Easy rider

I'm on my way home from Wildwood today, but I still have more to share from my Sesame Place trip. When I first visited the park last month, I had my eye on some of the bigger rides, and Dad promised that he'd take me on them someday. He wasn't lying! Ava is a daredevil, so I decided to keep up by going on some of those rides with her. Mom wasn't too happy with Dad for taking me on them, and I have a feeling that will be a recurring disagreement at theme parks for years to come. Here's an overview of my day, which included a mixture of new rides and my favorites from last month's trip.



While the bigger rides were fun, for now nothing beats going on the carousel. Whenever I see a horse (real or fake), I start bouncing up and down, because I'm ready to giddyup.



I'll finish out the week tomorrow with some final Sesame Place memories.

Cookie for breakfast!

It's already been a week since my second trip to Sesame Place, and unlike my first visit, I knew what to expect this time so I was energized from the start. (I think my daily viewing of the Sesame Place videos from my first trip had more than a little to do with that!) My cousin Ava came along with her parents Arita and Todd, so I had even more fun this time around. Our day started out with another character breakfast. Last time Elmo was the guest of honor, and this time it was another of my favorites: Cookie Monster! Here's a look at all the friends Ava and I hung out with during breakfast:



I met a new friend: the Count. And I can already say his name!

I've got a few more Sesame Place stories to share, so keep checking back.

Don't drink the bathwater

I haven't talked about it much this summer, because it hasn't happened as fast as it did during my first 12 months, but I'm getting bigger. I just grew into a new shoe size (size 6 now for me). And Mom and Dad took me to the doctor's over the weekend because they thought I might have an ear infection (I've been cranky and rubbing my ears), but it was just my molars coming in. While we were there, we found out I've only gained a pound since my year checkup. I'm now at 27 pounds, 8 ounces - all that running around is keeping me relatively slim!

And another sign of my getting bigger is that I have outgrown my baby tub. Now I have the whole bathtub to myself. That gives me more space to play with bath toys and do some other things, like drink the water (which never fails to gross out Mom and Dad) and play my new game: Up and Down. Take a look.



I've learned some other new words besides "up" and "down." I also know "baby," "uh-oh!" and "no," which I talked about yesterday. And one other new word: "Count." But more about that tomorrow when I talk about Sesame Place!

Perfect fit

I'm on my way to Wildwood for the week, with Mom, Babcia and Dido. As for Dad? He can't take vacation this summer so he's stuck at work. I know he'll really miss me, but on the other hand he might appreciate not having to indulge my latest obsession: watching my home videos. I insist on going to the computer and watching some videos first thing each morning, as well as the last thing at night before I take my bath and get ready for bed. Combine that with my newfound ability to throw tantrums, and it gets really ugly when I don't get my way. And even when I do get my way: if I'm not the one who decides when enough is enough, the result is just as bad as if they hadn't shown me any videos at all. (If you listen closely, I think you can hear Mom and Dad laughing at me during my fit. Someone call child services!)



I'm hoping this makes Dad a little less sad about being without me for a few days. As for the rest of you, I guess my dirty little secret is out: I'm not always the happy little angel that you see on the blog.

And by the way, the above scenario is about to get even uglier, because I just learned the word "no" yesterday!

Ask Julia: 8/16/08

When we were in Connecticut last weekend, Mom took me by her old house (which she said was Babcia and Dido's old house too). She said she has a lot of wonderful memories there, but I don't think that's true, because none of them involve me!

I've got lots of Ask Julia questions to answer this week. First up is Audrey, whom I saw last weekend and again today:

Thank you for including me on your blog again. I like to look at myself almost as much as watching you interact with the Sesame characters on your island adventure. (My mom had to permanently bookmark the Beaches part of your blog, since I request it almost daily.) During your visit to my grammy’s house, my mom noticed you whipped your head around excitedly anytime my mom used Ukrainian words she knew, while speaking to your mom. You really seem to respond positively to Ukrainian. It’s either that or you were just surprised my mother knew any Ukrainian words. Do you feel you have a language preference at this point in your life?
I was shocked that your mom knew those words, because I thought only Mom, Babcia, Dido, and my friend Isabella's family knew them. I don't have a preference between English and Ukrainian — I like them both. And most importantly, I understand them both. So everyone is happy.

Speaking of Isabella, she's up next:

My mom just read your blog to me...the one about the scooters. I'm so glad that you like them because they're my favorite! Alec and I have been riding my Mom's and Dad's (why on earth would parents have such things...I bet they don't even know how to ride them!) Next time you come over, we'll ride.
We'll be back from vacation the same week that you're back. Want to play in the park?
Let's do it! We can steal each other's food again!

I heard you were going to Wildwood for a week. Enjoy the beach! Are you going surfing?
No surfing for me, but I hope that one day Mom takes me to the same Surf Diva class she went to several years ago with some friends in San Diego.

And finally, my Aunt Paula chimed in with a couple questions:

You are really good on the scooter. How did you learn to use your one foot to move the scooter along?
I have no idea. It was just instinct. Kind of like when I threw Mom's leather sandal in the bathtub the other week. No one taught me to do it, it was something I decided to do on my own.

You sure like cauliflower. I have to admit that that is probably the last veggie (next to lima beans) that I like. Have you got to taste chocolate yet? That is my favorite.
My Mom hates cauliflower too. And I don't think she'll ever forgive me for forcing her to eat broccoli for nine months while she was pregnant with me. I tasted chocolate for the first time ever today, when Mom gave me a piece of Carvel ice cream cake. I was in love from the first bite, and ate the whole slice!

I understand that you will be going to Wildwood? I sure that you will have fun.
I sure am! I'm going Monday, and I heard a rumor that I might see you (along with Grandma and Grandpa) one of the days I'm down there. I sure hope so!

That's it. No need to send in Ask Julia questions over the next week, because I still have lots of videos to catch you guys up on, especially the ones from my second trip to Sesame Street. And don't worry, because even though I'll be down the Shore starting on Monday, I'm putting together a few posts before I go so there will be plenty to see.

Cauliflower for dessert

Dad has been calling me a vaccum, because of all the food I suck up at mealtime. Lately I've also been sneaking in an extra meal during the week. I eat my dinner, then later when Mom comes home from work, I manuever myself onto her lap so I can share her meal too. I did that last week, helping Mom finish her cauliflower. I ate some of it, but got a lot of it on myself and on the floor too...



In between meals, I play with my toys. Every week or so Mom brings out something new for me. Last week it was a set of toy vehicles (cars and planes), perfect for rolling around. The packaging it came in was also fun to play with.

Scoot 'em up

I had the best time yesterday, because Mom and Dad took me back to Sesame Place. My cousin Ava also came along with her parents. It was even better than our trip there last month! But I still have to go through some other videos before I can talk about that.

Now, back to my weekend in Connecticut. Sunday I spent the day with my relatives, who hadn't seen me since my birthday party, which as you recall was the day before I started walking. We went to the park, where Dido helped me as I took a spin on my cousin Abby's scooter.



It was really nice to spend time with my cousins Abby (why does she have the same name as Abby Cadabby?), Sophia and Ava. I hope we all see each other again soon.