Push It, Push It Real Good!

This vacation was all about pushing stuff around. We flew out Friday morning and landed in Minneapolis; mind you I was fantastic on the plane. On our way to the MN State Fair, we stopped off at Mike and Amy's to drop our stuff off. While there I was able to push the lawn chair around the patio while the dogs grew petrified of me. On to the fair, but a nap in the car was a must! In between eating our way through the fair, I was able to witness the birth of lambs and pigs at the CHS Miracle of Birth Center. I even saw a baby lamb attempt to take his first steps, kinda of like me. After the fair, we headed back to Mike and Amy's to freshen up for my first NFL game - Vikings vs. Cowboys! After climbing several stairs, I found row 19 and enjoyed the view of the purple people eaters from way above. I loved the fireworks and the cheerleaders of course. I was able to stay awake the whole time. Thinking we had the game in the bag, we left at the beginning of the fourth quarter as mommy was growing tired of climbing stairs. Unfortunately we tuned in on the drive home to hear that we "threw" the game away! It was a long day, but a fun one!

On Saturday, I awoke to puppies and milk (best combo yet)! After spending a little time chasing my new fond friends crazy, it was on to South Dakota.

I slept most of the way as I lost some sleep over the Vikings loss! We arrived in Sioux Falls around 12:00 after several detours in Minnesota leading us through podunk towns. We showed up at Grandma and Grandpa Kappenman's house and there awaiting me was a nice red ride courtesy of Grandpa Kappenman. I loved this car, and this car loved me. I could sit in it and push it backward, and then get out and push it forward. A little while later my cousin Anna showed up with her parents and we headed to lunch at Jimmy Johns. I didn't eat much though because I was sprouting a molar that was bugging me. After lunch we headed over to meet Oscar, Anna's dog. Oscar is a minature pincher that barks non-stop and jumps constantly; this made me laugh non-stop. We ended the day at the grandparentals with dinner, pushing the red car and playing with my cousins. I even took a bath in a big tub and played with a tin cup thanks to Grandma's antiques. I stayed the night at my cousins Bryce and Danny's house.

Sunday I awoke to my cousins and lots of toys. I really liked the firetruck that is similar to my powerwheels at home. There was plenty of room to ride it around in the basement. I even got to feed the four kitty's. Although a bit skidish, I followed them around calling kitty and gentle, hoping one would give in and let me pet them. Later that morning, we ended up visiting Great Grandpa Johnsrud at the rehab facility. He fell and broke his hip a few weeks back so he let me push him around in his wheelchair. The rest of the time I spent wandering the halls looking for someone to tell me how cute I was. We left there to get ready for Grandma and Grandpa's 40th Anniversary party. I was very exhausted and not really in the mood for the massive amounts of people that showed up. Plus, I had a really bad diaper rash that was irritating me as well as my right lower molar. Regardless, it was a beautiful afternoon/night to push Bryce around on a scooter. Oh and my grandparents had a great time too.

Monday brought sun, fun and the Zoo with all my cousins. The monkeys kept me entertained as the baby and teenager were wrestling with each other. Anna, Bryce and Danny fed the animals at the petting zoo and I rode my first carousel. I wasn't sure at first what to think of the carousel, but its pretty clear that i'm going to love rollar coasters!!

That afternoon we headed to Uncle Jeremy's BBQ where Anna swam and I pushed my stroller

around. After tuckering myself out, I allowed my mom to stroll me around and eventually I was the first to pass out.

After waking up, we headed back to Grandma and Grandpa Kappenman's where I found a new push toy, an antique wagon. I loved this wagon because I could push it around, and be pulled around. I spent a good hour entertaining myself between the wagon and the red car. Lots of pushing tuckered me out and I retired for the evening to my cousins.

Tuesday was all about shoes for pushing. I have finally outgrown my shoes that I purchased back in the Spring so we went shoe shopping. After a quick stop to see Grandma, and of course to push the red car around, I fell asleep in the car on the way to buy shoes so my parents drove around until I woke up. We then headed into Shoe Carnival and picked out some Nike's and brown shoes that are "oh so cute!" I now stomp and clap on command so this makes it fun to watch my little Nike's stomp up and down. We then headed to the mall and picked out two new pairs of jeans and purchased two new finger puppet books: Little Lion and Little Giraffe. I love the finger puppet books and have been on the lookout for them (who knew we would find them at Gap!) Aunt Barb met us for lunch at this local Italian place with homemade meatballs and pasta...it was yummy. The afternoon was then spent next door at Kidtopia which is a fantastic toy store. We will definitely be making another trip back at Christmas to play. We finished our shopping with Gelato from the Italian place and a nap back at Todd and Barb's waiting for Anna to get home from school and playing with Oscar in the meantime.

That night we went to dinner with mommy's family at Pizza Ranch and said our goodbyes to head back to Minneapolis. After a 3 1/2 hour drive I finally found myself asleep in my pack and play laying vertical at Mike and Amy's...such a good feeling!

This brings me to Wednesday and packing. We spent the morning playing with Chloe and Poco...or rather I chased them and they ran from me ;) We arrived at the airport and our gate was right next to another toy store. Why can't that happen everytime? I played until it was time to board the plane. Once we took off, I was fast asleep to only awake for the last hour being completely content to be entertained by a plastic cup. We arrived back in Philadelphia to rush hour traffic that took us 2 hours to get home. Living on the East Coast definitely has its drawbacks! I was never so happy to get home and see my kitty, bathtub, and bed!

Overall, my vacation was fantastic all around and I can't wait for Christmas time!

Brusha, Brusha, Brusha

For several months my mommy has been using these teeth cleaning cloths called Spiffies. They are what I would call a unique way to brush a kid’s teeth. They are flavored wipes that are so annoying that I just can’t help but bite down every time she puts one in my mouth. In fact, I hate them so much that she has to pin me down, force my mouth open and screams along with me when I bite her.

She has finally listened to my appeals and decided that she’s sick of getting bit. So while at Target on Sunday she did herself the honor of buying me a new tooth brush and gel. Today was the first day we tested it out. It was so much fun! First, I got to climb up to the sink on the step stool like a big boy. Then she put the gel on my tooth brush and put it in my mouth. At first I resisted a bit, but then I tasted the gel and I liked it. I didn’t cry or bite her…success all around!

Cat Scratch Fever!

Today we went to Holmdel Park where the RICH kids play! On the way there, we drove by really big houses that made me feel like a second class citizen. Regardless, I used their facilities like a homeless person uses a McDonald's bathroom to freshen up ;) Not only do they have an awesome playground, they have a farm too.

We met up with my friend Josh and his parental units at the farm and headed on in. The first animal we came across was a "kit-da" named Finnigan...more about him later. Who would have thought with my mommy being from South Dakota, the land of farms, that my first visit to a farm would be in Holmdel, NJ? I saw baby pigs, cows, sheep, chickens and a big horse. The chickens must of thought we were food because they could not leave us alone. The baby pigs were hungry and/or greedy, but most of all smelly! After seeing all we could with the farm, we headed back to the main house and met "Boots" the cat. Boots seemed like such a tame fellow so I wandered over to introduce myself. Before I could even extend my hand to shake paws, he extended his in a sharp fashion...OUCH! I have never met a kitty with sharp claws, but I sure did learn my lesson!

Out the door I toddled and there sat Finnigan. He told me to follow him because he had something to show me. So I followed him, kept up best I could. He finally stopped after hopping up on a fence. I finally caught up to him and attempted to pet him in a "gentle" fashion...oops! I accidentially caught Finnigan off guard and petted a little too hard. Finnigan went tumbling off of the fence, with his claws digging into the fence for dear life. He eventually gave up and fell to the ground while everyone got a good laugh at his expense. It really was funny!

We then headed up the hill to Hilltop Park. The RICH kids bear no expense when installing three playgrounds. There were swings and slides for every size child. Josh and I had so much fun on the middle playground running across the bridge and playing on the music bars.

We ended the day in typical Jersey fashion at the Matawan diner. If you ever get the chance to go there, order the grilled cheese from the kids menu...its fantastic!

It's Just a Little Crush...

Emily is my best friend at school and four days older than me. Lately I seem to like her a bit more than a friend though. Today when mommy took me to school and I had finished my breakfast at the big table, in came Emily. She sat down at the table while I finished washing my hands. Mom put me down and told me to go over and say hi. Well I just couldn’t seem to detach myself from my mom’s legs. As much as my mom tried, I just wanted to hide my face from Emily. I would smile and giggle at her, but then quickly shy away. Only after being placed in a chair beside her with cheerios to distract me would I make eye contact for an extended period of time.

Later that day, Emily decided to take a nap a little sooner than I would have liked, right during lunch. Now who would I eat lunch with? I proceeded to scream at the top of my lungs to relay the fact that I did not care for Emily's choice of a nap time when we always eat lunch together.

Needless to say, I love Emily! Now if she would only start walking, I would be in heaven.

Lions and Tigers and Bears...Oh My!

Today we traveled to Forked River, NJ. Why you ask? To visit the Popcorn Park Zoo. This was my very first trip to the zoo and it was definitely an awesome experience. The Popcorn Park Zoo is a different kind of zoo than your typical zoo. Located in a remote part of New Jersey, not that far from the ocean, but sits within the forest. Amongst the trees you will find every type of animal that is at a normal zoo, but they have amazing stories. You see these animals are sick, elderly, abandoned, abused, or injured, and could no longer survive in their natural habitat. So they came to live at the Popcorn Park Zoo.

What makes this zoo so much fun is that you have the ability to feed each and every animal popcorn. Not that all of them eat the popcorn but you can still throw it at them to see if they'll bite. Plus, every animal has a story posted outside its cage as to how it came to live at the zoo. The stories were heart warming and some were very sad. But I kept in mind that although they had it bad, they now live in a fostering environment of love and shelter, with no worries other than when the next guest will throw popcorn their way.

It was a great day followed by ice cream at Friendly's...I was stuffed. I returned home to hug and appreciate my kitty...then I pulled her tail ;)

I Walk the Line

Since I started walking my day starts out with adventure. I wake up just itching to get out of my crib and get at it! I then walk down the stairs...no seriously, I walk down the stairs with the assistance of my mom on my left and the hand rail on my right. None of this baby stuff such as crawling down the steps, no I put one foot in front of the next, and take them head on. After playing while mom prepares my food for the day, we go up the stairs to get dressed and ready for school. This time, I take the steps alone with the hand rail as my only assistant. After walking back down the steps, its on our way out the front door to master the front steps. I love these steps as they provide a challenge because the railing is just a little too tall for this little person so its a reach every morning to hang on while dropping off each step to hopefully land on my tippy toes. But my mom never lets me fall too hard or too fast, all the while i'm not paying attention but trying to pick leaves off the bush. Finally, its into the car and off to school with having mastered 50 steps all before 8 am.

With 10 minutes to rest for the next round, I gear up for an exciting day at school. Upon arriving at school we gather all the essentials (milk, food and banana) and we head off down the sidewalk towards the front steps of the school. Now I have two options, I can take the stairs or I can take the ramp. Of course I pick the stairs. Using the railing and holding my mom's hand, I climb 10 stairs to smell the pretty flowers at the top. Its onto to my classroom, but first a stop by to say good morning to Ms. Patrice (owner) and Ms. Tina (director). I then mosey on down the hall to my classroom but I must stop in to see my old teacher, Ms. Anne Marie (I love that woman)! Finally, I arrive at my room about 5 minutes later to be welcomed by Ms. Afsa.

Now for the most exciting news to date - I am sitting at the "big table" with "big chairs." After all the greetings are made, I walk on over to the big table, climb up and onto my favorite chair as my mom prepares my breakfast. Now breakfast ranges anywhere from eggs to english muffins, to homemade blueberry pancakes but the accompanying fruit every morning, no fail is a NANA! I love my daily banana! My mom serves me up the nana and I shove it in my face like someone is going to steal it from my plate. Oh yes, I almost forgot, thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Kappenman, I have a plate and flatware that I eat with at the big table. I guess you could say i'm growing up!

After breakfast mom leaves for the day to work, while I play the day away. Around 4:30 dad shows up. I love school, but I love my daddy even more. We head home only after I climb down the front stairs at school all the while paying attention to everyone and everything but my feet. Once we get home, I play on my stoop and wait for mommy to get home from work. This varies daily but usually around 6 pm. We eat some grub for dinner and then its back up the stairs for bath, books and bed.

Overall, the fact that I can walk and climb stairs consumes most of my day. At the end of the day, I go to sleep counting steps and knowing that I mastered 85+ stairs in one day!

Things That Make You Go Mmmmmm....

As I write this I am sitting down to dinner. I began making a new noise recently and found it too funny not to share. Whenever I put food in my mouth, especially bananas or "nana" as I like to call them, I tend to say "mmmmmm" to describe the feeling. Other foods that I just can't resist expressing how yummy they are include: black beans, blueberries, strawberries, green beans, and peas, amongst a variety of others. But by far, nanas are my absolute favorite food still.