I'm 18 Months Old!

Hi Everybody!

I'm 18 months old today! Now my parents can tell everyone that I'm a "year and half old". I don't know if that's better than saying that I'm 18 months old, but my mom seems to get really excited every time she tells someone my "new age".

Since last month, I've learned some new things. I can put my shoes on by myself--sometimes. It depends on the shoes. I've learned how to open them up and slide my foot into each shoe while standing up and holding onto something. Mom or Dad have to fasten them for me. I can point to my eyes, ears, nose, mouth, chin, cheeks, hair, head, feet, hands and my belly button when requested to do so. Mommy credits the book "Where is Baby's Belly Button" by Karen Katz for helping me learn.

I finally have almost all of my "baby teeth". I am only missing four more teeth. All of my front teeth are in and so are my back molars. I've also learned how to brush my teeth all by myself.

I still weigh 24 pounds and am 32 1/2 inches tall.

Some of my favorite things to do include: Helping Mommy mop the floor every morning, helping Mommy wipe down the kitchen counters (since I'm only cabinet level, I enjoy taking rags and wiping down the cabinets and the walls). I also really enjoy pretending to talk on the phone, listening to my Disney Ipod, having play dates, taking baths and building with blocks. I also really enjoy taking my toy stroller and filling it with other toys and pretending to go shopping. I'm beginning to really enjoy coloring and drawing and writing on my Easel too.

I'm looking forward to spending the holidays in my hometown of Washington DC and am hoping that both of my Grandmothers, my Aunt and my Uncle will be able to join me and my parents for Christmas this year.

I'm 17 Months Old

Hi Everybody! 

     I am almost at the 1 year and a half mark! I've developed some new interests in the last month or so. I enjoy drinking daily from my Sippy Cups. I can eat very well with my baby fork and baby spoon. I can also follow directions really well. As an example, my parents tell me when it's time to go get my socks, shoes and coat and I know how to get them all on my own. I know the title to at least 20 of my books. You can tell me the title of a book and I am able to pick it off my bookshelf or at my favorite bookstore. I can walk on the playground and up the jungle gym stairs and to the slide and slide down all by myself. I can lather the soap in the bath and when it's time to wash my hands in the sink. I can even brush my own teeth. I'm still learning not to swallow the toothpaste though. 

     I am 32 inches tall (that's 2 feet, 6 inches) and I weigh 24 pounds. I have 4 teeth at the top and 5 teeth at the bottom, including my first back molar. I've been told I have "Grandma Talan's big feet". She wears a size 11. Mommy wears a size 9 1/2 in most brands and sometimes even a 10. I, on the other hand wear a Kids size 6 1/2 in the Pediped and Stride-Rite brands and all my shoes are beginning to fit very snug. I can still fit a size 18-24 Month in most clothing brands and I wear a size 5 in Diapers. 

     I still enjoy dancing a lot. My favorite songs are: Tonight's Going To Be a Good Night by Black Eyed Peas and the Empire State song by Jay Z and Alicia Keys. Here are some random pictures from my Birthday Week!

Happy Halloween Everybody!

Happy Halloween!

   My Grandpa Talan hasn't been feeling very well lately and unfortunately, had to be hospitalized a few days ago. He has Bone Cancer. My parents decided to take a spontaneous trip to Ohio to be with Grandpa. We hoped to see him smile and cheer him up. He was doing much better when we arrived. Although, the trip was under somewhat sad circumstances, the energy was very positive.

   Daddy decided to make the most of our visit and take me "trick or treating" in his old neighborhood--the same neighborhood he grew up in from the time he was my age until he moved to DC. 

   The weather was a perfect autumn day. Very mild and warm during the day and a brisk 45 degrees at night. The leaves had already changed colors. During the day, I helped Uncle Albert and Daddy do some yard work. The Talans really enjoy working and seldom like to take breaks. Here's a picture of me helping them with the bushes Uncle Al cut. 

   A few hours later, Uncle Al was on "candy duty", while my parents dressed me in my Redskins Cheerleader costume and bundled me in a nice coat with leg warmers and gloves and we were off to "trick or treat". 

   We walked from house to house up and down the block collecting candy and treats from everyone who was standing out in their front yard with a basket full of fun. Cold and exhausted, I fell asleep about 45 minutes into it. My parents had to place me in my stroller and wheel me back to my Grandparents house. My parents had a ton of fun watching the parade of kids in their costumes and meeting all the parents and grand parents passing out candy on the street. I am too young for candy, so Mom gave most of it to Uncle Al to continue passing out and Grandpa even enjoyed a few chocolate bars. We still have a ton of it left. Here are a few pics from the weekend in Cleveland. 

Boo At The Zoo 2009

Note from my Mommy and Daddy: 

     Save yourself the $25 per person it costs to attend Boo At The Zoo (Washington DC). Find another child friendly festivity to attend. This event is primarily suitable for children ages 6-12 years old. Ella had a great time, of course, because she is a happy child and she loves animals!

     There were about 40 exhibit/booths set up to "trick or treat". The sponsors passed out one bar of candy or a juice box or another promotional item like ice cream or flavored organic whole milk. There were some pretty cute holiday displays and it was fun to see all the children in costume--but it certainly wasn't worth the $50 cover charge. Children under two are admitted for free--Thank God! Needless to say, we won't be taking Ella and her little brother there next year!

     Here a few pics of some of the "fun things". 

1st Annual Halloween Play Date

My parents decided to host a Halloween Bash at our new home in Arlington last night. Their primary focus was for "the kids". We all dressed up in costumes and enjoyed babbling with each other and playing with my toys. I was very happy to see all of my friends and all of my parents friends (the grown-ups). Everyone seemed happy and seemed to have a lot of fun.  Mom was able to get some practice cooking for 30 guests and hone her "entertaining skills". As a snack, Mommy served organic chicken nuggets and tator tots along with Halloween cupcakes and cookies for the kiddies. She served pigs in a blanket, guacamole and ghost chips, cherry pie, Halloween cupcakes and some other stuff for the adults. Daddy ordered organic pizza from Z Pizza for everyone. The pizza was the big hit. 

Most of my friends brought their own Sippy Cups. That was a good thing because Mom forgot to set out the juice boxes and I also was able to learn that drinking from a Sippy can be a lot of fun. I've been drinking from my Sippy ever since. I still prefer the bottle of milk at bedtime, but it's only a matter of days before I let that go.  

I am 16 Months Old!

Hello Everybody!

   I turned 16 months old today. I am still learning quite a lot! I'm slowly learning how to use my fork and spoon and even chopsticks. My parents take me out to dine at restaurants fairly often. Here are a few pictures of me enjoying some delicious Japanese food at Sushi On the Rock II in La Jolla two weeks ago. I enjoyed eating edamame and sticky rice while trying the Cucumber rolls.

   One of my favorite past times involves going to Barnes and Noble and picking up a few books and reading them to an audience full of both kids and grown ups. Mommy took a few snapshots at my last "book reading" at a Barnes and Noble in Los Angeles. Some people may not have understood what I was saying while I was reading, but to me--it was all too clear. It was a book about Dr. Seuss. 

    I am beginning to learn more words like: ice, skunk, duck, night, milk, that and here. I can get my parents attention by calling them "Mom" or "Dad" when I want or need them. My favorite words still include: cat, clock, yum and hi. 

   I am also learning how to write and draw. Daddy bought me some Washable Crayons and some construction paper. I think everything is a writing utensil now. Unfortunately, after using Mommy's keys and drawing all over the walls of our brand new condo--my parents are alot more cautious when they supervise my playtime. There is talk about buying me a kids easel from Ikea. But, I have a strong feeling that I won't confine my drawing, painting or writing to that apparatus. For I believe there are some nice walls and hardwood floors that could use some art by Ella. 

   

   I am looking forward to dressing up for Halloween. Mommy told me that they bought me a Redskins cheerleader costume (okay, no jokes about the Redskins. Mommy doesn't know anything at all about football and it's not like it's one of Daddy's favorite teams or anything. They thought the costume would be the warmest, most fashionable and less expensive than Snow White, Hannah Montana, Cinderella, etc).   My parents are treating me to a Washington DC traditional event called "Boo at the Zoo" since we missed it last year.  I love animals and seeing other kiddies, so I can't wait!

Ella at the Getty Villa