To the fair we go

Today we went to the Nassau Coliseum Fair.

I love going to fairs. Matt on the otherhand, despises them. But we went today for Leah. I read that there was a nice enough petting zoo and Leah does enjoy them so we went. We didn't expect to stay very long. In the past Leah has not been too fond of the fair environment. The loud rides, the people crowding around everywhere and she has shown no interest in participating at all when it comes to the kid's rides.

This time was different. We started off by feeding the animals, she enjoyed giving the zebra and giraffe carrots. She also attempted to feed a donkey but its teeth scared her off.

Right off the bat Leah was asking to go on the rides, and play some of fair games. Very unlike any other outing we've had with her. We watched a mini circus show. She played a fishing game and won herself some stuffed animals. Next she went on the swings with me. I thought that she was going to be hysterical crying the minute the things took off but overall she was just nervously laughing and smiling. Afterwards she went on some of the rides by herself. We also went into the funhouse, where Leah proceeded to walk right into lots of mirrors. Ouch!

She really surprised us. She was excited and enjoying all the amusement rides. She even attempted to go on some that she was not quite big enough for. She also went on the carousel with Matt. We had lots of fair food, greasy food of course. lol. And ended the night with some funnel cake and ice cream.

First Rides

Took Leah with us to Walmart. She wanted to go on the Dumbo they had in the entrance way. Usually Leah makes a point of telling me I'd better not put money in the ride. She doesn't like to have it move. But this time was different. She wanted to hear the music and she wanted for it be on.

Things have been busy around the house. Packing for moving, not yet moving through. Have a few kinks to work out in the equation, like closing. In the meantime we are enjoying what marks the beginning of a fun and exciting summer.

Leah is looking forward to moving. She has her plans for her new room. Colors of choice for her wall are as follows: blue, pink, red and purple. Quite the combo.

Ask her the best part about the new house and she says "Two bathrooms!"

Isn't that the truth :)

More pictures to come soon.

Pictures By Grandma

Ruth takes lots of pictures of Leah. Here are some recent ones.

Day with Kitti

I was getting my hair done and Kitti was awesome enough to take Leah out for a bit. They went to the park where Kitti took some wonderful pictures of Leah.

2 years 8 months

Speech and Language Milestone Markers for Typical Children between ages 2 and 3

Identifies body parts
Carries on 'conversation' with self and dolls
Asks "what's that?" And "where's my?"
Uses 2-word negative phrases such as "no want".
Forms some plurals by adding "s"; book, books
Has a 450 word vocabulary <----Leah has easily twice that
Gives first name, holds up fingers to tell age <---Leah knows first and last name, address and is learning her phone number
Combines nouns and verbs "mommy go"
Understands simple time concepts: "last night", "tomorrow"
Refers to self as "me" rather than by name
Tries to get adult attention: "watch me" <---if you've ever been in a car with Leah and trying to hold a conversation, you are well aware of the fact she desperately tries to get adult attention by telling you to be quiet and listen to just her. lol
Likes to hear same story repeated
May say "no" when means "yes"
Talks to other children as well as adults
Solves problems by talking instead of hitting or crying
Answers "where" questions
Names common pictures and things
Uses short sentences like "me want more" or "me want cookie"
Matches 3-4 colors, knows big and little

Between Age 3 and 4

Can tell a story
Has a sentence length of 4-5 words
Has a vocabulary of nearly 1000 words
Names at least one color
Understands "yesterday," "summer", "lunchtime", "tonight", "little-big"
Begins to obey requests like "put the block under the chair"
Knows his or her last name, name of street on which he/she lives and several nursery rhymes

Leah is around the second set of milestones, rather the first. So proud of my lil conversationalist.

For Lindsay

A pic of Leah:

huh?

Leah's newest thing is "huh?" Tell her to do something, ask her a question she doesn't feel like answering, make a statement, comment, anything and you seem to get a "huh?" and its not a normal "huh" either it goes up in tone...too funny.

But it is irking my nerves and irking Matt as well.

Most kids her age, well they are saying why? Leah? Is saying why not? Whats that? What are you doing? Huh?

She is answering "Because I want to!" "I want that now!"

Too silly.

Off to the circus

Matt got me tickets to the Big Apple Circus for Christmas. Off we went today. Spent the afternoon walking around, went to eat lunch at Big Nicks. Matt and I had burgers and Leah had a slice of pizza. Then we hung out at Lincoln Center. We were trying desperately to get Leah to take a nap but she resisted. Our concern was that she was once again going to fall asleep during yet ANOTHER outing. Definitely her trademark.











Leah licking Matt's face. And then wiping it off.





We waited outside the entrance to the circus, then went in and had a great time. At first Leah was scared of the clown but after about 10 minutes it was smooth sailing. There many children there her age and once she saw them participating, she was into the whole show. She especially enjoyed the guy on the bicycle and anything with people in the air.





I braided Leah's hair on our way home to keep her occupied.




Afterwards we walked around a bit, Leah did end up falling asleep, Matt and me had some hot dogs and papaya drinks at Grey's Papaya and then it was back onto the subway and the LIRR home.

La artista

Leah likes tents. Leah likes her easel. Leah likes Labryinth.

Leah's Christmas Outfit

I have a friend April who makes some interesting outfits for children.

This is one she made for Leah.



Hokey? Yes but Leah loves it and looks great in it :)

Christmas 2006

Woke up around 8 or so to open Leah's gifts. We were fortunate enough to get Leah a couple of things we think she will enjoy. An easel, art set, clothes, books, dvds, some other random things like a digital camera. Yes Leah is now the proud owner of a digital camera. We will have to upload her first pictures soon. Better than ones I take. But most importantly Leah got the TMX Elmo that Matt got for her at regular retail price. Here she is playing with him for the first time.

So far every Christmas Eve I give Leah a present to open, a pair of pajamas to wear that night. She looks adorable in them but then again what doesn't she look adorable in!



Afterwards we left to go to Ruth & George's where tons of presents were waiting for Leah to open. Lindsay was there as well. We all got wonderful gifts and had a great time-especially watching Leah open all her presents. I found it amusing that she knew when something was clothing before even taking the gift wrap up. She would pick up the box and say "Clothes" and put the box down looking for something else to open.





Then we went to have dinner at Aunt DL's. We got to spend time with Aunt Lois, Cousins Dustin, Danny & Dave. And guess what? Leah opened MORE presents.

Afterwards off we went to my dad's in the Bronx. Lani & Kain came over as well. The kids played and of course opened their gifts as well. My dad also took some time out to show Leah how to play some traditional latino percussion instruments.




And of course we took the obligatory picture of the cousins kissing.

Trimming the Deller Tree

Matt's family has a yearly tradition. They get together and they trim the tree. This may not seem like a big deal-tons of families do it every year but I always fine great joy is being part of it. And now with Leah here, its even more fun.

But the best part of the whole thing is watching the entertainment. Matt and Lindsay. Quite a competitive pair of siblings. Compete over who has the most ornaments (Lindsay does), who has the best ornaments (Lindsay does), who is going to be placing them where on the tree (Matt tends to move Lindsay ornaments more than Lindsay moves his), who broke whose ornament (I suspect no one broke them, they break over time but its fun watching them blame one another), which ornament belongs to who, who won the Santa game the year before (I've lost track)...you get the point.

For the upcoming week Matt moves Lindsay's ornaments when she isn't around. Silly man.

This was my fifth year there, I missed last year because I was working at Qdoba at the time. But still its nuts, 5 Christmases with Matt. He of course denies it but I can count. I have five wonderful ornaments Matt's parents bought me to hang on the tree :)

Coolest thing about this year though was the fact Leah is big enough to help with the tree. And help she did.

Holiday Ramblings

It seems that Leah has at least found two things she enjoys about the holidays. One is snowmen, she likes snowmen, loves Frosty. The other is jingle bells. She loves the song and loves jingling bells.

Ask her about Santa and she will tell you- "I don't like Santa. I like snowmen."

She is too much, too funny. She is the light in our lives and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Leah's Letter to Santa

Dear Santa,
I do not like you. I don't want anything for Christmas.

Thanks for the offer. But no thanks, I do not want to sit on your lap.

Leah

And if you don't believe it, here is proof she cannot stand the man.