A Visit from Grammie and Grandpa

Grammie and Grandpa came to visit me this week. It was so cool to go with mommy and daddy to the airport to pick them up on wednesday. They were so stunned at my rapid growth and development. Even though they had been keeping tabs on me through this blog, they hadn't seen me since New Years and they totally blown away by my extensive vocabulary!

We have played every evening this week, with mommy or daddy cooking up some

wonderful creation in the kitchen- filling the house with the wonderful smells of garlic, parsley, oregano, pumpkin, tangine, and roasting meats. Since the farmer's market is still going strong with fresh produce (a lingering summer has allowed a longer than usual harvest time- it makes up for the late planting because of the deluge of June), we have been stocking up and using as much as we can for dinner every night. YUM!

It's a good thing I am now over my virus and my appetite has returned with a vengance. I will happily eat a fresh tomato almost as readily as I devour mac and cheese! Here's a picture of me with the "tomato lady" at the Farmer's market- mommy and daddy's favorite stall!

After the market we wanted to get some apples. The ones as the market weren't fresh enough for us- we went straight to the orchard! We showed Grammie and Grandpa Wilson's Orchard, where I went apple picking when I was only 4 months old. (See Wisdom of Spring in September 2007 or google "Apple Picking in Iowa City")

As we expected, Grammie and Grandpa loved sampling the apple varieties in the orchard store. We picked out a few favorites, Lura Red and Song of September, and went to the picnic baskets to eat them and some fresh hot apple turnovers. This is the totally amazing view from the picnic spot. On a warm early Autumn afternoon with a gentle breeze blowing, daddy says this is one of his most favorite places in all of Iowa.

Academy of Oto

Here are some pictures from my trip to Chicago this weekend for mommy's Academy of Otolaryngology meeting. We had a great time and the weather was perfect. We will be headed back to Chicago in a month for daddy's national meeting.

Boppy was there too, so I took her out to brunch at my favorite Dim Sum restaurant, Phoenix, in Chinatown. Uncle Steve came too, and he helped because he knew all the Chinese names for the dishes.

I got to see twigas (giraffes) live in person at the Lincoln Park zoo. But I didn't think they were a big deal- I have a much more cuddly one in my room. Who needs the real thing.

Here's mommy and I looking at the animals in the zoo. I was kinda tired by then, so I didn't get too excited by the whole scene.

Daddy found a noodle shop that made fresh mac and cheese, and I was much happier! We got a big bowl of it, curled up on bed in the hotel room and watched the Bears game. It was totally sweet. We shared the bowl (I had more than daddy) and I sipped milk while daddy drank a beer. I am totally ready to do that again!

More photos coming in 2 days when I get back from Chicago.

Inventory of Vocabulary

I love my mommy! I always get frustrated when she leaves, but when she comes back my whole world fills with sunshine again!

Well, what are you waiting for? Let's go!

Here's all the words I can say as of September 16th (16 months of age):

• Basic: No, Yeah, Hi, Hello, Bye, Bye-Bye, Up, Down, more, Uh-Oh!
• Family: Mommy, mama, daddy, dada, Ali, 'Aye (Skye)
• Toys: Lilo, Nemo, ball, car, bubble, Pooh
• Body: baby, elbow, knee, teeth, toe
• Food: peach, apple, lemon(ade), nana (banana), yo-yo (yogurt)
• Color: yellow, purple
• Animals: Panda, dog, turtle, octopus*
• Animal Sounds: "Arf-Arf", "Who-Who", "Baaa", "Quack"

* no kidding! I have an octopus on my bath tub and I actually learned how to say the name!

End of Summer

On Friday last week, Daddy's work had an open house and reception for university donors. Daddy brought me along to help shmooz- I am very good at that! I flirted and charmed my way around the room all evening. Daddy was very impressed! Then we went outside to see the big shiny machine on the lawn. As part of the show they landed the helicopter outside the medical school. It was very cool!

After such an exciting day, I couldn't stay awake any longer!

According to astronomers and druids, the last day of summer is around September 21. In Iowa, however, the warm weather of summer stops the moment you turn the calendar from August to September. Labor Day, the traditional end of summer, sees plenty of barbecues and parties. But the real end comes in the next few days when the city drains the pool in City Park. On the last two days that the pool is open, the city lets dogs swim in it- the "Annual Doggie Paddle"! Daddy took sisters Skye and Denali to the pool last week. They love it. Skye just runs around the edge of the pool barking and sniffing the water. But Denali jumps right in and revels in the water play, constantly chasing tennis balls for an hour. She got so exhausted by the end that she fell asleep as soon as she got home

My Bedside Manner

Mommy got sick last week- she had a bad headache and felt very sleepy. Daddy was too busy watching over me and the puppies to be able to care for her. So I took it upon myself to attend to my beautiful mother . I went to her at her bedside, touched her face, and made sure she knew that I was there for her. I wanted her to be comforted, so I climbed up into the futon with her and cuddled. I think it made her get better faster.