Birthday party

Mom's not feeling good, so Dad and I left her sleeping and went to Chiara's house to wish Chiara's mom a happy birthday. I hung with the big kids, some up to 3 years old. And the food... I don't know the German word for "berry trifle", but in my language it's, "More! More!"

Party On

I invited Chiara and her parents over for brunch today. We shared my toys, and after breakfast we walked over to the pond and looked at the ducks.

In honor of my recent birthday Mom baked me a cake. It looked so soft and pillowy, I was tempted to take a nap in it, but in the end I decided to crumble a slice onto the floor instead. Everybody else just ate theirs. So much for thinking outside the box.

Germany has little girls too

Today we went to visit Chiara and her parents for Easter Monday brunch. Mom works with Chiara's dad, but I've never seen her in the office lobby.

Chiara's bigger than me, but littler than Rebecca. She has a bunch of cool toys, most of which Mom took away before I could properly assess their nutritional content. But there were lots of yummy things on the table. Kiwi, yes. Croissant, definitely. Weißwurst... maybe next time.

Catching On

First, my housemates all moved out. Then, both sets of grandparents came to visit. After that, our stuff all disappeared. Even the piano, which only just came back. This morning, three different sets of people came to see me in my empty house: the former housies, the cousins, and Uncle David and Aunt Pam, along with a very nice lady who I guess is my first-cousin-once-removed-in-law. I'm pretty sure some kind of change is afoot.

Ein Bonn firrenburnen

Ted and Vicki held a "Bonn Voyage" fire for us. A whole bunch of our friends were there — Amanda even came all the way from Virginia just to see me. Anya, Yash, Rebecca, Penelope, and their parents showed up decorated in their Holi colors. Mom, can I have a technicolor mohawk like Penelope?

Mom and Dad made everybody take one of the bags of stuff from our living room. I guess the garbage bins at home were full. I didn't see anybody toss their bag into the fire, but there was a lot of swapping going on. What can I get for a soggy piece of banana bread?

CatFurHouse SF

Jennifer invited me to dinner. Since Mom and Dad drove me, and Mikey lives there, they got to crash.

Jennifer and Mikey's place is called CatFurHouse, but I didn't see a single catfur. I did see cheese and crackers, though. Yum! I had a great time playing with their toys, too. Thanks for a fun evening! I'm so excited, I couldn't possibly fall aslee... zzz....

The Gang's All Here

Everybody came over to play with me! That's Mom, me, Dad, Grandpa, Massi Santosh; Yash, Uncle Henhuh, Grandma, Anya, Rebecca, Jesse, and Penelope. Katherine's taking the photo, so you can't see her.

Put the lime in the coconut

Dad ate up the last of the Thai coconut-chicken soup Ted & Vicki brought, but not before I got some. Yum! Do I have to go back in the hospital to get some more of that?

Together at last

Uncle Jesse and Auntie K brought dinner to Mom and Dad as a welcome-home gift. For me, they brought books, toys, Rebecca, and Penelope. After six weeks of precautionary quarantine before the surgery, it was a real treat to play with my friends again. Thanks also to Auntie K for writing the message on the front step.

Bye-bye, friends

Rebecca, Penelope, and their parents packed up all their stuff and moved out today. I guess the disappointment of not being able to play with me for the last six weeks was too great for them to bear. It's a lot quieter around here, and I don't have to share my toys, but I still miss them. Rebecca was always good for a laugh, and I could flaunt my seniority at Penelope.

Gingerbread Houses

We had a party where everyone but me made gingerbread houses out of graham crackers. That makes as much sense to me as anything else around here. I passed the afternoon granting audiences to my adoring public. Chris doesn't play the flying game, but she really loves babies. I guess she's okay.

'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving

We got back to Albany just in time for Mom's cousin Lee's birthday dinner. For a fun time, take four children under 4 years old to a fancy restaurant well past their bedtimes. The four of us had fun, anyway.

Get Along, Little Doggie

Debbie knows all about flying, but Corinna started teaching me to ride. My beginner steed Matzi is very patient.

I got the headlights on, but I can't figure out how to turn the wiper off.

Fly Ithaca Airways

The morning after we arrived in Albany, we got back into the car to visit Mom and Dad's friends Debbie and Corinna in Ithaca. It was a record two-nap drive.

Wouldn't you know it, Debbie knows the fly game too! Sometimes it's good to be a baby.

With Help From My Little Friends

The food at this establishment is pretty quotidian, but the service is first-rate.

Another step forward for Toddler and Baby Emancipation: soon we won't need grown-ups for anything. If only they'd move the chocolate onto a lower shelf.

Rock On Mom [sic]

We played Rock Band at Ted's birthday party. I remember something like this from about 9 months ago, only it was a lot darker and more muffled. Mom would be able to sing better now, if I weren't still leaning on her diaphragm. Don't worry, I'll help out with the high notes.

Whee!

I had a great time at Ted's birthday BBQ. Everywhere I turn, someone knows the flying game!

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em

Rebecca came to visit me at the Minimum Security Daycare Facility. The warden let me out on furlough, so I gave Rebecca a tour of the grounds before we took it on the lam. Too bad we couldn't reach the latch on the gate.

Rebecca keeps asking to come back and play again. I guess it's a pretty sweet gig, for a detention center.

Sharing

Rebecca and I share lots of things: Her books, my text-to-speech interpreter. Once Rebecca learns to read, we'll trade Dad in for a bookmark and some cool Nintendo games.

Happy Birthday, Penelope!

Happy zeroth birthday to Penelope, Rebecca's new sister. She's the same length as I was at birth — and two pounds heavier! I'll have to work hard to keep ahead.

She's already borrowing some of my clothes, which is only fair, since I've been wearing Rebecca's for months. But she'd better not swipe my pacifiers.