the Lentil is a little car crazy. now she’s always loved vehicles and trucks and one of the frequent car games is to point out and name mini loaders, big rigs, dump trucks etc while we are in the car. and so I guess it’s not surprising that the first movie we showed her was Cars. and we probably shouldn’t be surprised that she’s a liitle crazy in love with the movie and the characters. and I’ll admit that BJ and I probably have gone a little overboard with buying her Cars stuff … but she does play with them a lot!

she also gets to take someone with her when we go out … yesterday she decided to take Mater …

today is the last day of our time off from work. tomorrow we both head back to our respective jobs and the Lentil returns to “school” full-time. it’s been nice but all such things eventually end.
we took the Lentil to a huge indoor playground for some major romping (it is litterally subzero here today). she had a great time and became very brave climbing high and putting up with the larger rougher children. she’s such a sweetie.
now we are running errands then it’s home to veg and clean a little.

Happy New Year to you & yours from us & ours. 2009 was a year full of adventure & excitement … and 2010 promises to be all that and more.

we took the lentil to the local mall’s indoor playground to help her shake sone of her sillies out and run, jump, and yell a bit.

Saturday August 29 2009

This morning we bought a wagon and headed to the fair. We all had a great time - The Lentil particularly enjoyed the carousel.

Of course she fell asleep right after we purchased the ride tickets so BJ and I walked around and looked at exhibits while she napped in the wagon. After she woke back up she got to ride a horse, a bunny, and a deer.

So we’ve closed on the house & have been moving over slowly from the apartment. We have till the end of July to be out of the apartment so we are taking our time — makes for a pretty nice move all things considered.

Just a few pictures - photos of the inside if the house will come as we get stuff put away - no need for photos if boxes and crap!

Swing Time Fun

Dinner with Daddy

I know this isn’t the best picture — what with the back lighting and all — but I love it … they were sitting cross legged - face to face both in jeans and no shirt eating ribs off of BJ’s lap … it was so sweet!

Happy Easter to you and yours.

We enjoyed a little indoor living room egg “hunt” with the Lentil today … much fun … and generally just had a nice lazy stay at home Sunday.  Enjoy the photos!

The Lentil would, of course, like to thank all who added to her piggy this Easter!

A Little Lentil Attitude!

Budding Audiophile

All her eggs back in her basket …

Playing with a car from one of her eggs …

Today was a very busy day.  We started off with an Easter Egg Hunt at a ‘local’ park … then the Lentil crashed in the car while BJ & I ate lunch in the car in the parking lot of Whole Foods (so she could sleep).  We then hit a Party City so that BJ could pick up some stuff he needed for work.  The Lentil woke up we met him in there for a diaper change … and she picked out a toy softball.  Then we met up with our Realtor to look at a few more houses.  Then we hit a local restaurant for beverages while we wrote an offer on the house we looked at yesterday afternoon after work.  So enjoy the photos!

On our way to the Egg Hunt

and yes I am aware that it’s not Valentine’s Day … I’ve been waiting for a day warm enough for her to wear these psychedelic pants!

Of course we arrive early to park … luckily there is a playground … and the Lentil’s favorite — a swing!

And of course a slide — yes she did go face down & head first … one time!

I’m not sure exactly how any of us felt about this bouncy “see saw” like thing.

I had purchased the Lentil a very nice basket for her eggs … and then left it at home the morning of the hunt.  Luckily one of the crafts was to make and decorate a paper basket — BJ did the cutting, folding, stapling, and taping.  The Lentil did the decorating …

The Lentil is clearly ready to get on with the egg hunting and insists that the eggs are that way

(actually she was pointing at a dog — but the first makes a better story) 

Mom & Dad are # 1

(actually she was pointing at an airplane … but hey! can’t blame me for trying!)

Ah ha!  I have found an egg!

Let me pick it up and put it in my basket!

The Lentil’s basket full of eggs … and yes although she had not had any prior experience with Easter Eggs — she was very possessive of them … they were hers!

This particular park also had a petting zoo with the egg hunt.  The Lentil got to pet a pony.

And a goat!

The Lentil then fell fast asleep in the car … it was an exhausting morning!

After lunch and a nap and a little shopping we headed up to meet our Realtor … we were early again … so we found a playground … and fun ensued for the Lentil …

We put in an offer on Saturday on a new house.  Found out we were in a multiple offer situation and put in a revised offer on the house on Sunday.

We found out last night that our offer was the ‘winning’ offer and we are just waiting on the paperwork to make it officially under contract.

Of course we are now a bit gun shy and will wait on the appraisal and inspection before really feeling comfortable … but for now we have the house.

It’s more than we intended to pay … but it’s in a much nicer area than we were originally looking … we didn’t think we could afford this area … with a FANTASTIC backyard … very functional & nice kitchen … and an open floor plan. 

I did not take any photos so I ‘borrowed’ the pics below off the mls listing until I go back and take my own photos (probably at the inspection)!

so … a muted Yippee!

Backyard

Kitchen

The Lentil is growing up so very very quickly … she is such a big girl now … and yet just this morning while we were waking her up — there was that flash of a moment when we saw the same stretch and face that she had as a newborn … being a parent is such an amazing and wonderful wild ride!

Going back a while ago …. when we had our parent teacher conference with the Lentil’s daycare teacher … we discussed talking - words & signs.  Ms. K has repeatedly told us that she’s never seen a child take to the signs like our Lentil has … and that she thought that when the Lentil starts talking it will be in sentences … a combination of the Lentil’s intense observation of the world around her and the way that she likes to get things right …. LOL … not that BJ or I were ever ‘worried’ about the lack of “talking”  per se …. just all good things to hear.

But, I am finally ready to say that the Lentil has her first true word … after the syllabic dada & mama …. and the “dat” (for that) … she now says ball (quite clearly) and has for at least a week or so … very consistently … now in less than that short time period we have heard her say: car, read, & truck.  In fact she has said “read dat” … we know she’s just moments away from adding new ones - and this is going to be a crazy amazing time as she learns to make her mouth and lips and tongue move around the crazy sounds to make words …

She’s already amazing with signs & can communicate very well … she is also learning what sounds animals make — she’s been making the bear sound for months — but she’s crazy about bears so that is no surprise.

Anyway — I know that all children go through this amazing stage — but we are so proud of her and her big girl words.

She is also very big about doing everything herself … hence the pictures of her putting on her hat and shoes — now she wants to put on her pants herself too … it’s adorable.

—- Potty Talk Below —-

We are also working on “potty learning” and are having limited success … she does quite well with peeing when she’s not too busy/excited … pooping on the other had is not going so well …. she’s even having some success at school … and we are so proud of her for this as well … but there is no pressure … she is still young and this will come in time!