Ask Julia: 9/26/08

I know, I know...I've been a bad blogger this week. But I've been spending time with Dad, who was on vacation all week, and he's kept me so busy that I haven't had time to write (even to point out that yesterday was my 16-month birthday!). I'll fill you in next week on everything I've been up to, but today let's dig into what is a very full Ask Julia mailbag.

First up is my pal Audrey:

Have you been drawing any pictures lately? Do you like crayons or markers? What do you draw? Have you experienced the permanent joy of drawing on furniture yet?
I've been "drawing" for months at storytime (Babcia does most of the work), but in the past few weeks I've started taking a real interest in it myself. I've used markers once or twice, but for the most part I'm a crayon fan.


These are special crayons for made smallfry like myself, but I also use "real" crayons from time to time. Right now I'm just scribbling and making lots of lines, but I expect to branch out shortly into more experimental work. And I didn't realize that you could draw on furniture. I'll have to try that sometime, especially if I get my hands on some permanent markers!

Isabella, whom I missed seeing at the park this week (I guess Dad doesn't know the way — but at least we still saw each other at swim class!), also had some questions:

How's your gym class going? What's your favorite activity? I can't wait to go too!
I will write more about this in a future post, but yes I've been going to class at the Little Gym with Mom and Dad every Saturday morning. I get to run around, play with a parachute, play with bouncy balls ... every few minutes there is a new activity. Right now, my favorite thing to do is run around by myself on the equipment. I'll have to bring a camera one of these days so you can see me in action.

And to close, we have several queries from Aunt Paula:

Have you been watching any of your videos lately. Do you still have the same reaction when they are over with?
Yes, I still do watch my videos once or twice a day. And when one ends, I immediately point and whine for another one to play. I do throw a tantrum if Mom and Dad don't stick to the routine, which is to show me just enough videos that I feel like I've had my fill and I'm ready to do something else.

It sure looks like you enjoy reading. After you are done with all your books, do you put them away or does the maid do that?
My version of putting them away is what you saw in the video: just throwing them down. I just assumed they magically returned to their rightful places — isn't that how it works?

I understand that you were at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Did you do something special with them?
Yes, I was down there for a couple days, after they came up and visited last weekend so Mom and Dad could go to the last Yankee Stadium game (and by the way, thanks for taking me to see it before they tear it down, Dad!).

How was the Discovery Museum? I bet you had fun. Were there things for you to play with there?
I'll write more about this next week, but it was terrific. There's a kids museum just a few miles away from Grandma and Grandpa. Dad took me this week and I had the best time. It was even better than the Austin Children's Museum!

Do you have any more trips planned for the fall?
Not that I know of, but Mom and Dad don't really keep me in the loop on those things. I just know that every once in a while, they'll wake me up really early and whisk me to the airport for another adventure.

Looks like we're in for a soggy weekend, so stay dry everyone and I'll be back to my usual blogging self next week!

Go speed reader, go!

When visitors see all my books, they always want to know if I actually read all of them. I sure do! I have my favorites (at the moment, I read Good Night New York City at least a half-dozen times a day), but sometimes in the mood to go through all of them at once. That means it's time to speed read:

A sound sleep

Shhhh! My dolls are sleeping...and snoring. (Hey, some weeks I learn to say new words; other weeks I learn to make new sounds!)



So that does it for another week. Have a good weekend!

Dynamic duet

In the tradition of The Judds, Mom and I are going to become the next mother-daughter singing sensation. But we have a twist: instead of singing in English, we use my own special language.



(And you heard right, I do begin reciting the alphabet in the middle.) Look for our debut album...coming soon!

Slip sliding away

Remember back when I needed Mom and Dad's help to go down the slide? It took me the whole summer, but I can do it myself now! Well, I still need a little help to get up there, but once I do, I'm all set.



I think I might actually be bigger than the slide now. Dad, you'd better have an upgrade for me next summer!

Ask Julia: 9/15/08

Before I get to today's Ask Julia questions, I wanted to send some good thoughts in the direction of my loyal reader Aunt Rebecca, who along with Uncle Dan is cleaning up after Hurricane Ike, which has made a mess of things for them down in Houston. I'm glad to hear you guys made it through, and I hope you're up and running again soon. Hang in there!

I finally have some new Ask Julia questions to tackle, thanks to Aunt Paula. Here we go:

First, with all the dancing and spinning around that you do, do you ever get so dizzy that you have to sit down?
You would think so, but no. I don't stagger any more than usual after a spin session.

I like your new rain boots. I like the MEOW on them. I have a cat too. Do you think that you might get to see my cat at some time?
I would love to! I really love seeing cats and dogs, and I start squealing every time I spot one. Yesterday, two of the neighborhood dogs were in my front yard. I was so happy!

You move about the rooms in your house very well. Have you been able to open any of the doors or gates yet? I sure hope not.
Not yet, but I've begun to understand how they open. I can reach for the doorknob and the latch for the gate, but I just haven't put all the pieces together yet to get the job done. Give me time.

Do you think that you are able to pull the wool over either of your parents eyes yet? Which one of your parents is the push over?
I try, especially now that I know how to say the word no. For example, when Mom and Dad ask if I have a dirty diaper, I tell them no and hope that keeps them from changing me. But unfortunately the smell gives me away.

No question, Mom is the bigger pushover, along with Dido. Dad and Babcia are the taskmasters. That's not to say that I can't manipulate them too, but it's tougher.

That's it for today, so how about you start filling up my inbox again?

Kooky monster

I had hoped to do an Ask Julia column today, but aside from Isabella's update about Kenni's whereabouts, I haven't received an email in more than three weeks. As Culture Club once sang, do you really want to hurt me?

Ever since early summer, Mom has been taking me to the local toy store during our walks into town. I have developed a routine where I methodically go through the store, stopping to play with specific toys. And my first stop is always at the Kooky dolls, which never fail to delight me. Well guess what Mom and Dad got for me the other day?



Have a good weekend!