Top 10 List: All Around Favorites

Someone asked me a question the other day. They said, "Landen?" I said, "Huh?" They said, "Landen, what do you like to do?" And so that got me thinking. There are a lot of things I like to do. Pretty much anything I'm doing is something I like. There really isn't a time, well, unless I'm getting a timeout. But other than that, I'm a happy kid so I'm happy doing just about anything. But if I had to, if I had to narrow it down to the top couple things that I like the most, well I suppose that list would look like this.


#10 - I like getting into things I shouldn't get into. Oh come on! This is good times. And you know I get a reaction from my mommy and daddy when I do this so this one has gotta be on the list. Unfortunately, that reaction can sometimes lead to a timeout so I can't put it too high on the list. But a list has to start somewhere so it will start here. I once grabbed the sunscreen from the stroller and started putting it on. Hey, I'm just trying to help out.


#9 - Playing in the lobby. We have a lobby in our building and sometimes mommy will let me go out there and play. Sometimes my friends will even be out there playing so we'll have a little fun together. And sometimes, just sometimes, I'll bring a toy or two into the lobby. I like to push the limits sometimes and see what I can get away with in the lobby. Like riding my tricycle around. Kinda relates to #10.


#8 - Bubbles. Bubbles are cool. They just hang there in the air and have all these cool colors in them. Plus they come in all different sizes. Big bubbles, little bubbles, really huge bubbles. What's not to like? I'm getting pretty good at blowing my own bubbles. It's all in the lips.


#7 - Riding the train, riding the train, riding the train. Yahoo! Now this I've only done once but it was so cool that it became an instant classic in my book. I have got to get me one of these. My friend Nicholas turned two a couple weeks ago and I went to his birthday party. Would you believe he had a real train that I was able to drive? Well of course you would because here's the picture!


#6 - Ice cream. One might think - this boy sure does talk about ice cream a lot. Doesn't he ever get sick of it? Um, it's ice cream. Gosh, I even feel guilty putting ice cream so low on the list. I don't want to offend ice cream but I do have other things that I like more. Did I just say that? Ice cream, I love you!


#5 - Playing with my friends. Nothing beats this (well okay four things do but I really like playing with my friends)! Friends are good for all sorts of things. They can play cars with me. They can watch movies and dance with me. They can go to the zoo with me. They can share deep conversations with me. And like my friend Mia, they can let me pull them in the wagon.


#4 - Playground, drinking fountain, daddy. This one is sort of a lot of favorite things all grouped into one. Obviously the playground would be on the list. Come on! Slides, swings, ladders, jumping, swinging. Playgrounds have it all. And one thing all playgrounds have is a drinking fountain. Forget the drinking part. I just like playing with the water! And who better to get all soaking wet with than my daddy. What's really fun is putting your finger over the water hole and pressing the button. We got some good distance with that shot!


#3 - Mommy. She's special because she does so much for me. I mean that's a list right there. Let's see - sign me up for camp, sign me up for school, sign me up for music, sign me up for swimming, sign me up for soccer. Oh and one of the coolest things she does that daddy certainly would never do, she lets me have my paci on the couch. That's me mum!


#2 - Did I tell you I went to Chuck E. Cheese for the first time? Hmm, well, I went to Chuck E. Cheese for the first time. I know! It was amazing. See you get these tokens and then the tokens let you play the games and the games spit out these tickets and you put the tickets into this machine that chews them up and counts them for you and you get your magic number and that magic number tells you how many prizes you can get. And just in case daddy forgets how much I loved Chuck E. Cheese and want to go back, every night before I go to bed I remind him that I want to go to Chuck E. Cheese. Honestly, I do!


#1 - Baby Lauren. I kind of wanted to put Chuck E. Cheese at the top spot because then maybe daddy would really get the hint that I want to go back but I think Baby Lauren is starting to read and I know we have to share a room together and I don't want her to throw her paci at me in the middle of the night. But seriously, I do love my sister. And I think my most favorite thing to do is take a bath with my sister. Here, let me explain it to you. I could be eating ice cream while riding a train that blows bubbles with my friends at Chuck E. Cheese when mommy says, "Bath time for Lauren" and I'd come running. Counting them down in LANDEN'S WORLD!

Why I Like the Park

It's no secret. I like the park. So does my sister. What's not to like? When I was younger I'd say I was more of a playground guy because the playground had swings.


But I kinda grew out of the swings. I still love the playground and we tend to go there more than the park because it's closer. However, when we're feeling a little giddy and want something more, it's Prospect Park all the way! I especially like going there with friends. It gives us time to catch up on the local happenings.


Plus there's more space for me to just sort some things out and set some goals for the future. There are certain things that I'd like to see accomplished before I turn three. Potty training?


But mainly it's the chance to be with friends. This is Maggie.


And here are some of my other friends. You don't get this kind of fun at the playground.


Also at the park, people are far less likely to judge you if, say, your pants fall down. I mean these things do happen. Looking for a belt here in LANDEN'S WORLD!

There's a First Time For Everything

I'm starting to count on my fingers. One poker chip. Two poker chips. So with that I'm also noticing things that are happening for the first time. Here is a list of some recent firsts for me. I have a scooter that I love to ride around the house. I really wanted to take it outside but mama and dada said I have to wear a helmet like my cousin Ava. First helmet! If I could wear it to bed, I would.


Dada said he would take me to the park the other day but I was getting a little tired of the park near our house so I said, "New park!" First visit to the park with the sandbox this year! It was so nice out that I even got to take my shoes off.


We went to visit some of mama's friends the other night for dinner. They live in our neighborhood but way past mama's school. That's really far so mama and dada thought they'd treat me to something special. First time on the bus! Every time the bus stopped I thought it was our stop. I think I said, "we're here!" about twelve times (yes I can count to twelve).


Nana bought my little sister a giant ducky for the bathtub. It looked like so much fun for Lauren that I thought I'd give it a go. First time in the duck! Rubber ducky, you're the one, you make bath time so much fun.


Today was a very special day. Just like my visit to the park, I experienced something that I had done in the past, many, many, many, many times, but, hadn't yet this year. Something so big and so exciting as this definitely needed to be announced. First time eating ice cream outside this year! Folks, that's big in my book.


Of course I shall be expecting ice cream each and every day. Luckily I have two parents who will happily join me. Lauren, I can't wait until you have your first taste of ice cream. Enjoying my chocolate ice cream 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!

Splashy, Splashy

Today was my very first day of swim school. They call it school but I really don't know what I learned other than you have to wait a really long time before you can actually get in the pool. Perhaps mama and dada can hold off on getting to the pool so early next time? The class started with some clapping and this lady walking around asking everyone's name. Then once we all said our names it was FINALLY time to get in the pool. Dada let me sit on the edge while he got in, then he turned to me and it was my turn. I was all for getting in the pool but there was this bucket of balls off to the side and I mean c'mon, let's have the best of both worlds here and put the balls into the pool! Dada finally caught on and grabbed me a ball and I was able to handle the rest. We did bubbles, we bounced up and down, we kicked, dada did something weird with his arms (reach and pull, reach and pull?), and we stood on the edge a couple times and jumped in. No, I didn't jump in by myself. Dada caught me. Oh! And there was this one point where dada tried to get me to lay flat on my back. Yeah, not a big fan. Let's try to remember that for next time.


After swimming we took a stroll over to the park. First the pool, then the park. This was shaping up to be a super day! I did my usual stuff at the park - went down the slides, climbed up the stairs, played with toys that weren't mine, tried to get on someone else's scooter. You know how it goes. Now this park that we went to, there's this swing with a huge green wheel that you sit on. It sits off the side and I've always seen it out of the corner of my eye but never bothered to check it out. Well today was the day I thought I'd see what it was all about. Kinda fun, nothing too crazy, had about enough when dada tried to get me to sit on it with him.


Towards the end of the day I got to relax a bit on the couch with mama. Oh and not just relax watching the TV, but I was eating pretzels too! Pretzels! If only I had some hummus. Dada said something about lunch tomorrow with soda. I love soda. Looking forward to soda on Sunday in LANDEN'S WORLD.


p.s. go cubs! (dada made me say it)

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!

I Have Hair!

Yes I do, and a lot of it. I'm not really into doing my hair, like my daddy. He puts something in his hair to make it do funny stuff, but not me. Every now and again, my daddy will play around with my hair. He and mommy get a kick out of it and I like the attention so everybody's happy! And yes, those are my Christmas PJs from mommy. She bought some for daddy too. Mine say 'Landen' on them and daddy's say 'B'. Is mommy trying to dress us alike? I wonder if daddy has any onesies?


Remember that talk about cold, then warm, then cold? Well it was warm here a few days ago. It was great because we were able to go to the park. I didn't think I'd see the park for a long time but mommy and daddy surprised me! We even had company this time. One of my girlfriends, Mia, joined us. Love those swings. Then today, another one of my girlfriends, Jasmine, came over for breakfast, Well, it was more like lunch. Or was it breakfast. They should make a word for that. Anyway, I got to sit on mommy's lap and eat daddy's pancakes. Yummy! Always something special around the corner 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!