Fun and Games

Dear Vinny,

You and Daddy have come up with a fun game, in which you sing,

Oh, I'd like to be (a/an) ____
Oh, I'd really like to be (a/an) ____
Because (a/an) ____ (does/has/goes) ____

For example, "I'd like to be a cow, because a cow goes moo" or "I'd like to be a tree, because a tree has branches." Generally you decide the subject of the verse, come up with the action of said subject, and then you and Daddy act it out.

Yesterday, you sang

Oh, I'd like to be Mama,
Oh, I'd really like to be Mama,
Because Mama goes "No, sir!", "Stop right there!", and "I missed you all day long!"

(At least one of the three is positive!)

Love,

Mama

Sunny Saturday Afternoon

Dear Vinny,

Today was so beautiful that we had to get out and do something. After a week of below-freezing temperatures, today was sunny and warm and there was no excuse not to spend some time outdoors. So we went to the Museum of Appalachia, a 60-acre living history museum about the history of Appalachia.

They have a large collection of historical buildings brought in from across the region, and historical artifacts from the era. They also have a lot of animals, including sheep, turkeys, chickens, and peacocks. You enjoyed running around and looking at the animals and buildings. Unfortunately there were a lot of really interesting objects everywhere that you were not allowed to touch, which detracted from the experience for you somewhat.

But it was a lot of fun to get out and enjoy family time in the sunshine on a leisurely Saturday afternoon.

Love,

Mama

Potty Progress

Dear Vinny,

You have now pee-peed in the potty twice!  But more importantly, you're starting to recognize the signals from your body. Last week, during an evening bath, you told me you needed to pee, so I took you out of the bath to sit on the potty. Unfortunately, I didn't leave you on the toilet long enough, because you peed right after I put you back in the bath, but I was pleased that you seemed to know that you needed to pee. Similarly, on Saturday night you said you needed to go poo-poo, so I set you on the potty and a little tiny something came out. I was really proud of you for that.

Love,
Mama

Swimming

Dear Vinny,

We traveled to Evansville, Indiana last week under sad circumstances.  Sadly, your great-grandma Mary passed away the previous weekend, and we went to Evansville for her funeral.

We were staying in a hotel with a pool.  On Friday evening, I persuaded your Grandpa John to borrow some swim trunks from one of his brothers and help me take you on your first swim, in the hotel swimming pool. At first, you didn't quite know what to make of the swimming pool, so we just sat you on the side and let you kick and splash. But after you saw Grandpa get in the water, you decided to try it too. Mostly, Grandpa and I just held you and jumped up and down in the water. We also let you "swim" between us by passing you from person to person. You had the greatest time, and cried a lot when it was time to go. The next morning, you were asking to go swimming again. This tells me that I need to sign you and myself up for baby/parent swimming lessons!

Love,

Mama