Happy Leap Day! I have heard that February 29 only happens once every four years. I don’t quite understand why that is but I bet that would make it hard to count your birthdays if that date does not exist for a couple of years in a row. Since I don’t think my birthday is on this “Leap Day” and since I can’t count yet, I am not very concerned. I am also sure that Mommy and Daddy would help me count and would celebrate with me anyway. Every day seems to be a celebration in my world. Today, though, is significant to me because Mommy came home from her first business trip! She left on Tuesday night, so it has been a long, confusing time for me. But Daddy is pretty amazing and we have had a great time together. I have slept well and enjoyed the time with just the four of us (remember Mr. Fancy Pants and Bella!). I am still not really into the bottle and Daddy has had some interesting experiences with me eating in the morning and before bed. First, I am used to nursing with Mommy for these two feedings, and as much as I enjoy eating my cereal with a spoon, I am not really interested in eating with a spoon for these feeding times. The first night he held me in his lap and tried the cereal. He had as much cereal on his clothes as I did and we both had more on us than I had in my mouth. The next morning he tried a bottle. I did not cry and I really did try but it’s just not something I want to do. Luckily Miss Nancy feeds me shortly after I arrive at school so I just needed a little to tide me over.

Each morning when I woke up I did look all around for Mommy. I did not understand that she was not going to be there. I kept looking around for her (especially now that I understand “object permanence,” a concept that helps me know that a person or object still exists even though I do not see it. This is why I always look to the floor when I drop a toy from my high chair! I used to just drop it and figure it was gone forever!

The other reason today (or yesterday and tomorrow, technically speaking) is important is that Mommy and I left on our global trip one year ago. As I mentioned already, this day did not exist last year so I don’t quite understand, but I will let it go. This trip is what started this journey, “the amazing adventures of little miss sunshine.” I don’t remember the trip that well, I just remember that it was warm and safe in Mommy’s belly and that she had the time of her life. I hope someday she and I can take a trip and she can really show me all the sights and sounds like what we enjoyed on that trip.

We have a web cam up and working! I still don’t quite understand how it works, but I hear Grandma and Grandpa on the computer. We have calls a couple of times a week. We have had some technical difficulties, but are now able to see and hear each other, how fun.

I already told you that I move myself in my crib at night. Last week I woke myself up (and Mommy and Daddy) because I guess I swung my arm in my sleep too and turned on my mobile. Daddy heard the noise in his sleep and asked Mommy how in the world the music turned on. When Mommy came in, I looked up at as if to say “I don’t know what happened, but the music came on!” She giggled, turned off the music, turned me over and moved me back to the other end of the bed. I went right back to sleep!

I can eat with my hands now! Mommy read that if I try to take the spoon when being fed and if I try to get at people’s plates when they are eating, I might be ready for finger foods. Duh! Of course I am. She gave me some pieces of bread and I used my new skill, the “pincer grasp” and ate it off my high chair tray! Then they bought some Cheerios (the real kind!) and I love them too. It’s a whole new world for me. Now at school I can eat my Cheerios along with the rest of my food. A big step for a growing girl.

March 8, 2008
We got busy and were not able to get the last update up before more exciting things happened. I know, you understand that exciting things are happening all of the time so we are constantly keeping up with them.

Last Saturday, Mommy and I went to Columbus for Anna Greenlee’s first birthday party. Boy was it fun. There were many kids there and I just love watching other kids. Anna had a great time with her presents, although it seemed that she had the most fun with the paper the presents were wrapped in. I completely understand this because I like to carry around plastic blocks and bang them on things. It does not take so much to entertain us, we can entertain ourselves. Mommy gave me a little bit of Anna’s cake (not the icing, don’t worry), boy was it good! I can’t wait for my first birthday, I hear that I get to put my hands and face into my very own cake. I can just see Daddy’s face when I make such a mess.

I have my first ear infection. I have been coughing at night so Mommy took me to the doctor on Tuesday. She thought that there might be some congestion in my chest. Nope. But, we did find out that I have ear infections in both ears. I guess this is a common thing for little kids like me. I did not complain about my ears though, so Mommy felt really bad that they did not know. That’s okay though, I got some good tasting medicine that I get to take every morning and night.

It snowed again and Daddy, Mommy and I played in it this morning! Daddy pulled me in my sled then Mommy and I made a snow angel. I am still not quite sure of this wet stuff outside, but Daddy and Mommy really seem to enjoy it, so I guess it’s fun. Mr. Fancy Pants went outside for a minute too, but Bella was smart enough to stay inside where it’s warm. Since we are in “blizzard-like conditions” and have the potential for “convection snow,” we are not going out to do errands today. Yeah, an inside day where we can play and play.

Next week is busy again, as Mommy is going on another business trip on Tuesday night. Daddy has a busy week at work but I think he is excited to have some time with just the two of us. We will let you know how it goes!

We hope you are all safe and warm wherever you are.