Double It!

I can count. A bit off the subject but I just wanted to throw that out there. I mean I need a little help when counting but I can get all the way up to nine. And that's actually very close to the subject because for the last couple of months (I think it was nine) mama has been telling me about this baby. The first couple months I would just smile and nod. I mean mama says some silly things every now and again so I thought this was just one of those silly-mama-sayings. Eventually her belly began to grow and grow it did! Then I started catching on and I would point to her belly and say, "baby." Okay so I get it. Big tummy = baby. What's the big deal?


OH! A BABY! Now I get it! Why didn't you just say you were having a baby (not that I would have understood that any better). Hey I kinda like this. Look at this from my point of view. First of all, Nana Mary came to visit. So cool. We've been painting, drawing, playing with play-doh, and I've shown her all my trucks and choo-choos. Oh and better yet, she brought me some new toys!



Not only did she bring me new toys, but some lollipops as well. Thank you so much, nana!


Second, all the attention is now on my little sister so I can get away with so much more. Before Lauren came along, I could only have a paci when I was in the crib. But now, I just fuss a little and out comes the paci. It's great! Everyone wants to see Lauren so they do everything they can to keep me quiet and happy. I'm sure I'll enjoy this for many months to come. But it's not all about me (there's a concept I've learned at a very early age) because mama must have done one serious magic trick to get that baby out of her tummy (not a concept I want to learn at this very early age). Well, however she did it, it must have been tiring because when I visited mama in the big building with patients she stayed in bed the whole time. So I brought her flowers.


Learning how to be a big brother here in LANDEN'S WORLD!

Two Is The New One

When I turned one, it was a magical day. I didn't know much about birthdays before that day, but, after it I knew that celebrating a birthday was something I'd be looking forward to each time it happened. Now, before I talk about turning two I wanna say something about how long I had to wait. Who came up with the one year rule? I thought these birthdays were going to happen once a week or maybe (and this was pushing it) once a month. Once a year? You mean to tell me I'm going to have wait a whole year for my third birthday? Who do I talk to about these things? Okay back to my second birthday. The day started off with a huge and wonderful surprise - mama and dada didn't go to work! That right there made the day special. So dada woke up with me and we made pancakes. I did the mixing.


After pancakes I bummed around the house for a bit and then dada and I were off to my music class; another great surprise to the day because usually my nanny takes me. Music class was a lot of fun. We sang all the great songs, played with the scarves, shakers, instruments, and danced around. Definitely a treat to be there with dada.


And then we were off to this place made just for little kids - The Brooklyn Children's Museum. I had been once before but this time I was able to stay longer and explore the whole place. It's so much fun here because they let you touch and play with just about everything. The first stop was the toddler area. This part opened up before the rest of the museum and it's a good thing because us tiny ones can get pretty antsy without an 11am activity. There was quite a bit to see and touch. I started with the instruments.


Then there was a dress up area with all sorts of silly clothes and hats to wear. Don't mind if I do.


Next, there was a place to play with sand. Now I would have to say I've seen my fair share of sand before but there was something odd about this sand. It was blue!


After the sand, we were off to one of my favorite areas. The water! They had these blue smocks that kids were wearing to keep them from getting wet. Smock? I don't need no silly smock!


I lost the smock battle.


It took some effort on their part but mama and dada were finally able to get me to leave the water and have lunch. Let's see. I had a hot dog, some of mama's tuna sandwich, dada and I shared a chocolate milk, and I finished up eating pretzels with mama. That's some good eating.


We saw a turtle at the museum. Why couldn't I touch him?


Oh and then we played in a bus. It was a real bus that somehow they put in the museum. Well, it wasn't the entire bus because they cut it in half which makes the whole thing even more strange than it already is. How do you cut a bus in half? I got to drive the half-bus.


There was this grocery store there just for kids. All the shelves had stuff on them just like in the real grocery store and there was even a spot to hand over the money just like mama and dada do. I was stocking up!


Half-way through the museum we stumbled upon a bike. I call it a bike but dada keeps correcting me and calling it a scooter. Scooter. Bike. What's the difference? Both have two wheels, right dada?


The pizza parlor was right up my alley. First of all, I love pizza! I was all set to start taking orders.


Second, they had a soda machine that I could reach. I think you have to draw the line somewhere at putting fake stuff in a museum. What a tease.


And third, I was able to reach the ice cream bins. Of course they too were fake. Seriously though.


We wrapped up the day playing with some blocks and magnets. What an amazing place. I sure do look forward to going back again really soon!


Lucky for me (waiting an entire year for the next one will be a struggle) my birthday lasts the entire day. When we got home from the museum, my friend Charlie came over and we had cupcakes. My first birthday I had cake. Still wonder why we can't have cake every day. But cupcakes, well they're just as good and Charlie's mom made them! Mom, can you please learn? First I had to blow out the candles, all two of them.


It didn't take Charlie and me long to get into our cupcakes. So, so good!


Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me! And so many more! Celebrating #2 here in LANDEN'S WORLD!

They Did It Again!

Okay, the first time I went along with it because it was something new. Besides, what did I know? I'm a trusting young lad and if mama and dada want me to sit down in a weird chair and look at the TV, hey that's okay with me. But the second time around I knew exactly what they were trying to do. They were going to take my hair again! I was not about to let that happen, however, dada was there to comfort me and he let me sit on his lap while the lady did her thing. I think dada knows he's going to have to sit with me each time I get my haircut from now on.


What do you think? Not a bad job but I do miss my curls. Well the next day it was business as usual around here with lunch out and a day at the playground. For lunch I nibbled on cheese sticks but highlight was one of my favorites - a plain bagel with cream cheese.


Off to the playground. Have I mentioned how much I like the playground? There's so much to do and I'm almost always going to find a ball or a bike to play with. This time around I decided to step it up a notch and play on some of the more advanced equipment. I know it's advanced because dada and mama get up off the bench when I walk over to it. I always know I'm into something good when they stop what they're doing and take notice.


Well, do you know what tomorrow is? The boxes are starting to pile up at our front door. Cards are gathering on the kitchen table and they're all addressed to me. Sure you don't want to guess whose birthday is one wake-up away? Counting down the minutes here in LANDEN'S WORLD!

J is for Jasmine

Jasmine came over last night, along with her mommy and daddy. I really like it when Jasmine's over because mama and dada will let me get away with a lot more. Sometimes Jasmine even stays late and we'll get to play in the bathtub together. Unfortunately, last night was an early night for Jasmine and her parents but we still managed to make a mess of the place. First Jasmine and I had dinner together. Jasmine like's hot dogs too so we each had one.


After dinner we turned on Blue's Clues for a while. Mama bought me my very own handy-dandy notebook, just like Steve! I had my crayons out and everything and I was writing down the clues. Jasmine wanted to run around a bit so we stopped watching and went into my room. Then she found my stickers and that's when the fun really started. Dada let us get into my crib and it was sticker time! We were putting stickers on the pillows, on the crib, and even on each other.


So we were all back on the couch playing and jumping on dada when the bell rang and someone was at the door. It was dinner for the mommies and daddies. More food! Everyone gathered around the big kitchen table and mama even set up a place for me. I got to sit with the big people at the big table. I felt like such a, well, big person.


After dinner was over, Jasmine was playing around with my dada (I don't mind sharing him as long as it's with someone I really like). He kept picking her up and she would sit on his shoulders. This is something dada had tried with me in the past but I never really liked it, until last night. I saw how much fun she was having so I thought I would give it a try. Boy oh boy had I been missing out. Riding around up there was the greatest!



The countdown for the birthday continues. I have this piece of paper that shows all the different choo-choos you can buy. There are so many of them! I'll take this one, this one, this one, and that one. The list is getting longer in LANDEN'S WORLD!

Zee Oh Oh Spells Zoo

Our friends upstairs have a cat in their house. Nana Mary has a dog at her house and so does Tutu. This house I went to the other day with my friend Charlie, they had so many animals! Mama said the animals belong to the zoo. I don't know who zoo is but he sure is lucky.


I saw many different animals but really, the best part, was hanging out with my friend Charlie. We had so much fun together. Charlie lives over in Williamsburg. We don't see each other as much as I'd like to but when we do, we certainly know how to laugh it up. The day after the zoo we went to the Children's Museum.


That person I mentioned the other day is celebrating their birthday very soon. I wonder who it could be? When is the birthday you ask? Dada said something about five and a wake-up. What does that mean? Looking forward to birthday #2 in LANDEN'S WORLD!