Flower

Since she was old enough to say "flower", it has always come out "Flow-blblblblblbblblblb-er". I don't know why, it just has. Note, too, the Bo Julia at the end. Whenever we take out the camera to take snaps or video, The Cheese will frantically say, "Bo Julia!" over and over. It's her way of asking to see herself in the camera. I think it's a variant of "baby Julia" but who really knows?

Library Cheese

Every week, Lynnie takes the Cheese down to the library. There is a little children's program where they sing songs and hear a story - if you can over the din of 35 wee ones. She takes after her old man, sadly. This is what I look like in an aerobics class - I can kinda do it, but not most of it and I'm happier when it's over than at any other time. I don't think she's gonna be much of a dancer - just a mover and a shaker.

Prayin' Cheese

Before every meal, we try to have The Cheese give thanks for her food. For months we've said the same prayer and this week, she's finally started to say it on her own. I can't seem to get her to pray a different one at bed time, though. If you ever ask her to pray, this is what you'll get:

It's kinda hard to understand. She's saying, "Yoko Jesus for our food, Amen."

Cheesisms: Yoko = Thank you. Nyoko = No Thank You.

The Big Girl Bed

The other day, we got the Cheese her first big girl bed. So far, so good. The first day was a bit dodgy. She wasn't sure quite how to fall asleep in all that space, but today she's doing much better. She likes her bed, a lot, but not nearly as much as the blanket that she sleeps with. She calls her blanket, "biddy." She has some very deep emotions when it comes to the biddy - and the cat down the street called, Nicco - and the camera.

More Screamin' Cheese a.k.a Girl Practice

The other day, I heard screaming, lots of screaming coming from the Cheese and Lynnie. I went down stairs to see what the deal-i-o was. What I found was a sacred rite of passage. You see, when a young girl reaches the right time in her life, her mother will share with her the secret of womanhood - that would be the ubiquitous lady scream heard in countless cultures from around the world. This went on much longer than this clip. Turn the sound down. She's always had a good set of lungs.

Hangin' with the Cheese

I was on vacation this past week.  We didn't go anywhere.  We just hung out around here.  I like to create problems for the Cheese to solve - it keeps her busy.  One day, we were doing something in the dining room and I pretended to be stuck under the table.  You can hear her suggestions - I help in the translation.  My favorite part is when she stops caring that her Dad needs help.  You can't miss it.  I hope I'm never in peril and at the mercy of the Cheese.  

The Farm

Summer is upon us, here in beautiful northern Virginia.  We are enjoying our time outside.  The Cheese gets very bored from routine, so we have to take her to hot smelly places in order to tire her out.  There are several free farms with animals that are run by the state parks department.  She LOVES the farm.  All the animals and the stink and the mess to step in - it couldn't get any better for a baby Cheese!  Today we took her to Frying Pan Park.  I don't think any of these animals will be in the frying pan - although there was a rather ornery cow who yelled at us.  The Cheese didn't flinch.  The cows weren't that great, but she discovered that she is quite fond of piggies.