Yah, Ticko Nafer Smile

Lucky is over 14 months now, and cute as ever. Here are a few of my most favorite cutenesses recently:

1. Lucky knows where her tongue is thanks to Grandma Patsy, but doesn't know where her nose is (when asked where her tongue is, she sticks it out. When asked where her nose is, she grabs her tongue instead of just sticking it out.) Grandma Patsy- work on the nose next, okay?

2. Lucky doesn't know how to say "no" but says "yah" all the time. The combination of #1 and #2 make me even more afraid of the teenage years, as if I wasn't already worried enough.

3. Lucky's vocabulary is limited to: "yah", "dada", and "ticko ticko ticko" (tickle tickle tickle.) Yes, she'll say tickle tickle tickle but not mama. Actually, she did say mama for one day, which leads us to believe she intentionally says "dada" instead of mama, especially since an evil laugh usually follows.

4. Lucky will make a constant gurgling sound when PuddleMama takes her for a run in the stroller. This is, of course, so that when she goes over bumps the gurgling changes sounds and she can laugh at herself.

5. Lucky loves Nilla Wafers more than anything else in this world. She knows how to get them too- whine at PuddleMama or smile at dada. In our house, they are known as "Nafers."

6. Lucky also loves to let PuddleDoggy outside. She runs to the door and needs to go outside to let him into the yard, or back into the house. She loves her puppy.

7. Lucky carries around one of her little dresses with shoulder straps as a "purse" and often will put her "cell phone" (a fake wood piece of bread) into the purse after chatting baby-alien jigaboo into it.

8. Actually, Lucky uses pretty much every single toy she has as a phone. Lucky using a remote control as a phone is one thing. Lucky using a fake plastic frying pan as a phone is an indication she sees PuddleMama talking on the phone too much.

9. Lucky learned how to high-five yesterday. I hope this doesn't go the way of her saying "mama" and become a one day skill, because her giving me a high five is so.... awesome.

10. And my most favorite- Lucky smiles at everything. Take her out of her stroller? Smile. Give her a grill cheese? Smile. Pick her up? Smile. Set her down? Smile. See her when I get home? Smile. And it is the most fabulous smile ever (she gets it from PuddleMama.)

How many juices is one juice too many? (and other adventures in Florida)

(I wrote most of this post the last few days of our trip to Florida, but am just getting around to finishing and uploading it today...)

PuddleMama, Lucky, and I are enjoying a few sunny weeks in Florida. We drove down in two long days. Lucky did great for most of the trip. She complained a little about being couped up in the car for so long, but probably less than PuddleMama and I did. PuddleMama had to keep pressing Violet's (her talking/singing/blinking teddy bear) paw (thanks Aunt Trisa!) in order to play a tune and keep her happy. Without Violet the ride would have been a bit whinier, and certainly longer.

We took Lucky to her first Twin's game, let her walk on sand for the first time (after a long time of just standing on sand for the first time), took her swimming for the first time, and witnessed Lucky go from walking everywhere to running everywhere. Like any couple weeks, we saw Lucy do new wonderful things and grow too fast. Only we did it in sunny, 85 degree weather.

We had some good friends down for the first week. We visited a bunch of beaches, drank some beer/wine, and played cards and dominoes while the little ones slept. Suck it PuddleMama and Brian, maybe next vacation you won't lose 4 games to 1 at Buck.


We also had an adventure visiting my aunt, uncle and cousins over on Sanibel Island. We went for a walk on the beach and PuddleMama stepped on a Cuban Sea Conch Crustacean which spewed.... gunk. Everywhere. It was gross. And hil-arious.

Another not-so fun adventure with Lucky happened when PuddleMama went shopping for the afternoon. PuddleDaddy didn't realize Lucky doesn't usually drink a full sippy-cup and a half of undiluted juice for an afternoon snack. A gigantic ass-plosion occurred. Poop everywhere. This did not make for a happy PuddleDaddy.

The ride back from Florida was as unexciting as the ride down, but we made it home safe from Lucy's first full fledged road trip vacation. I am already planning when we can rent the R.V. and head to Mount Rushmore. Now that I know the proper amount of juice is acceptable I am all set.

Partied. Out.

Lucky's one year bash was a roaring success! Cake was eaten (or at least smashed,) presents were unwrapped, and general merriment ensued. The love surrounding Lucky was amazing to say the least. However, there are always a few lessons to be learned:

1. Get more Rolling Rock.
2. Don't forget the (awesome) seven layer salad in the fridge.
3. Invite more kids. The chaos level needs to be kicked up a notch, and keg stands are no longer a viable option.
4. Dress Lucky up in more embarrassing outfits (see below.)
5. Walk/Run away as fast as possible when Papa Willy starts talking about the bottle opener in his pocket.

We didn't dress up Lucy too embarrassingly at her party, as seen here holding two of her favorite things- crackers and a picture of herself:



However, Lucy did get a hula outfit for her birthday direct from Hawaii via Grandma and Papa Duluth. I felt it was only right to share the outfit here:






Oh what (embarrassing outfits) will the next year bring?!

O-N-E.

Lucky is one.

The months have flown by. Lucky changes so much every day I am intimidated by trying to keep up with her on this blog. The biggest physical change is she's walking like a champ now. Actually, more like a linebacker. She doesn't go around anything. She'll walk right over laundry, toys, other kids. If she falls she laughs and gets right back up. She is definitely tough. Her attempts to play tug with Clancy are hilarious. She'll bat the ring at his face until he grabs it and pulls her over. She actually won today because Clancy wasn't used to her hanging on for so long. Even Clancy is amazed by her daily changes.

Lucky's big b-day bash is on Saturday with family and a few close friends. I definitely have a new perspective on birthdays now. It sounds so obvious, but having a child with a birthday gives you a new view. I always remember my mom reminiscing about the day I was born every August 15th, but of course I didn't remember the day, so I thought about cake and presents and the end of summer (my mom would always remind me of that one.)

Now I'm the one reminiscing with PuddleMama about watching Celebrity Apprentice in the hospital when Lucky was negative one days old. I'm the one remembering what PuddleMama's..... face... looked like when Lucky arrived. I'm the one remembering holding Lucky for the first time and wondering when her head wouldn't look like a purple cone-head. Birthday's definitely take on a whole new meaning when I look into Lucy's baby blue eyes.

We gave Lucky a kitchen for her birthday. It comes with pots and pans, a "stainless" steel fridge, and more. Lucky is already whipping up meals and pretending to eat them. She hates eggs and chocolate, loves spicy pickles (but cries after eating them), and loves to sit on daddy's lap while he eats supper. Lucky seems to use her left hand more than her right when eating real or imaginary meals, which I am encouraging if for no other reason to add another nickname beginning with "L" to her aliases.

Oh, and she loves, LOVES, to brush her teeth after said meals. Where did that come from and why isn't my toothpaste so good I cry when someone takes my brush away?

I know everyone says it, but I already think she's growing up too fast.

Happy first birthday Lucky!