Shoes

I have found that I haven't been taking many pictures lately, which means I haven't been doing much blogging lately. I think the problem has been that I my camera battery always seem s to be running out of charge lately, so I've gotten out of the habit of having my camera with me. Must change that! Because who wants to read a bunch of words without the cute pictures of 20-month old?

We've had a good last couple of weeks, despite Rosa having a cold (new ones every week!) for the last 6 weeks! We went to the zoo with Rosa's friend Ember and her mom back in January, and Rosa still says "Ember, choo choo, douaaache (giraffe)!!!" every single time she sees a giraffe or a choo choo train. She's got a long memory! The zoo was pretty magical to her, especially the giraffes, which were the first thing we saw, and which came up fairly close to us.

We also made it to the California Academy of Sciences, finally(!), after missing the group trip due to a really bad cough and cold. Rosa loved the African savanah (taxidermy) scenes, and spotted a leopard up in a tree that we had to keep coming back to. And in the aquarium section she was literally darting from tank to tank... I wondered if she might be getting overstimulated to the point of being hyper, but she calmed down fine for lunch. Then we took a quick trip through the rain forest before heading out to the parking garage, where I was afraid I had lost the car for several minutes before realizing I was on the wrong floor.

And this past weekend, the definite highlight was a toddler bluegrass concert. We had to wake her up early from her nap (which I am LOATHE to do!), but it was so worth it. When we got there, it took her a little while to warm up and she just wanted to stay in my lap, but by the 3rd or 4th song she jumped up and started jumping around with the other kids. And then she started hugging them! And then she started pulling their blankies away from them (ah hah - now I see what all the hugging was about). Seriously though, she loved it! (what toddler wouldn't?!?) It was one of those sort of magical scenes that you just want to capture and bottle.

And last but not least, Rosa is now finally sleeping in a full size crib! And she loves it. And she slept great her first night and nap in it. She had been in the mini crib that we had back from when we were all sleeping (or not) in the same room at the old place. This crib converts to a toddler bed when she is ready. But ever since that night few days before Christmas when she scared the pants off of us by thumping to the ground in the middle of the night, she hasn't tried climbing out again (knock knock knock).

My last post was about broccoli. Which Rosa hasn't eaten again since my last posting. But I did discover that she loves asparagus! She has eaten that multiple times now (also dripping with butter!). And speaking of which, she loves eating straight butter any time she can talk me into it.

Rosa is also definitely recognizing that writing is something special now. She loves making lines with her "pens" (crayons), and announces "Pens!" whenever she sees handwriting. She learned the number 8 recently, and then at first all writing was "8! 8!" I just got her a placemat with the numbers 1-12 illustrated with animals so she can practice during our (sometimes long) meals. She loves pointing at 8 and saying "8!" but also seems to like 2, 9, and 10 a lot. We'll start working on recognizing letters one of these days. She's also got a few colors down now, and her favorites are blue and orange. Well, now that I think about it, everything is a shade of either blue or orange. Occasionally yellow with help. But since blue and orange are on opposite sides of the color wheel, she's got everything pretty well covered!

So that's the wordy posting. And my renewed intention to take more pictures again. But here is at least something cute to look at that I managed to capture one morning just after we got up. My little mama... pretty good on her feet, considering... (p.s. the video should work even though it shows up as a black screen)

My child ate broccoli !!!!!

And then she asked for "moi" (more)! I was in 7th heaven. I said, "Jeff, quick, get the camera!" It was steamed so it was nice and soft, and I showed her how to dip the pieces in parmesan cheese ("sheeeez!"). What a happy happy night! No broccoli - and practically no vegetables period - has ever been swallowed by Miss Rosa previously.


Here's the Rosa with the newest electronic singing stuffed animal - a Valentine's Day puppy from Granddad Frank and Nana Anita. She knows exactly how to make it sing, but just chose not to while we were trying to capture it on video. It sings "Sugar Pie Honey Bunch" while its ears flap up and down. Thanks Frank and Anita - she loves it!

Here are a few pictures of Rosa wearing a poncho from Grandma Judy. It started normally enough (well, except for the socks on her hands!), and then...


... after the poncho slid down to skirt level and Rosa found a pair of panties for her head, my daughter became a gypsy!

1-yr pix

This is a special message to all the relatives: When we moved, I lost the list I had made of who wanted what studio pictures we had taken when Rosa was one year old. I know these are woefully old now, but I think it is still worth sending them to you. So I am posting the pictures here - please take a look and email me a list of the numbers for which ones you want and what size (4x6 or 5x7 for the rectangles, the squares are currently 6x6). Please feel free to ask for as many as you want - they are cheap to print.

And by the way, if you are a friend and are actually reading this blog and want copies of any pictures, I'll be happy to print them for you too! Just send me an email.

Here they are:

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Playdates

We are finally relatively back on track after some pretty major sleeping disruptions following our holiday travels. Thank goodness! Now we can focus on the good stuff, which for a 19-month old is playing with other toddlers. I don't think there's anything else more captivating to Rosa right now than being with other little people. We had a playdate at our house 2 Fridays ago, which was loads of fun. There were 5 toddlers and a 10-mo old baby, who was fascinated by all the kids romping around. Amazingly, they all held perfectly still while we put them on the couch for this picture!

This is Peter, of kissing video fame, and Ember in the background. Rosa remembers both of their names and calls them out a lot.

Here's a little video, just to give a taste of the level of distraction in a small room with a bunch of toddlers.

This week is the California Academy of Sciences playdate - should be fun!

In addition to playdates, we've been trying to get out to do interesting different stuff. One morning we went to a wonderful, free children's museum that has live animals, all of which had been injured and couldn't survive on their own in the wild anymore. Rosa especially loved a cage with 2 giant crows or ravens. I had to watch that they didn't take any nibbles of her finders which she wanted so badly to stick in their cage. Here's Rosa learning what sound raccoons make.

We also have been going to rec centers to meet other new kids and play with new toys. Crazy driver on the loose!

And back at home, Jeff and I finally managed to get Rosa a Christmas present, which was a tricycle. Many "oooooohs!" were heard after she came out of her room after her nap and found it in the living room.

Here she is on her maiden voyage. She can reach the pedals, but is still not quite sure what to do with them. Luckily there's a handle!

And finally, here's a few more cute pictures, just because they're cute.

Rosa clomping through the house in Mama's shoes.


Another picture from the same day of the Peter and Rosa kissing video. Peter pulled Rosa around in his wagon so nicely. When he was done, he climbed in the wagon, but Rosa had moved on to other things. So I gave Peter a ride in his wagon.
Rosa still LOVES buckles and can pretty much always get them snapped now. She got herself snapped into Daddy's backpack, but it was too heavy for her to go anywhere.

Christmas Part 2 - Ohio

The second part of our Christmas travels was to Ohio to see Grandma, Grandpa, and Tanti Kira. Highlights of this visit included Rosa deciding to call Grandpa "Papa," going sledding in the snow, more wonderful Christmas presents ("Oooooohh!"), and Papa's 70th birthday party. As she had done at Grandma Judy's house, Rosa definitely understood everyone's name and could point to each person by name, even if her pronunciation needed a little translation.

Rosa got Tanti Kira to play "UFO" with her, zooming around in the kitty bed. This is Rosa's favorite game at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Every time the game stops, Rosa cries out "Moi!" (More!)

Tanti Kira got this jingly hip scarf for Mama, but Rosa sure liked wearing it!

I remember a picture of me standing in my high chair at my Grandma and Grandpa's house when I was about the same age. The high chairs change, the kids don't!

Rosa, Monkey, and Papa!


Grandma and Grandpa's crazy kitty Smoky Joe watches out the window while the neighbors across the street set off firecrackers on New Years Eve. Thankfully Rosa didn't wake up!

One night after dinner, Rosa was joined under the dining room table by Mama (left) and Grandma (right).

Rosa loved getting sled rides! This was my mom's sled when she was a little girl.

Run faster Daddy!

Back inside after sledding.

We had a nice visit with Alison and Angelo. They shared goldfish and germs!

Grandma and Rosa!

Uh oh... Rosa got the crazy smile gene from Mama.


Rosa was a big girl at Papa's birthday party and spent most of the time at the table in a big girl chair (too much excitement to sit in a high chair!).

Papa - the birthday boy!

At Papa's party - our dancing, whirling princess...

On the day we left, I couldn't get Rosa to nap, even though she was sick and cranky. Tanti Kira took over, singing and swaying with Rosa, and eventually, Rosa calmed down enough to give in to sleep. She napped on Tanti Kira's chest for almost 2 hours. Thank you Kira!

Christmas Part 1 - Long Island

Going backwards in time again, to get caught up to the present.

We spent the first part of our Christmas travels with Jeff's mom in Long Island. They had some crazy snow - very unusual!!! - just before we got there, so the first few days were a winter wonderland. By the time we left, it had all melted. We had a lovely time with Judy, Aly, and Ish. Even tonight (3 weeks later), Rosa was still saying all of their names (especially Ish!).

Jeff always takes a picture in front of the Sag Harbor movie theater. This is the first one where he has a buddy with him!

Family picture - everyone is looking at the camera!

Christmas card pictures - handmade by the little artist herself.

Glad I got Rosa a snow suit for the trip. It was cold!

Aunt Aly and Uncle Ish

We made a snow man. It was PERFECT packing snow. Rosa called the snowman "baby." Of course!

The mittens I got Rosa didn't stay on, but somehow my gloves did.

Ish's daughter Brooke and Rosa had a wonderful time together.

A few days later it was still chilly, but not wintery anymore. Judy and Rosa match!

Our little family.

Rosa and Daddy are cut from the same cloth.

Beautiful Long Beach.

Jeff's cousin Sarah came to visit one night. I think I'm trying to get Rosa to look at the camera... or else I'm saying "Heal!"

Christmas dinner was yummy!

Grandma Judy reading a book to Rosa on Rosa's favorite subject!