Hail Caesar!

Well we had our 18mo check-up last monday. Bug weighs 20 1/4 lbs. and she's 2 ft. 6in tall! (that is just shy of half her mother's height....I'm 5ft. 1in.) She was in the 10th percentile for her height and head circumference and in the 3rd percentile for her weight. All in all Dr. Kern was very pleased and quite impressed with her. I had been writing down all the words she knows how to say and I had somewhere around like 85; which i guess is quite alot for someone her age. He was also very intrigued that she gets embarrassed. (She does. It's quite humorous actually. It usually happens when she realizes you've seen her trip or fall and then she has to bury her head in one of our laps for a few minutes while she collects herself.) Dr. Kern said it was unusual for someone her age to show embarrassment because for them to feel embarrassed they have to be aware of other's feelings and that's something that usually doesn't happen until they're closer to like 3 or something. Anyway we had a really good check-up with him and she actually didn't freak out on him like she had been doing. *deep sigh of relief*

This passed weekend Phil and Carrie and the boys stopped by again on their way home to MA. It was a quick trip but as always we had fun. Unfortunately I was pretty sick (still am....I have an annoying cough that doesn't want to go away....) and initially Darren and then Matt were kinda under the weather. :( We had a nice trip to the park Saturday and for the first time Bug walked; on her own; more than 20ft away from Daddy! I think we were both quite shocked. Of course she changed her mind when Phil (poor Phil) tried to pick her up but still. It was pretty quiet otherwise and both Carrie and I were immersed in Potterville a good portion of the time and comparing notes and whatnot. (She had a head start on me since she stayed home with Matt while the rest of us went to the park) It was sad to see them go, but I'm sure they're glad to be back home. And, don't take offense guys but I think Bug is glad she doesn't have to share us anymore. LOL She's had to share us with alot of people this month! Last week it was Wyatt and the week before it was my cousin Tyler. July turned out to be very busy.......








We have been practicing with forks and spoons lately. (So long as whatever it is she's eating won't create too big of a mess or stain.) She is very proud of herself if you couldn't tell. :)






OMG! I laughed so hard when she came into the kitchen dressed in her daddy's boxers. (which were clean by the way...it was laundry day and she has a bad habit of pulling things off of the nice folded piles I make.) Anyway, she ran around dressed like a Roman Senate member and even made some proclamations from her kitchen stepstool to the cats. Here she is prepared to argue in front of the Senate that Teddy Bears should have the same rights as Dollies. And, from what I understand, argue in favor of the case of "Lambie and the golden fleece." In the July picture folder is one I like to call "Hail Caesar!"


*Relief* We finally had a decent experience in the pool. Thanks to G'rauntie Judy's friend Mamie! (Yea Mamie!) Her girls have long since outgrown this little inner tube and she gave it to us to see if it would help Bug's problem with getting in the pool. Initially she still cried but she finally was able to calm down enough, for a short period of time, to realize that the pool isn't all that bad. She even let us play with her toes and smiled at me when I went to take her picture! (well, she gave me "scrunchy face" anyway....)





Here's Bug on her new little outside play-castle that Phil and Carrie got for her. She's still slightly apprehensive about the slide but there have been a few attempts to go down on her own and she actually seemed to enjoy it! I got a big kick out of her and this telescope. I kept trying to turn it around the right way but she was insistent that she needed to look through the big end. :)





I babysat my friend Laura's little boy, Wyatt, last Tuesday and decided to play with the black and white feature on my camera. Wyatt is 16mos and the one who I think finally gave Bug the determination to walk on her own. He and Laura came over to play and Wyatt was running all over the place and it was like a light bulb went off in her head. "Oh, I can do that!!" Anyway, we had lots of fun the day I babysat him for Laura. They have always played very well together and I was able to witness, first hand, just how bossy my daughter is!! Wyatt took it all in stride though and kinda was like: "Eh, whatever babe....I've got other things to do."

I thought this was so cute. In the little garden/mail center that Bug's Auntie Denise gave her there are three vegetables; a radish, an onion and a carrot. When Bug walked over and handed Wyatt the carrot, he looked at it and it was like; "I know what this is! And, it's edible!" He proceeded to chomp down on it. :)





This picture is priceless and by far my favorite that I took of him that day. First off, you can't tell since it's a black and white, but the chair he is lounging in is Bug's purple Tinkerbell chair. Second, this is such a typical "man" thing to do. Lounging. Now, I know for a fact that Wyatt has three uncles who go out of their way to teach him all manner of "manly" habits. Give the boy a remote and a bottle of milk (....beer....) and he's all set! LMAO

The other day Bug got into the box of wipes and proceeded to go out to the kitchen, sit down and start washing my floor. I asked her if she was trying to tell me something.....

Well, there you have it. That's what's been going on so far in a nutshell. At this point I only hope that august will be much more calm. :)






*Spider pig. Spider pig. Does whatever a spider pig does.....*

A Fond Farewell......

It seems it wouldn't be right to at least say a little something about the last Harry Potter book. The Clark household, like millions of other households this weekend, joined Harry on his last adventure. (Don't worry, for those of you who have yet to read or finish the book, I promise I will reveal nothing. It wouldn't be fair to you.) It seems like it was ages ago (10 years to be exact) when I wandered into Barnes and Noble after work one night. I don't really remember why I went, other than it was Barnes and Noble and I spent alot of time in the bookstore just because. I had already purchased whatever books it was that I went in there to find; when, on my way out, I passed by the little display stand that the store had set up for the book. I remember thinking that it looked interesting so I picked it up to read the jacket cover. I realized it most likely was a young adult book, but enjoyed (and I still enjoy) reading some of those on occasion because they are generally quick, easy, entertaining reads. So I bought it and decided I'd read it first.

I believe I finished the book in one sitting. Like many others iI was hooked. And, it started a great love for Harry and all his adventures. So, now that the final book is out I find myself very sad that I won't get to join Harry, Ron and Hermione as they run off through another secret tunnel in Hogwarts toward who knows what kind of mischief at the other end. I'll miss Fred and George and the humor they brought to the stories. I must say they were probably my most favorite characters. Regardless of the situation, they always knew how to lighten the mood without being too irreverent. I'll miss Ron's fear of spiders; Hermione's constant quoting of Hogwarts a History and other books, Hagrid's love of even the most dangerous of creatures, and the wizarding world and all the wonders of it. So, a fond farewell to Harry and all who dwell within the wizarding world. It truly is an end to era. While, I may not join Harry and the others in any new adventures; I truly look forward to the day when I can join Bug as she and Harry step onto the platform at nine and three-quarters to leave for Hogwarts for the very first time.

"I solemnly swear I am up to no good."

Storming the Bastille and other great adventures.....

Wow! I hadn't realized it was a whole month since I last posted anything. I guess it's more a matter of not much has really happened in the last month until just about recently. Summer definitely brings about a more relaxed feeling, well sort of. Some of us don't exactly get that luxury (i.e. all those out there who have to go to work during the week) but still for some reason things don't exactly feel as rushed. Most likely because no major holidays that involve presents or candy in large quantities happen during the summer. Yes, some of us have birthdays and for some reason the majority of independence days fall during the summer months. (Hmmmmm apparently summer is the best time to stage a revolution.......or better yet storm the Bastille....*runs off to get pitchforks and torches*) However, not much happens. And that is the reason there haven't been as many updates to Bug's blog lately. (There's a great excuse next time you're late for something: "I was late because I was storming the Bastille.")


Bug is extremely mobile now. We are constantly on the move. Well, she is anyway. Some days I just can't keep up. Take today for instance. Bug was up from 2-4AM last night. I think she was hungry. Her little tummy was growling. I didn't go to bed until around 12:30 (thank you TBS and Friends) Of course if Bug is up, I'm up. So I was up from 2-5AM last night (that last hour was lovingly dedicated to dealing with allergies and the sinuses...damn ragweed.....) I slept in until 9:30. David says bug was up bright and early at 7:30AM. And she was go go going!! She went down for a nap from 10-12:15 and then was up and ready to go go go again!!! I am dragging my ass today. Where does her energy come from? I have absolutely none and she's practically climbing the walls!! She's a toddler, that's where it comes from.


And, she is definitely all toddler. Even her cute little body has that "toddler" look to it. You know the cute chubbiness that even the slimmest of children (aka Bug) have to them. And the constant look of having something to do or the cute little waddle they get when they are walking and running. And the climbing!!! UGH!! She wants to climb on everything!! I think she gets the most of her climbing genes from David. I know I did my fair share of climbing certain trees, but I preferred to have my feet planted on the ground most of the time. Bug likes to climb everything; boxes, tables, chairs, her new slide (more on that later), benches, rocks etc etc. So, I take in numerous exclamatory gasps of terrified air daily.


Bug's summer session music class was a blast. It was just her and Ella in the class and I think that let Bug come out of her shell a bit. She would actually participate and she now sings some of the songs while she plays at home. If you ask her she'll sing "Brown bear, Brown bear" or if you show her the book she'll sing it to you. She doesn't get much past the "Brown bear, Brown bear" part but at least we know what it is she's singing. The alphabet song is becoming more and more clear too. We also had a song in class that we sang that goes: "Oh well we walk and we walk and we walk and we stop!" She runs around the house singing "walk, walk, walk, walk" or she'll come over grab your hand and take you for a walk while she sings it. The other day I had Nick jr. on for her and the wonder pets were on. She surprised the hell out of David and I when she sang the song with them. One of the lines in the song is "What's gonna work? Teamwork!" So when they sang "What's gonna work?" she would answer "teamwork!" I nearly fell out of my chair the first time she did it. I'm trying to compile a list of all the words she can say now (we have our 18 month appointment on Monday) and it just keeps growing every day. She got the walking down so now we're going to work on our vocabulary.


This past weekend was probably the most exciting for us. Our friends Phil and Carrie and their 3 boys: Andy (11), Matt (9), and Darren (7) came in for a visit on their way to visit Carrie's family in Iowa. We haven't seen them in 4 years so it was great fun to see how big the boys got and to catch up. Bug had a blast playing with them and it was definitely a different pace in our house for a few days (namely super busy, with non-stop action) but it was great. They're stopping by on their way home in a few weeks so we'll get to see them again real soon. They bought Bug a slide and climbing castle with swing to play with. (Which was unbelievable fabulous of them to do. Thanks again guys! :) ) Bug loves it. She hasn't quite managed to go down the slide by herself yet, but I bet she figures it out by the time they get back. (It's only about 12-18 inches high.....)


We went to the zoo with everyone on Monday and for the first time Bug was excited to see the animals. It was a bit overwhelming at first for her because of all the people there. (I don't blame her, I hate large crowds, there's that claustrophobic feeling you get and at the zoo its even worse b/c I have visions of being caught in the crowd and being shoved into the tiger enclosure. Granted, I love tigers. LOVE them, they're gorgeous animals. However, I am not the tiger keeper and they would probably not be too terribly happy about someone falling into their enclosure; aka territory. I would probably be seen as lunch.....) But when we went by the Sun bear she was excited to actually see the Sun Bear. She kept pointing at it and saying "bear, bear." And, she was really excited to see Bodhi running around outside. (He's the little 3 yr old elephant.) She had the biggest grin on her face when she saw him. As usual, she really enjoyed the aquarium. She loves to watch those giant fish. The hit of the trip though, was the chipmunk that was hanging out around the picnic table when we stopped for a snack. :) We don't have any at our house because of the lack of trees. So, I can only assume that it was as exotic to her as the elephant. And, since it was no further than 2 feet away, I can see how she would be nearly tripping over herself to be able to practically step on it. The day was definitely an adventure. :)

Some pics from the past month:





Darren, Andy, Matt, David and Bug at the tiger exhibit sculpture.




Playing in the plastic bin with daddy.









*Bluebird update: Handsome and Beautiful are on their third brood. When I checked on Saturday there were 2 eggs in the nest. I need to check to see how many more there are to figure out when they should hatch. This should be the last brood of this year. :( But, as usual they were successful all 3 times and we should total at least 12 babies this year. :) *