The Petting Zoo

Mom took me to Deanna Rose petting zoo today. Nether of us could get over the fact that this was a free activity (well, except for the gas...it's a 40 minute drive). They have all kind of animals at kid level and some that you can pet or feed.

So, I was really interested in watching the cows eat. They eat a lot of hay in one bite! And they look kind of messy. I definitely couldn't eat with them....I ask to get my hands and face wiped after each bite.


I also really liked the goats, though I wasn't much for feeding them myself. I did enjoy watching them eat from mom's hand though. Wow, mom sure does love me...she would have never done that otherwise. There's also a section were you can walk around with the goats. I wasn't so sure the first time we went in, but I started petting them the second time around! Although, be it known I was saying "woof, woof" and thought they were just dogs. Or, I was fooling with my mom in yet another attempt to get a live dog instead of a stuffed one.



They also have multiple play areas for when you want to take a break from the animals. I loved riding on the tractor (mom pushed me around the track), checking out the tepee, and most of all the tunnel slide! I wouldn't even wait for mom to catch me at the bottom (I needed help getting up to the top). This became particularly stressful for mom as I love to go down head first. I'm so daring!




I liked this zoo so much, that we (mom, dad, PaPa, and Gigi) went on the 4th of July! We had a great time despite it being incredibly warm and sticky. Mom will post some pictures of that later.

For those of you who keep us with us regularly. I renamed my Grandma Randall, previously Nonni, to Gigi. I walked up the steps with mom and declared "Hi Gigi" to the right person. I could not find her if it wasn't, "find Gigi", so Gigi she became.

Another Day at the Pool

The weather has been warm and I'm still enjoying the water. But since my last post, I've developed a few quirks. I love to take towels, wash cloths, and generally any item used to dry off into the water with me. The other day, I lined the bottom of my pool with my towel. Mom just laughs and isn't willing to fight with me on this one.

But the other big thing we've discovered is that I am much more comfortable playing in the water features of my yard with clothes on. That's right, clothes, not a swim suit. I think swimming suits are for the real pool only. So, we have some designated "swim" outfits now.


My sprinkler has become one of my favorites. I love putting the balls in and watching them pop out. I'm definitely not afraid anymore as I stick my face right in to get a drink when I'm thirsty. And, I've learned how to fill up my bucket and watering can. This has been great, mom is never at a safe distance anymore!





I guess it's not a bad thing. I'm more protected from the sun and it makes my clothes last longer. You know, clothes stretch when they're wet.

Big Foot

Well, I've definitely acquired a taste for shoes. I know where mine are, I have a designated spot for getting them on, and I love to go for walks in them. So, with my new found excitement in shoes, my PaPa went out and got me a pair of Nike's. (With a pink swoosh and everything!)

Check out how much my foot has grown. Now, Nike's do run small, but a size 6! Wow! Official stats will follow in mid-July, that's my next checkup. But we can tell you I'm 31 inches tall and still under 20 lbs! Skinny little legs and good size feet give me great balance.


I've been running around in them ever since.

What a Character!

My personality has developed quite a bit over the last month. Perhaps that's because I have so many people to draw off of in the house. I am such a lucky girl! I've really been into accesories for my head as of late. Tupperware, hats, and of course pants! The pants and shorts are my favorite, the elastic keeps it on until I'm ready to say "Ta Da" (very loudly) and yank them off.


I've also been known to covertly get into the sock draws. My parents, not my own. Here I am modeling a future soccer player look. Dad's footjoy socks are a favorite around here. I wonder, why don't grown up socks have sticky pads on the bottom? It sure is hard to run in these!

Water Baby

School's out for everyone and it's officially summer. I've been enjoying it with water extensively! Sprinklers, spraygrounds, water parks, and pools. This is what my summer is about and mom has been a really good sport. Because you know, if I'm wet...she's wet.

So we started off with the at home sprinkler. Of course we moved up from that and went to the sprayground by our house. Three different sections, complete with huge sprinkler showers and mysterious buckets that sporadically dump water all over you. But this was just the beginning....

Then, the neighbor brought out the baby pool. I went in fully clothed! So, after sitting there for 15 minutes mom thought we should get a pool of our own in hopes of a similar reprieve later that afternoon. Well, we have a pool but mom did not get a break. I also got some really neat toys and Papa has tought me to fish with my new magnetic fishing rod.




And then, for the big water finale. Mom and I met some friends at the water park today. Wow! I thought I had seen water but nothng like this. A lazy river which didn't really make me feel lazy, I was very intrigued by the current. And a huge playground for kids. And this is where mom really gets the good sport award. She took me up on the slide, because I wanted to go, she shielded me from the huge dumping water bucket and got drenched, and she went down with me. She was soaked and so was I! But wow did we have fun.

A Trip to the Zoo

We made our first trip to the zoo for 2007 over the weekend. Dad, mom, and I went to enjoy Austrailia. (One continent at a time is enough for me.) I loved the kangaroos, the birds, and the sea lions. There was also this deer I enjoyed watching, I don't know if it was the mud or him but man did he stink! But everyone's favorite seemed to be the tiger. Can you believe it, he was sleeping in the log. Not that I blame him, it was pretty warm that day!


Mom and I made another trip the following week. This time, we went to Africa and I saw monkey's. I've gotten pretty good at the monkey sound. Not nearly as good though as the dog, duck, and snake sounds. We had a good time together as we shared lunch on our trip through Kenya and seeing the hippos. Have you ever heard a hippo? They're really loud! The hippo scared the little girl next to me but I made my surprise face and said "Wow!"

Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day weekend was filled with lots of fun. I spent most of Saturday with Nana since mom and dad are still working on finshing up the basement. Dad keeps talking about the toy room he's building me, right now I just am having a hard time viusalizing it. I also spent a good portion of Sunday with my cousins. Here I am with Chanie.


I have been giving out hugs and kisses very generously as of late.

Dad also caught a few good ones of just me. A smile with teeth and some big blue eyes! Would you believe it in just 6 months I've gotten 12 teeth! My last molar has just started coming in.

Playdoh and Paint

Who would have ever thought that my mom would let me finger paint and play with playdoh? Yes, most would think that every mom wouldn't think twice, but mom has nightmares about these things. (Playdoh and paint everywhere, a cleaning disaster.) But, despite her fears she braved the day with playdoh and paint activities lined up for me. Granted, I am always in a controlled environment (and sometimes restrained) when playing with these things, but I can still have fun.

I loved the feeling of playdoh and had a blast squishing it and putting it in and out of the containers. I also liked disassembling the little animals mom made for me.





And the paint, well I wasn't so sure of what to do with it. But we successfully made handprints. Of course mom's got one by the sink now. (As if my handprints aren't already in enough places. I love windows, mirrors, and our glass table. Who needs paint when you can get the same effect with cheerio crumbs and some juice!)

Aunt Katherine's Graduation

Congratulations to my Aunt Katherine who graduated from University of Missouri - Columbia on May 12th, with honors! We made it over for the weekend to celebrate with her and had a wonderful time. It was a really big day for me though. First the honors graduation, then lunch, then a walk through the beautiful campus, and then the graduation from her college at the Mizzou arena. Wow, that was a lot. But I was a good sport through it all. I even clapped for every graduate in the afternoon. Though I must say, I clapped harder for the graduates who had blow horns going off for them.

Outdoor Fun, Part II

Wow, the weather has turned more beautiful than ever and we had our first really warm day. It hit 90 degrees! So mom and I went to Wal-Mart and got this really cool sprinkler for me to run through. Mom wasn't so sure I'd like it, but true to my dare devil tendencies as of late, I went right for it. I love the balls that pop out of the center.



Then there is the big rubber ball. I've started practicing soccer with it and love to roll on it. I love chasing it and sometimes get very surprised when I actually catch it!



We also purchased some sidewalk chalk yesterday since the weather has cooled slightly. Definitely too cold for a cold sprinkler. (I am anxiously awaiting the moment dad gets the hot and cold water run to the outside as he finishes our basement. That will be great for sprinklers and possibly a pool.) I had a great time drawing with mom and Papa.

Austin, TX and Sprayground Fun

This past weekend, we all went to Austin, Texas to see our friends, celebrate my buddy John's birthday, go to a wedding (I stayed with Aunt Ruth and Uncle Tommy), and visit our old church, which we all miss dearly. We had a wonderful time staying with the Connell's. Thank you so much for opening your home to us!

We went to so many restaurants we missed, but my favorite was Phil's Icehouse. They had an outdoor playground! I loved sitting on the cow. We met up with my good friend Haley while I was there. Hopefully, I'll get some pictures of that later.

We also celebrated John's birthday at a really cool park that had a sprayground! Despite the clouds, it was warm and the sprayground was my favorite. I also got a hot dog and ate the whole thing, mom was really proud. Here are a few pictures of me playing in the cold water.



We saw a few bluebonnets, but we were a little late for pictures in them. We really had a great time and want to thank all of our friends for welcoming us back with open arms, even if it was for only a few days.

The Backyard Playground

With the nicer weather now approaching, mom and dad decided it was time to turn our backyard into a play area for me. We haven't completed it yet, but the main portions are out and play ready. I am so thankful for my new swingset and sandbox.

The swingset is now fully assembled, swings and all. The clubhouse portion is pretty cool. I love the slide too. Right now, I climb up it to get to my clubhouse since I don't know how to climb up the little ladder or rope wall yet.



Though I must say the sandbox right now is my favorite. I love to get dirty! The first day I got to play in it, I took three baths. Thank you Papa for helping us get the sandbox and the sand home.

Artist at Work

Thanks to Crayola, mom decided to let me go at the markers way ahead of time. The Crayola Wonder (mess free) markers are great! Mom doesn't panic when I want to get them out to draw since they only write on the special paper and not on me or her walls! These have come in handy when the weather hasn't been so nice outside.


I've also started puzzle building. Well, I'm actually not building it's more ike deconstructing. I like mom to put the puzzle together so I can take it apart. Amazingly enough after 3 weeks, we still seem to have all of the puzzle pieces.