Backpack! Backpack! LOUDER!!!

Every morning, I watch Dora the Explorer as I have my post oatmeal bottle. I don't really like Dora as much as I enjoy watching her little monkey friend solve those crazy puzzles. Mom says Dora is an insult to the Latin community since she only says two Spanish words - hola and rojo. Nevermind the fact that Dora has to scream at everyone and everything. As I was trying to tell Mom, anyone who tries to rescue Ice Cream Truck out of the ditch can't be that bad. I was trying to help Dora solve the bridge puzzle this morning and she just wouldn't listen. Dora kept on yelling, "CIRCLE!!!" Meanwhile I'm trying to say, "Triangle!" The girl just doesn't get it. No wonder she needs a talking backpack to get through life. I really don't know how she gets out of bed in the morning.

So Nonna and Grandmama have taught me a knew game called patty cake, patty cake. It's really neat because when you put your hands together really hard you make this clapping sound. It's the coolest thing next to sucking on my toes. I can patty cake to songs and during meal times. Who knew hands were so entertaining?!

I enjoy eating as much as Mom and Pops, and I think my teeth know it. Instead of getting 2 teeth at the top, I'm getting 4. It's been a little painful and teething makes me crap in my pants a little more than usual. So it's not the most comfortable experience. Try to imagine having shooting pain in your gums and sitting in mushy poo while trying to keep the bottle from falling onto the floor. See what I mean?! Mom says the teething will be going away soon and the only thing I'll have to worry about is Puppy running away from me.

You all thought Mom was typing all this in for me. I may not be able to type as fast as her but I do my own stunts.

Lyrically speaking

So I've been working on some songs during my downtime from eating, pooping, and drooling. When Mom is in the kitchen I'll throw a couple of songs at her to get some feedback. She tells me that I may be onto something (i.e. some type of musical career). I usually get my musical inspirations from Dad. He'll play the Deftones, Smashing Pumpkins, or the Beastie Boys while he's make a big ol' pot of sauce or whatever. I like most of the stuff Mom and Pops play since I can't help but kick along to the beat. (On a side note: Jessica Simpson makes me C-R-I-N-G-E. Someone please tell Mom to burn that cd.) Pops said I have natural rhythm. Hopefully, I'll get my own drum kit when I'm able to sit up on my own. May be when I'm good enough, John will let me play for his band. Or may be I'll just be a one man show like Bob Dylan. Who knows. All I know is that I dig music and I can't enough of it.

I'm too cool for school.

Eviction notice

I have some new residents in my room. Looks like Mr. Sun, Mr. Frog, and Mr. Bunny were served papers and had a 10 day notice to find a new place. Mr. Bunny called and said they found a place in the basement. Sure sounds damp, cold, and icky to me. I do miss those guys and our little AM conversations. I especially miss singing our little morning song. Oh well. I guess that's life. People come and people go. Seems like a harsh lesson to learn in this difficult world. Anyhoo....

As I was saying...we have some new residents in my room. Mr. Tiger, Mr. Lion, and Puppy have taken up occupancy. Mr. Tiger kind of keeps to himself and just chills in the corner by the closet. I think he's trying to stalk some prey. Hopefully, it's not me he's after. Mr. Lion on the other hand is very clingy. He always wants to nap next to me or on my lap. He's sooooo cuddley and furry with his wild mane. Mr. Lion even taught me how to roar, which was pretty cool. Then there's Puppy. He's so small. I carry him from place to place so he won't get lost. Don't worry. Puppy is nothing like Paris Hilton's Tinkerbell. I do not exploit my pets and friends like her.

I've recently reached a new baby milestone. During the last couple days, I've been eating from my high chair! Mom and Pops are so proud of me. I haven't really tried out my high chair since Thanksgiving because I kept on slumping over. Now I can sit up in my chair and enjoy my meals like the big people do. I feel I'm making good progress into toddlerhood.

I think I might have to change the title of my blog soon. A lot of my baby fat has dissolved and the only thing remaining are my big, chunky thighs. So I guess I'll be brainstorming a new, clever title. I'm very attached to The Chub Factor since its conception. It was so me and it still feels like me even though I don't really look the part.

Oh well. I'll just continue stuffing my face with bananas, oatmeal, turkey, and vegetables with bottles of formula tossed in for good measure.

Year of the lion

So 2005 came to a close. I must say, I think I've accumulated many interesting experiences in my short life. Like any good host of The Daily Show here are my top 5:

Eggroll! I believe Mom says it best when she pronounces it as "EGGWOLLLLLLLL!!!!!!" (She always gets this crazy look in her eyes like O-Ren Ishii when she says it.) I have went from immobile to rolly polly in a matter of months. It's a nice change of pace to roll from one end of the blanket to the other. For some crazy reason Pooh Bear runs away from me so I can't take his blanket, but I always catch up to him. That honey belly of his just slows him down. I'm trying to progress into crawling, but my legs don't quite go underneath my tushy yet.

Fish On! I definitely have the fishing gene in me. I got several big catches on Halloween. Mom and Dad were so impressed with my top water skills they took pics of my achievement. I caught a walleye, a muskie, and a bass in one afternoon. John Gillespie would be freaking out!

Toofers! I finally got some teeth going. After many painful nights of suffering, my bottom teeth came out. I don't really get to use them much since my food is on the soft and mushy side, but they do look cute on me. ;) Mom says to use teeth for food only and not on people. I'm not really sure what that means since I don't really have much of a cannibalistic attitude. May be I'll bite on Pooh Bear's ear but that doesn't really count since he's a Pooh Bear.

My thumb, my savior! I've discovered the wonders of sucking my thumb. It took me a while to figure it out but in the end I feel I've been rewarded and then some. Who knew that the opposable thumb could bring such splendor and enjoyment?! When I'm upset or cranky, there's my thumb. When I'm hungry but not quite starving, there's my thumb. When I need to go beddy byes, there's my thumb. So here's to the opposable thumb!

Da!Da!Da! So I have the language skills of a 30 year old but I speak like an 8 month old. I am able to put together complex sentences even though I only have the ability to say, "Da!Da!Da!" It amazes me how language barriers are broken. Whether I'm with Grandmama, Nonna, Mom, or Pops, they all seem to understand what I'm saying. I must admit, there are times when there's a miscommunication. I'll tell Mom I want Ducky but she ends up bringing me Puppy. Oh well. It's just something we have to work on. There are times when Pops has caught me serenading to Mom in the kitchen with my DaDaDas and some BaBaBas tossed in between.

So that's my year in review. I guess my resolutions for 2006 would have to be blogging more often, getting cuter everyday, saying real words, and walking.