A Walking I Will Go, A Walking I Will Go

I went out with mama, dada, and my sister the other day to lunch. After lunch I remember being in the stroller walking past some stores and then the next thing I knew I was at the park! Those naps sometimes sneak up on you out of nowhere. So dada and I hung out at the park. There were a couple balls in the bottom of my stroller so we played with those.


I really liked it when dada was playing with me but he wouldn't put that stupid camera down. I finally had to tell him to stop. We really had fun that day, too bad it's getting colder outside. The last couple days I've had to wear my big winter coat. Getting ready to see snow 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!

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!

Dada & Me Day

Dada woke up this morning and told me he'd take me into the city! What a great surprise. I was ready to go as soon as he said the words but dadda wasn't so I had to wait while he showered. Next time dada, maybe you should wait until you're absolutely 100% ready to go before telling me such exciting news. I can get a little antsy. Once we left we were on the subway. Sure are some interesting people down there but luckily it's a quick ride so before I knew it, we were back up top with all the cars. Our first stop? Toys R Us! We rode the giant Ferris wheel, I had my picture taken with a giant giraffe, and I played with the most unbelievable choo-choo set. One thing about that giraffe, dada did some secret special handshake with it. What was that all about?


After some really tasty french fries at the giant M place, I took a little snooze and I think dada did some shopping. Then when I woke up we were at the playground! How cool is that? I mean if only I woke up at the playground after every nap, then life would be grand. Okay but this wasn't any ordinary playground. This was the super cool playground located inside a park that is very central to the big city. What's it called again? Anyway there were fountains and hoses and dadda even took off his shoes and rolled up his jeans and splashed around with me.


After some serious playtime I usually like to cool off with a trip to the drinking fountain. Actually, I usually like to start off some serious playtime with a trip to the drinking fountain. Actually, my serious playtime usually is at the drinking fountain and this day was no different.


I then had some fun in the sun in the sand. This place didn't just have a sandbox, it was more like a sandyard. I mean almost half the playground was filled with sand. There were slides to go down, rocks to climb up, and ropes to play on all around.


We wrapped up our day at the playground by playing in the water some more. There's this one part where you can climb down into a tunnel and for a brief moment I felt really big in the really small tunnel. Then I came out of the tunnel, dadda picked me up, and I remembered I'm not big, I'm just a little guy. Enjoying my trip into the city today in LANDEN'S WORLD!

2008 Cherry Blossom Festival - Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Don't remember this. I'm just glad I didn't have any serious drool issues going on. As you can see mommy and daddy took me to the annual Cherry Blossom Festival at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Thanks for waking me up, guys!

Hmm, still sleeping.

Yep, I missed that pond.

Hey! I'm awake! Okay, I'll stand still for just one picture but then you have to let me go play.

Now, aren't you glad you let me go run around? I knew exactly where the mud was.


A fun day at the garden, I must say. So I thought I'd give you a little update on me and the things I like. TV. What a magical box. So many things to see on the TV and the music, oh the music! Plus, some of the things on TV make me laugh. I used to just watch the TV with a blank stare on my face but now, I laugh at some of the things I see. What do I like to watch? Of course there's Elmo and Thomas the Train, or as I call it, choo-choo. And the one movie that I like to watch over and over - The Little Mermaid. I think I like it mainly because there's a doggy in it. Kickin' back and relaxin' in LANDEN'S WORLD!

Who Am I?

Well I already told you my name - it's Landen. But what is it that a devilishly young, handsome dude like myself does in a way hipster city like Brooklyn? I eat. Yeah, I like food. Hey I'm only eleven months and just a few days before my first birthday old, so I gotta eat like it's going out of style! I love hummus. Oh let me tell you. Hummus on crackers. Hummus on bread. Hummus on my face. Hummus on an apple. If it has surface area, I'm putting hummus on it. I'm also a big fan of cheese. My parents have me eating all sorts of funny cheeses, but do you really think I care whether it's Gouda or Gloucester? I just like the different colors. Oh and don't forget pretzels! The pretzel rods are my favorite because they fit right in my little hand. And of course, hummus on pretzels. I've moved onto milk, but that's a recent development. Love that whole milk! I still drink out of my bottle, but at lunch and dinner I get milk in a little plastic cup and slurp at it like a puppy. I've tried a straw a couple times now but just can't seem to get the hang of it. Oh and I have my sippy cup but mainly that's for water. I just can't seem to hold onto it (probably because of the hummus all over my hands).


Around the house I have building blocks and those funny foam squishy blocks. I really like those. Daddy and I put those in our mouth and make funny faces at each other. I'm not quite walking yet but I certainly get up and down quite well on my own. There are these two entertainment playgrounds that I stand at all the time. One sings to me about "rocking to the numbers" and the other sings the alphabet, in english and in spanish. Those two things are loads of fun but what I really like can't be found in our house. It's the SWINGS! We live in Park Slope and one thing Park Slope is known for is being a great place to raise a family. There are parks all over the place and all of them have swings. At first I had a little trouble with the swing and mommy would put a blanket behind me for a little extra cushion. Now I'm a pro at the swings and mommy swings me high into the sky!

I'm getting to be a pretty good sleeper. I have a pretty good streak going for sleeping through the night. Daddy said something about not talking about a streak, during the streak, so that's all I have to say about that. Then in the morning, I wake up, catch some Elmo's World, and do it all over again. Pretty nice life, huh? That's what it's like in LANDEN'S WORLD!