E is for elephant, T is for teeth, and B is for Backstrom

Feb 26 - Today was awesome. We started with a trip to Target for a Seuss storytime. Mommy said that it was a great occasion to wear my Cat in the Hat shirt again from my birthday. We got there an hour into it and there were kids and popcorn everywhere. They were out of goodie bags. Mommy and I sat and listened to a story for a few minutes then I got up and walked away. Mommy followed me. I got to the end of the carpeted aisle and starred at the tile floor like I was afraid to take a step or I would fall into a pool. I dropped down to my hands and touched it, found it was hard and then started to crawl. Mommy told me not to crawl because the floor was dirty. She tried to pick me up and I started to scream and kick. Mommy said that she didn't like the temper tantrum. We looked around a little and I got a new cool toy that looks like a big gumball machine but has all these cool balls to play with. Then we ran to Petsmart for some kitty litter and headed home. After a nap in the car and lunch Daddy got home from school. The three of us jumped in the car and headed to the kids fun fair and petting zoo at the Show Place Arena. Grandma Joanie, Uncle Sean, and all four to the kids met us there. It was awesome. I got to pet some cool animals, watch Aidan throw a dart and win a prize and ride an elephant! We had a great time. And after all that, I was wiped out so we skipped the bath and I went to bed.

Feb 27 - Today was our lazy Sunday to recover from all the fun we had yesterday. It was good to stay home with Mommy and Daddy. Mommy cleaned the house up and down while I followed her around and tried to help. Daddy gave me a big chocolate chip cookie. I loved it! I managed to get chocolate all over my face but it was worth it.

Feb 28 - Today we were supposed to go to a play date at the Northeast community center with other Calvert Hip Mamas but when we got there they hadn't heard of a play date scheduled that day. A few of the other moms that showed up decided that instead of just going home we would go to the park that is next to the community center. It was such a nice day. I walked around exploring everything. I was more interested in the woodchips and puddles than the actual playground equipment. But Mommy picked me up and put me on the slide and I crawled through a couple of tunnels.

Mommy found that I got my twelfth tooth. It is the bottom, back right to match the one I got on Saturday. That is two teeth in a matter of three days.

After we were done at the park we took the car to Mr. Tire to get some work done. We went to the gallery to visit Ms. Teresa while we waited. It was great to see her. After that we went to Hallmark real quick and then Mommy walked me around in the stroller until I fell asleep. I napped til the car was ready. Then we got home and we played until it was time for dinner. Daddy got home, he and Mommy gave me a bath and then it was time for bed.

Mar 1 - Today we went to story time and listened all about trains. After story time I played a little with my friends and explored the library shelves. We hadn't had breakfast yet so Mommy, Ms. Erin, Sam and I went to IHOP because they were having free pancakes today. Mommy and Ms. Erin ordered meals and shared them with us so we had more than just pancakes. Sam and I were angels while we ate. After that big meal we were all wiped out. So we said goodbye and headed home. Mommy made me stay awake on the drive home so I would sleep when I got home. I slept for a long time with all that good food in my belly too. When I woke up Daddy was home. We played and watched the Caps on tv. Then took a bath and went to bed.

Mar 2 - Mommy seems to like to take pictures of me while I am sleeping. Today she took a picture because she thought it was cute that I manged to get under the blanket. See for yourself.

Today Mommy and Grandmommy took me to Kettler Iceplex where the Caps practice. I was dressed in my jersey I got on Christmas and had my little hockey stick. Everyone said I looked so cute. We watched the players practice and then we were luck enough to catch some of the players as they were coming off the ice to get their autographs. They signed my jersey while I was wearing it. We got Tom Poti (3), Dennis Wideman (6), Eric Fehr (16), Mike Knuble (22), Jason Chimera (25), Matt Hendricks (26), Michal Neuvirth (30), John Carlson (74), and Marcus Johansson (90). We got a mix of veterans and up and coming stars. I had a blast. I slept on the way back to McDonalds and woke up ready to eat. After eating a bunch of nuggets Mommy and I shared a caramel sundae. That was great too. Then we all drove up to Granddaddy's school to visit with him. Mommy and Grandmommy typed up something Grandmommy wrote for my 1st year book and Granddaddy and I went for a walk and played with some things around his room. Finally it was time to say goodbye. Mommy and I got home just a little before Daddy got home from school. We had a quick dinner, bath, and then hopped into bed. It was quite the eventful day.

Mar 3 - Today Mommy and I went back to Kettler to see if we could get anymore autographs. We did! First we got Coach Boudreau's autograph and Mommy asked if he would mind holding me so I could get a picture with him. He didn't mind at all. He asked if I was going to be a hockey player.

Then we got Matt Bradley (10), Jason Arnott (44), Jeff Schultz (55), Braden Holtby (70), and Tyler Sloan (89). We also made a new friend named Ms. Diana. We had seen her at the practice the day before with her daughter and she was nice enough to hold me and let me bang on the glass and give Mommy's back a rest. Mommy and Ms. Diana exchanged emails and facebook pages and talked about coming again tomorrow.

We were all done and about to go when we saw people taking pictures of someone close to our car. Mommy got all excited when she realized it was Nicklas Backstrom! She managed to get him to sign my jersey just before hopping in his car and driving away. So in two days I got 15 players and Coach. I think I did pretty well. We got home and did the usual afternoon stuff and told Daddy all about the practice.

Mar 4 - Mommy asked if I wanted to go back to Kettler today. I was ok with that. As I was eating breakfast she talked to Ms. Erin on the computer. Ms. Erin saw all the fun we were having in the pictures from Kettler that she wanted to come too. So Mommy said she should come along today. Ms. Erin and Sam met at our house and then Sam sat in the back with me. It was nice to have company back there even though he slept most of the way there.

Today turned out to be an optional skate meaning that only about 10-12 players practiced. Most of the players on the ice were players I already got to sign my jersey. Mommy had seen Semin and Backstrom's cars in the parking lot on the way in and thought maybe, just maybe, we could catch them on the way out since they weren't practicing. So we left Ms. Erin and Sam and our place in the crowd and took a chance. Mommy saw that Semin's Porsche was already gone but Backstrom's Jaguar was still there. She asked me if we should go back inside since we already have Backstrom? Before I had a chance to answer her, guess who walked out the door? Nicklas Backstrom! And we were the only people around to see him. So Mommy yelled out to him, "Nicklas, can we get a picture? His name is Nicholas too!" He said, "Sure, you want me to hold him?" She said, "Do you mind?" "Not at all. He is a cute little guy." I thought Mommy was going to die. She thanked him a bunch of times before he got in his car before anyone else saw him. Mommy and I went back inside and told Ms. Erin how lucky we were. Mommy didn't care that we didn't get any autographs today, she still said the trip was totally worth it.

Mommy went though the drive thru at McD's and got lunch for us all. Then we all went home and ate and then Sam and I played for a while. Daddy got home with some not so good news...he got fired. They blamed him for something he didn't do and told him he was the "fall guy." So needless to say he wasn't in the best of moods. I tried to cheer him up though. The rest of the afternoon and evening I played on my own really well. Then it was bath and bed time. I have had one of the best weeks ever.

Another tooth, another ear infection, and another Caps game

Feb 19 - Today was another day at home. I still had a runny nose and a bit of a cough so instead of meeting with David and Ms. Nicole. We waited until Daddy got home and just hung out together.

Feb 20 - Today was another pj day. Didn't go anywhere or do anything. We just hung out at the house again. Mommy went outside to clean out the Saturn but I flipped when she left me inside with Daddy. This made Daddy feel bad. Sorry Daddy. Mommy came back inside and put me down for a nap in my room. I did one cool thing today. I was standing over on the fireplace against the couch where I usually stand. Then I tried to pull myself up over the arm of the couch and I made it. I got myself up on the couch all by myself. I was so proud of myself that I sat on the couch and kicked my feet in excitement. Daddy cheered for me too. Mommy was not so happy about my new achievement. She just thought about the danger of me possibly falling off the couch. She will have to watch for me because I thought it was great and you can bet I will do it again. I was sleep at 8:30pm.

Feb 21 - I woke up around 8am and I heard Mommy getting up and getting the animals fed like any other morning but I went back to sleep before she came and got me. I slept until 11:15am. When I woke up I was hungry and ate some french toast. This was the first morning that Mommy did not nurse me. She said that we are going to try weaning since I am doing so well with whole milk. I think it might be harder on Mommy than it is on me. Then we got dressed and went to the post office and the bank. Mommy had spent the last two days rolling all the coins from the laundry coin box and from the Saturn to cash in. She rolled $148.50. The two ladies at PNC gushed over me and both asked to hold me. I wasn't really interest in them holding me but I did flirt with them.

Then Mommy took me over to a play date at David's. We played a little in the living room then I started touring the house. I crawled upstairs and we checked out David's room. Then it was downstairs to the basement. I kept crawling back up the stairs though. I just was so proud of myself that I could get up the whole flight by myself, but I could see that it was driving Mommy crazy because she had to sit on the stairs with me. So I wasn't surprised when she said enough is enough. We said we had to go and Ms. Nicole and David walked us out. Mommy strapped me in the carseat and talked with Ms. Nicole for a couple more minutes and before she got in the car I was already knocked out. I slept for about 20 minutes in the car.

Then Mommy took me inside for some play time. She was tickling me and found another tooth pushing through. It was the top right back one to match the last one. That makes 10! Then Mommy started to go through some of the junk in the living room. This angered me. I wanted her to pay attention to me because I started to not feel so well. I tried to crawl into her lap. When I did that she felt that I was really warm. She rushed me back to my room and took my temperature with the ear thermometer. It was over 102 degrees! Yikes! So Mommy called my new doctor's office and they were having walk in hours for another 45 mins. We jumped in the car and down to Prince Frederick we went. We were the last paient they saw today. The nurse took my temperature in a different place than Mommy took it and it was down to 101.4 since Mommy gave me Tylenol. Then the funny Dr. Singh came in. He and I played and laughed while he checked me out. I really like him. He said that I am starting to get another ear infection and that is why I have a temperature. He wrote a prescription for amoxacillin and told me to stay inside for a couple days.

So we drove to CVS to get the medicine and Mommy let me walk around the aisles as she followed. I was really interested in the green dollar sign stickers on the floor and the bright colored shampoo bottles. We got the medicine and then came home. We got home at the same time Daddy got home from school. We all went inside, had dinner, then had a bath. I took my medicine "like a champ" Mommy said. Then it was time for bed. It had been a very busy day.

Feb 22 - Today we listened to doctor's orders and stayed inside all day. Dr. Singh had mentioned that I might have a fever again today but it was only 99 degrees today. I didn't act sick today. I was a happy, playful little toddler. Mommy was sitting on the couch and I remembered that I could get up on the couch now all by myself by using the fireplace as a step so I would get up and walk on the couch over to Mommy to try to play on her computer. Mommy would say no and put me back on the floor but I just thought it was a fun game we were playing and would do it again. Mommy started to get worried I was going to fall off the couch so she put the cushions from the other couch on the floor so if I fell it wouldn't hurt. She is one smart cookie cause guess what happened next? That's right! I fell. I slipped off the couch and fell on my head and my feet flipped over. Mommy starred at me and waited for the scream but I just looked at her with a bewildered look of "how did that happen." I was fine and picked myself up and climbed back on the couch. The color never really did return to Mommy's face the rest of the night. Daddy had gone to the grocery store on the way home. He picked up a bunch of yummy things. One thing he got was corn bread. He gave me some and it was fantastic! I got crumbs everywhere but I didn't care and just asked for more.

Mommy and Daddy gave me a bath and read to me. Then we went into my room for me to get changed for bed and play a little in there. Mommy read me another quick story called the Barnyard Dance. Then I got kisses goodnight.

Feb 23 - Today we had our visit with Ms. Bridget. I followed her around like always as she cleaned and also followed Mommy because she had the vacuum cleaner out. When Mommy went into the pet room I climbed into Osiris's cage. Mommy and Ms. Bridget thought that was funny.

When Ms. Bridget was done we gathered all the trash to go to the dump. We came straight home after because I was still recuperating. Mommy still has the cushions on the floor because I am still getting on the couch. No more spills...yet, anyway. But Mommy did get a video of me climbing the couch, getting down and climbing it again all by myself. I just played with all my toys today including my glowworm. Then Mommy gave me a bath and I got to see Daddy for a few minutes before bed.

Feb 24 - Mommy said there was a surprise out in the family room for me when I woke up today. It was Daddy. He took a personal day because things aren't going well at work. Something about the other boys aren't playing nice with him. So he stayed home with us today. We played a little and then took naps at the same time. Then I watched Mommy and Daddy play Donkey Kong while I ate an entire thing of easy mac and a couple of chicken fries. Daddy bathed me tonight while Mommy started reading me Pippi Longstocking. Then Mommy and Daddy talked in my bedroom as I played a little more. We went back out to the family room until about 9:30pm when Mommy said it was late enough and put me to bed.

Feb 25 - After breakfast Mommy called Aunt Lynn trying to figure out what we could do together. Mommy and I have been stuck in the house for days and it was time to get out and do something. So they planned for us to come over to their house and play and make cookies. Mommy and I finished up breakfast and watching American Idol from last night. I crawled into Mommy's lap. I have to say it has been a little hard with this weaning thing. I miss the closeness with Mommy. So I layed down next to her and we watch tv together for a while. Then I had enough and started to get up. The show was over so Mommy and I got moving and headed over to the Harrington House. Mommy let me walk up the stairs and into the house by myself. I love that she gives me little freedoms like that. Chachi was on the couch watching tv. I played with him for a while and then walked over to the steps. Mommy said not today. We went downstairs and found Aidan and Gavin playing. I played with some of their toys and tried to follow them around as they ran back and forth. Gavin knocked me down and I bumped my head. He had to stand in the corner for a few minutes and then say sorry to me. Then we took some toys upstairs and played at the table and ate lunch while Mommy and Aunt Lynn made Valentine's cookies. I know, it is way past Valentine's day but we were all sick we were supposed to do it. We all did a great job at the table.

We went back downstairs and I got in Gavin's crib and Aidan got in his bed. We all took naps. Then we hung out a little while longer until it was getting close to Aunt Lynn's hair appointment. Mommy and I went home and Daddy was already there. I got to play a little and ate a little more. Then Mommy got me ready for the hockey game. It had been a while since I had gone and was really excited. Daddy carried me into the Verizon Center and up the escalators. There is always so much to look at there. Mommy and Daddy got food so Uncle Dave asked to hold me so they could eat. I sat on his knee for the whole first period, the first intermission, and half the second period before I reached for Mommy. I was an angel. The Caps were not playing well at all and since I hadn't had dinner, Daddy had school tomorrow and I also needed to take my medicine We decided to leave a few minutes early. We said goodbye to Uncle Dave and drove home. I slept on the way home. Daddy woke me up so I could get changed for bed, eat dinner, and take my medicine. Then it was right to bed.

Goodbye car hello truck, picnic at the beach and fun with family

Feb 12 - I slept in today. Still had a slight fever of 99.0 this morning so Mommy forced me to take Tylenol again just in case. Then I got to spend a few hours with Chachi and Grandma Joanie while Daddy was at school and Mommy went up to the office to do their taxes. I napped and then ate lunch with them and then played so well by myself. Grandma Joanie said that she thinks I am back to normal. I think so too. Mommy and Daddy got home and we all sat and talked about the car situation and Daddy's work until it was time for Chachi and Grandma Joanie to go so they kissed me goodbye.

Then I got clingy with Mommy, sat in her lap and dumped Cheerio Chex Mix all over her. I took another short nap. I thought it was really funny that Mommy kept trying to balance a toy baby bottle on my head. She said I was getting better and better at balancing it. Daddy gave me a present that he got for my birthday. It was a barn yard little people that makes animal sounds. I enjoyed the fake sky background more at first. Then I got into the barn when I heard all the animal sounds it makes. It was fun.

Daddy let me sit on his lap at his computer and I kept trying to pull the headset off his head. Then I went to bed at 8:30pm and played in my crib til I fell asleep.

Feb 13 - Today we ran a few errands. Daddy got me in the van and Mommy drove to the dump, then CVS. Daddy carried me around and we bought Mommy a small heart of chocolate for Valentine's Day as she got my cream for my eczema. Then we said goodbye to Mommy's car and got the license plates off of it.

Then over to the bank and grocery store. Then it was back home for a nap and some play time with Daddy and Mommy. I wasn't in the best of moods though. I was pretty fussy and cried a lot today. This evening Mommy got the Cheer for Me potty out so that I could start getting used to it. I liked to lift the lid and pull the toilet paper holder out and I tried to make it cheer by touching the senors in the bowl. Then before bath time Daddy sat me on it to show me how I go. I didn't sit long but it was just a test run.

Mommy also gave me these cool foamy letter to play with in my bathtub. She only pulled out the N-I-C-K-Y so that I start to get used to my name. I loved them and had to keep getting reminded not to eat them.

Feb 14 - Today was Valentine's Day. Mommy spent the day cleaning out Daddy's desk and organizing it. There was stuff everywhere and it was separating Mommy from me. I didn't like that so I climbed over all the stuff and into her lap. Then I climbed into the empty drawer that she was trying to organize. Mommy laughed at me.

I was tired of her messing with the desk and wanted her to play with me so I got really angry and started to fuss. Mommy said she was going to lose her mind. She sent a text about me to Daddy and he said to give me Orajel. Thanks, Daddy. She did and it did make me feel better but man, does that stuff taste bad! Then Mommy found that I cut another tooth. This makes number nine and it is on my right on the top and to the back. It is a big one. We had thought about going over to Aunt Lynn's to make sugar cookies with them but Aidan and Gavin have had colds and I still have a runny nose. So we said maybe another time. Mommy and I hung out together at home. I had made a mess at dinner and Mommy gave me a bath by herself since Daddy was still at school. Then Daddy got home and he spent a little time with me and made me a laugh a little before it was time to go to sleep.

Feb 15 - Today was a busy one. First we went to story time. Today was about time. They showed us a few clocks and read a few books. I watched the librarians during the If Your Happy And You Know It song.

We left pretty quickly after story time and went to Aunt Lynn's. I have developed a cough and Aunt Lynn said that Aidan and Gavin had too so we must all have the same thing. Mommy had picked up a movie from redbox for Aunt Lynn and her to watch so I played with Gavin. I kept going over to the stairs and followed Gavin all the way up to the top. I am becoming a good climber. Then I got really upset because I was getting sleepy. It was nap time after all. So Mommy and Aunt Lynn put me in Gavin's crib to sleep. When I woke up Aidan was back from school. He always asks if he can hold me. So Mommy put me next to him in his bed. I didn't want to lay still though. I wanted to play with this cool track that Aidan and Gavin had. I was as big as I am.

Mommy helped Aunt Lynn put all the toys back in their bins and then we headed home. We ate lunch really quickly then hopped in the van to go to CarMax in Laurel. It was a long trip. When we got there we looked at the truck. It is nice.

Daddy went on a test drive with Woody, the sales guy, while Mommy and I went into the play room. I had a good time in the play room. They had a slide and guess what? I went down the slide all by myself! I did it over and over again and had the best time. I showed Daddy I could do it too when he got back from his test drive.

I needed a boost to get up the first step but the rest I did on my own. I went down head first and giggled the whole way.

Then I tuckered myself out and started to have a melt down. We had been there for hours and my nose was running, I was hungry, and I just wanted to go home. Finally, it was time to go. Daddy got in his new truck and Mommy put me in the van. After a quick stop at Wendy's for some fries and nuggets for me we headed home. I cried most of the way home and fell asleep the last 10 mins. Mommy didn't want to wake me but she had to. She changed me for bed and put me in my crib. We skipped the bath tonight.

Feb 16 - Did you know that I am eating pancakes or french toast sticks every morning for breakfast. I have graduated from almost all baby food and am eating lots of big-boy food now. When I am really hungry I can eat six pancakes all by myself. After breakfast, Mommy made lots of calls and emails to State Farm and NRL trying to get a better rate on the car loan. I was pretty good while I played by myself or stood at her knees watching her talk into the phone. I wanted to talk too. Then I took a nap.

I woke up late and even though we would be getting there really late Mommy took me to group. She told me that this would be our last time because I have been getting too big for that little room with the little babies. So we said goodbye to Ms. Betty and thanked her for everything she has done for us. Mommy and I were both a little sad to say goodbye but we told her that we would visit from time to time. After that we went home and played some more. Mommy put me in the tub this evening and as I was splashing around I caught a glimpse of Daddy in the doorway. He was playing peek-a-boo with me and making me laugh and was being really quite that Mommy didn't even know he had gotten home from school and was behind her. Then it was a little play time before bed.

Feb 17 - Today was unseasonably warm for February. It was over 70 degrees with a light breeze. This morning we headed to Oxon Hill's NRL branch to pick up two checks for the truck financing. Then we called Grandmommy and told her we were in the area. She was at McDonald's so we joined her. She showed me off to her friends and then we ate lunch together. I had a chicken nugget happy meal and Grandmommy was amazed at how well I sat in the highchair eating my fries and nuggets. Then I started to make a lot of noise. Not fussy but really happy squeals. Mommy told me to be quiet but I was just too happy. We decided to leave.

I played in the van for a few minutes as Mommy and Grandmommy tried to think of a park that had some shade nearby. Mommy remember the park in Ft. Washington. So we drove to it. It was fun. I sat on the teeter-totter and rode on the swing.

Mommy and Grandmommy let me go down the big slide and I just enjoyed walking around on the woodchips.

Then Grandmommy sat with me on the big train. I was getting sleepy so we said goodbye to Grandmommy and drove home. I slept the whole way. I woke up because Mommy made some noise in the van. I wasn't too happy about that but she picked me up and I played in the front yard. She let me walk around and I walk over to Ms. Donna's front yard. I tried to get closer to the street to see the cars but Mommy picked me up and said "Danger." We hung out outside til Daddy got home in his big blue truck. They let me climb in the back and check it out. I liked it a lot.

Then we all went inside. We played for a while and I got Mommy soaked in the tub tonight. I splashed a lot. Today was a good day. Oh, and some other news I found out is that I should be getting a new friends because Mr. Randy and Ms. Laura's baby Daniel was born today. Mommy said it was funny because a year ago today was my due date.

Feb 18 - This morning we got things started with french toast. Then we got dressed and headed down to the Northeast Community center where I had my birthday party. They were having an obstacle course for ages 1-5 for free. We got there and it was pretty packed. Mommy took me over to these arches and I saw one of the other kids get down and crawl so I followed. Then there were a bunch of hoops. You were supposed to walk over them but I wanted to pick them up. I also played with the deflated basketballs and crawled under a table. Mommy picked me up to play with the streamers hanging from the ceiling and helped me get up on top of this huge mountain. I had a good time there but I kept wondering out of the room and over toward the pre-school room where my party was help. No one was there and the door was shut but I remembered!

After the obstacle course a bunch of us decided to go down to the beach. We all walked in the sand and had a picnic. After eating, Mommy let me play on the big wooden boat. Since we had been eating, all the seagulls and ducks started to come over to find anything left over. I wasn't afraid of them just interested. Mommy let me go closer to the water but said we couldn't go in today. I watched all the ducks swim around. Then we packed up.

Mommy had brought my bike so that I could see what it was like outside. I had a blast going up and down the boardwalk. Everyone we passed said it was so cool. I really like my bike.

Ms. Erin and Sam had walked with us and Ms. Erin showed us this store called the Re Store. It is a bunch of used items and Mommy found a cheap tripod for her camera and two books for me for a grand total of $12. Then we walked back to the van and said goodbye to Ms. Erin and a passed out Sam. We only drove a few minutes before I passed out too. Since I had only slept a few minute Mommy thought I would be ok to wake up and put in the crib to go back to sleep. She was wrong. I stayed in the crib for a long time, crying out every now and then but mostly playing with my Elmo remote. I didn't go to sleep until after Daddy got home from work.

When I woke up Mommy fed me really quick and then we left because Daddy had had a tough day at work and hadn't been sleeping well so he took a nap. We left so the house would be quiet. We headed over to the Harrington House. Grandma Joanie, Uncle Sean and the kids were eating pizza at the table. I ran around with Gavin and Aidan and made it up the stairs to see Chachi in his computer room. Then we all went downstairs for bath time. I watched as Gavin and Aidan played in the tub. Uncle Sean suggested that I get in too. So Mommy stripped me down and plopped me in. I was not happy. I wouldn't let go of Mommy and kept trying to climb out of the tub. Mommy had never seen me act this way to a bath. Maybe it was all the bubbles or the company but I didn't like something. We rinsed off and Mommy dressed me. I was not in a great mood after that and kept screaming at Mommy. Uncle Sean tried to give me cheeze-its but I just wanted to go. So we said goodbye and headed home. We got home, Mommy handed me off to Daddy and got dinner for me. I didn't eat much and got dressed for bed.