Rock around the block

Yesterday I attended my very first block party!

Things were off to a terrible start when all the kids got to play in a water balloon fight...

...all the kids, that is, BUT ME!

But Dada made it up to me by telling me (very quietly so that Mama would not hear) that he would buy me a pony.

I mulled over his offer....

and decided there was indeed a way to go on. So I grabbed a little water and a little sun...

and had myself a good time...for about 15 minutes...before the real meltdown came. Turns out block parties are a little too stimulating for a baby of my size. Next year, my friends. And the water balloons shall be mine!

Because you're never too young...

...to dance and lip synch your favorite tune in your bedroom using a hairbrush as a microphone.

Jillie + Bunny = BFF

Making friends is hard to do when you can't speak, don't want other babies to get too close and don't want anybody to touch your things. I thought Xana might do, but I couldn't deal with having my hands licked and those shifty, nervous looks whenever I approached. So when Bunny and I recently became reacquainted (he's been up in my closet for a few months), I decided that he was just the sort of companion I had been looking for. Listens when I talk, goes where I wanna go and never wants to play with the same thing I'm playing with. And so lately we've been inseparable. In the mornings, I've been taking Bunny for a walk around the block...or at least a walk to the end of the block...the whole block would take more than an hour as I must stop to pick up leaves, attempt to sift through people's recycling bins (at least on Thursdays!) and retrace my steps every so often. Bunny never complains about the slow pace, though...or licks my fingers...or tries to pull the bow out of my hair in class when all I'm trying to do is dance (little kid from Gymboree, you know I'm talking to you!) I'm open to making more friends, as long as they're just like Bunny!

Admission for two, please!

Today Mama and I took our first trip to the Kohl Children's Museum in Glenview! They had buildings inside just like the places Mama takes me to all the time, except I was allowed to touch everything...well, except the toys in other babies' strollers...apparently those are still off limits. Although I didn't want to leave the automobile room (with a race track for little cars and an automated carwash you can walk through!), I was cajoled (okay, carried kicking and screaming) to the grocery store, where I pushed my own cart and spent a lot of time picking out produce. Then we went to the nursery where I got to see and touch all the babies. I opted out of changing a diaper at the changing station...I've seen it done enough to know I'm better off taking a pass! Then we went to the veterinarian's office, where I was excited to see a stuffed cat, but mostly just wanted to play on their computer. After the veterinarian's office, it was pretty much time for my pre-nap meltdown, but we managed to squeeze in a little more walking around. All in all, I think we spent more time in the restaurant outside the museum (they don't let you come in with food and I wasn't done enjoying my Cheerios when we arrived), but all the more reason to come back again soon. Maybe next time I'll play behind the counter at Potbelly's and practice yelling, "OREO SMOOOOOTHIE! Turkey sideways!"

Back in the 'hood

Life in the suburbs is good...there's never "stroller traffic", hardly ever a line for the kiddie swings at the park, and I don't have to look both ways before I cross the alley. But after a month of suburban bliss, I thought it about time to get back to my roots. So Dada and Mama and I packed up the diaper bag and headed into the city for playgroup. Perhaps it was the 88 degree weather, but not too many of my playgroup peeps showed up at the park. Nonetheless, my pal Jack and I got some quality swinging time in before we headed over to the Salt & Pepper Diner (where I've been going for brunch since before I was born!) for breakfast Lincoln Park style. Last it was off to Ya Ya and Papa's for a Saturday-night sleepover, so I made sure to wear a dress this week to avoid being called "the prettiest boy" their neighbors had ever seen...thanks for that jacket intended for boys, Dada.

This is me doing the swing thing.

And this is when Jack found out that his mom wasn't gonna take him to the Salt & Pepper, too.

Winding down a busy morning at Papa and Ya Ya's.

Fire up the grill

One of the nice things about moving to the suburbs is that I finally have some space to entertain my friends. So once we got settled, I invited my pal Rylie over for a little Memorial Day weekend BBQ.

We played together in the grass...

shared some good times over a ripped-up napkin...

posed for funny pictures (like this one of Rylie as a Sumo wrestler)...

...and even got a couple worthy of framing!

Wake and shake

I am a baby of routine, and I find it pleasant to start every day off with a little music from the iPod. Now that I am a mature 16 mos, I like to control the player myself -- pick the playlist that suits my mood, shuffle between songs and even adjust the volume. Once in a while I accidentally turn on the repeat function and after Mama puts me to bed at night I end up listening to the lullaby version of Stairway to Heaven over and over again...all...night...long.

In the mornings I prefer my classic rock playlist -- anything by Supertamp is a-okay by me! Once in a while, I rock out to something a little more contemporary, like this one by my boys from Finger Eleven...