Quarter to Two

Back to the delayed schedule, right? But who has time to write when there's so much to do and explore? Besides going to gym class twice a week, we're spending a lot of time playing outside, reading books, taking long hikes, running new and bigger errands, doing chores around the house, and hitting up local stuff. After all, we're back to New Mexico in less than six months, and as excited as we are, we want to get all we can out of Florida in our remaining time here.

So a lot's been going on in 2009 already. We were in Canada for New Year's Day, spending some time with my aunties and Pappy and Grandma. Everybody seemed glad to be home, and a lot more comfortable than when I saw them in the hospital before. I can't imagine having to live somewhere that isn't your house for as long as they did, so it was better being at home with them. We played games, danced, dressed up together, and even went into Victoria for a little while to look at the city. Keep Auntie Lourdess in your thoughts, though -- she's still recuperating from all the treatments, so she's not a hundred percent yet.

When we got home, we took the next step toward big-girl-hood: I got a potty. We brought it home just so it'd be there, but as it turns out I really like the idea. Pooping in there is a lot better than going in my diaper -- it's not anywhere near as gross, for me or the 'rents. It helps that my potty plays music when I use it. I'm still not using it all the time yet -- Mom and Dad don't want to push me, especially with a big move coming up -- but I'm making some progress.

I also got a booster seat while we were at the store buying the potty. Since I like eating off the main table better than the high chair tray, it just made sense to have a seat of my own that lifted me up there. This I could take or leave, especially since I still have a table my own size from Christmas, but it's kind of nice to be able to sit at the table with Mom and Dad when they're eating. What's more fun for me, though, is to get one of my friends (my dolls, my stuffed animals, sometimes even little plastic non-anthropomorphic toys) up into the seat so they can have a snack. It's important to share, after all. In fact, if Maggie's not sitting at the table with me, sometimes I won't touch my food until I find her and help her into the chair.

This month, we went to Disney World twice and the Sanford zoo once. It was all fun, even the zoo trip when Dad thought I was too tired to enjoy myself. In fact, that day was warm (as compared to the sub-60s we've had most of January), so Mallory and I got to play in the splash zone for a little while and get nice and drenched. At the World, I basically redid my favorites -- Small World, the carousel and the parade at Magic Kingdom; Honey I Shrunk the Playset and Playhouse Disney Live at Hollywood Studios. Dad's also talking about finding a weekday to go where I can have the run of one of those play areas. Hey, we gotta make use of the pass, after all.

Finally, if you're looking for the usual every-three-month measurements, I didn't see the doctor this time. My next scheduled checkup isn't until my birthday, and hopefully I won't have to go back until then. (The urinary exams I had came back all clear, and yes, I did go to the hospital for that, but they didn't measure me.) But I always ask Dad to help me get on the scale at the supermarket, which says I'm 28 pounds, and he lined me up against a Lobo Louie height poster I have, which says I'm 32 inches. So use that if you want.