That Maple Syrup!

But there are some things that really get Birdie's goat. For example, this maple syrup here that came with the groceries for the grocery cart. The top won't come off! She's done told us and told us that really, this top needs to come off. We've done told her and told her that it just doesn't. But you know, Birdie laughs when she's frustrated, too. She laughs a special machine-gun-esque type laugh.

The catsup that came with the groceries doesn't open either. Birdie's really fit to be tied over this whole state of affairs.

Sweet Birdie

Our Birdie is getting bigger and bigger. She's getting so big that soon, she will be moving to the Toddler Room at KinderCare. There, she will nap just once a day and drink from an open cup (among other things)! This transition is slated to begin the second week of August. She will be making the transition with her friend, John.

Last night, when we were walking down the hallway at KinderCare to collect Joe and Clara, Julie overheard Ms. Melissa talking to the mother of another baby in Clara's room, this one still small enough to be tucked into a bucket. She didn't catch all of what was said, but it was something to do with Clara being so full of smiles, and the mother said she knew her baby would be sad to see Clara go. Julie was pretty puffed up and she continued on her way.

Because it must be said, our Birdie is just so full of sunshine. She laughs out loud so often, and she dances! Last night, we decided to do to Chipotle for dinner. They were playing a kind of mellow house music and Biride was just bopping right along. Julie reached out her hand to hold, and well, let's just say, that took the moves to a whole new level.

She's a lot a fun. Oh she'll make your heart smile.

Introducing Pink Dog

We have been meaning to report that Clara has begun sleeping with her own menagerie, though as of yet, it does not come close to matching Joe's in numbers. When Grandma Connie and Grandpa Charles gave Joe Neaky, they also gave, to Clara, Pink Dog. At the time, Pink Dog was as big as Clara, so we tucked Pink Dog away. Naturally, Joe found Pink Dog, and let him out from time to time. Soon enough though, Clara was at least equal to Pink Dog, and the other day, she would not have him pried from her little hands. So Pink Dog went to bed with her that night, and now does every night.

Dining Al Fresco

Wednesday evening found Ted solo with the kids for pick up and dinner. Thinking dinner would be burgers cooked on the grill, Ted thought he would try to have the kids eat outside with the hope that the novelty would keep them entertained while dinner was put on the table. Fortunately, it worked! Clara crawled right onto the picnic bench and sat there to eat her dinner. Joe ate his whole dinner, with a side trip to the salad bar (meaning the chive plant by the back door that he likes to pluck). They were just finished eating when Julie pulled into the driveway and Joe welcomed her with some jumping up and down and a big hug while pulling his legs up off the ground.

The after dinner entertainment was watching Ted knock a dead limb out of the fir tree and then watching Joe mimic the maneuver.

Birdie's Words

Birdie has also been pointing quite a bit of late to ask what "dat" is. Her technique is to pump her little arm in and out with the index finger on her hand extended. She particularly likes to point at a poster of Austin's Continental Club that Julie and Ted picked up there the summer Ted lived in Austin. It was taken in another decade and features an older car parked in front, with a motor cycle pulling away in the background. Birdie most definitely can say car, and dog. She also recognizes an airplane and will point to the sky when she hears one fly overhead. Recently, we've been teaching her where her nose is, and she has begun to point to it, instead of her belly button. Not so much when she is asked where her nose is (though she no longer points to her belly button then), but just as she's being toted along, maybe. She lifts a finger up--almost inside it!--and looks over to you like she's got a secret to tell you, on the QT!

Birdie can also say Joe. This morning, after Julie had picked her up and we were all congregated on Joe's bed, she pointed right at her brother, and said, "Doe."