ferocious Beast and they gave the beast a bath. They took off his spots and washed them too and hung them to dry. When they were dry they were all wrinkly. To remedy the problem, they gathered all the spots and pressed them in a book and then sat on it. You totally remembered this and went to applying it to your situation. You went to the living room to find a book; I helped you find a good “pressing” book and you laid them in and then promptly sat down on it. You were somewhat disappointed when you pulled them out and they were still wrinkled. It was amazing to me that you remembered that and then problem solved in your own situation