Taking care of Bizness

Woooweeee it's getting warm here in the middle of the state and it's been raining, raining, raining here! We actually have had several dry days where the humidity has been pretty nasty but I have been outside playing and having a grand old time.

When I last wrote in my journal it was my birthday. My parents took me out to eat for a delicious BBQ dinner in the town where my mom grew up. Aunt Robyn, Uncle Jason, Uncle Aaron, Aunt Laura and Carter met us for dinner too. Carter and I had a great time sitting next to each other causing trouble. When they came at the end of the meal to sing Happy Birthday to me I was a little scared and wasn't sure what to make of all those people. I had a fun birthday and I slept really well that night. My dad's birthday was the next day and for his birthday we went and had my pictures taken. Mom and dad think they turned out really well and were so happy with what a good girl I was. I slept on the ride back home because I was so tired from being cute. Mom wanted to take Dad out for dinner but I wanted to remind my parents who was in charge now and so we stayed home and I went to bed. My parents enjoyed a frozen pizza while I slept.

That Sunday was Father's Day and I celebrated Father's Day with ALL the guys in my life. I had breakfast with some of my uncle's and my Grandpa Al, my Uncle Aaron stopped by briefly, and I had dinner with my Zayde. I gave my Dad a really nice card and a gift card so he can go buy the camera that he wants. My brother Louie and I pooled our non-existent allowance together to pay for all the gifts. My Dad takes really good care of me and I love him a lot.

By the time Sunday night hit I was exhausted from everything over that last week my parents anniversary was the next day the 16th of June and I could not handle one more party. Bubbe and Zayde wanted to do something small at their house for my birthday, Carter's birthday, Daddy's birthday and Mom and Dad's anniversary but I couldn't keep my eyes open. Right in mid-bite my head flopped over and I fell asleep. That was the end of my partying for the evening.

Just six short days after I turned 1 year old my favorite cousin Carter turned 1 year old too. We had fun on his actual birthday swimming in the afternoon. Mom and Aunt Laura let Carter and I splash around the pool. We caused all kinds of trouble and it was so much fun. Grandma Kathy and Grandpa David (Carter's grandparents & my adopted grandparents) were at the pool too with Carter's cousin Brady. Grandma Kathy took lots of pictures of us and I told her she could come play dress up and purses anytime she wants with me (she only has grandsons). That night we celebrated with immediate family with a pizza party. Then on Saturday Carter had a big bash for his birthday at Aunt Sarah's house. It was so much fun AND Aunt Sarah and her boys even bought me my VERY OWN purse.

That brings me to the title of this entry. Taking care of bizness. That is what I do. I am very important these days you see. I am totally attached to any sort of article that resembles a purse or a bag. Sometimes I even stoop so low as to care a shoe or sandal if I can swing it over my shoulder like a satchel. This is very important work I do. With my bags, purses and satchels in hand I am able to stand and move forward just a bit. No purses...No moving forward...

If I have stuff in my hands I can stand and will do so with no support from anything but I refuse to move once I realize that all I have is crap in my hands, and then I plop down with all of my stuff dragging on my arms and crawl faster than the speed of light to get myself where I want to be. I also blow kisses, wave, blow raspberries, skwack like a bird and a number of other nifty tricks. I am growing two big teeth up top that refuse to pop through and I have perfected the temper tantrum when I want something. All equally important skills to have when you are a girl.

The thing my parents are fairly proud of is that I drink from a cup all by myself. Granted we took a step back in that I drink from a regular cup with a sippy lid but at least I do it all by myself. It got to the point where I was taking other kid's pacifier's, bottles and cups because I wanted to do it all myself. I do a great job of drinking by myself and I like everyone to clap for me to acknowledge that I did a good job. If you do not clap for me I clap for myself and then get your attention. Mom says she can forsee what I am like after I turn two. We could all be in for a real treat.

I hope I get a chance to see all of your this summer some time or another. I am certain I will get to see a lot of you at my Aunt Robyn's wedding which Aunt Robyn has assured me is not very far away. I believe that as my mom, my aunt and my Bubbe are feverishly doing "art" projects!

I can't wait to see you all this summer!

PS. SHOUT OUT to Aunt Caroline in Israel for a few weeks!

Happy Birthday to ME, Happy Birthday to ME

Happy Birthday dear MMMMEEEE!!!! Happy Birthday to me!!!

Today is my first birthday and boy have I had quite the week. It started last Saturday when my mom and dad threw me a fun birthday backyard bar-b-Que. All my family who could make it came to my house for hamburgers, hot dogs, salmon and all kinds of other stuff. Bubbe made me pasta salad because she knows I LOVE anything pasta. Mom is still feeding it to me almost a week later. Some of the veggies are a little hard to choke down but I still love the pasta. Before my party started mom was cutting up watermelon and she let me have my own slice. I knew exactly what to do with it. I shoved the whole thing up to my mouth and bit right in. I eat that watermelon all the way to the rind. DELICIOUS!!!!

My parents bought me a cake for my birthday party. We actually had two cakes. One cake for everyone else to eat and one cake for me. This was called the "SMASH" cake and I got it all to myself. I was a little nervous when my parents set it down in front of me. I carefully placed two fingers in the cake and then licked them off. They I did it again and again each time placing my fingers and hands a little farther in until I was able to get my whole hand through the cake without anyone saying anything. Finally when I thought nobody was looking I face planted into the cake to get the maximum amount of cake in my mouth possible. It was AWESOME. The I proceeded to rub my hair and my eyes, and that's when I started to get angry. Mom was right their to save me from my cake and she whisked me to the tub. I got all cleaned up and into a new outfit and then I got to open my presents.

I got all kinds of fun things for presents however the top highlights included: a pink cozy coupe to drive around Windsor Heights in, LOTS OF BOOKS, a purse with a cell phone for calling all of my "people", a little people doll house and the best of all was a big girl car seat. My car seat makes me so happy which makes my parents happy because I don't fight them to get in my seat.
My fun party ended with a nice snuggle from my friend Joy, she let me take a rest in her arms. If you are reading, Thanks Joy (you are very snugly).

Saturday night dad washed are carpets and cleaned up the very small amount of water we had in our basement from all of the rain. Sunday morning mom was going to make pancakes for breakfast before she and dad dropped me off at Bubbe and Zayde's so they could go to a meeting. Bubbe called before we had a chance to make pancakes and told us her basement was flooding. We went right over to Bubbe and Zayde's to help. Dad, Uncle Jason and Uncle Aaron worked until late on Sunday night cleaning up.

Yesterday I got my first hair cut. Zayde always asks if you got "ALL" you hairs cut when you go for a haircut. I actually only got my bangs cut because they were way down past my eyes. I was such a good girl and had fun making silly faces in the mirror. Daddy held me while Maggie cut my hair. I wanted to get a funky style but mom said no.

I finally recovered from my party and from the flooding and I was looking forward to today when it was my actual birthday. I took Popsicles to school with me today. Mom packed a special outfit for me because I am sort of messy with Popsicles but I love them. Tonight we are going to Hi.ckory P.ark in A.mes for dinner. Mom and Dad always went there when they had birthdays so my parents keep talking about how if I am good I will get to have a Merry-Go-Round for dessert. I have no idea what that is but Mom and Dad are pretty excited.

Tomorrow I am going back to my favorite photographer Amy D. in N.ewton for my 1 year old pictures. We love Amy's pictures, she took my picture when I was only four days old. Mom thinks Amy takes such good pictures of me, we only hope the weather cooperates.

I have had such a full week already I am going to need a big rest to recover from this week when it is over. I hope all my friends and family are not flooded out and if you are I hope the water leaves quickly!