How Do They Learn this Stuff?

Flash back with me to January of 2008.

That's only 10ish months ago, right? Wow, has a lot changed since then.

I opened my My Pictures folder, and found this little mug muggin' at me. Really, who teaches these kids that this is a "smile?" Somehow they learn because, not even just when it's mine, whenever a camera comes out, our kids bring out the crinkle-your-nose-squint-your-eyes-bare-your-teeth-almost-puppy-like smile. It's often accompanied by a sound that's presumably a version of "Cheeeeeeeese" but without the "ch" and the "s." So basically, "Eeeeeeee."

I'll dig up some of Zach's cheesing, but for now, here are a few of Olivia in January, at almost 11 months. Please excuse the terrible linoleum and especially the flakes of whatever she's scooting over. Maybe it was just something on the camera lens. Let's go with that.

"Eeeeeeee"

Check out those CHOPPERS.

"The view down here's the cat's meow, almost literally, if that were possible!"

Most Dangerous Chocolate Cake

I haven't tried this, but I'm up for a challenge! I'll post again once I've taken the plunge.
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right?

Most Dangerous Chocolate Cake in the World
(serves 1-2)

1 coffee mug
4 Tablespoons plain flour
4 Tablespoons sugar
2 Tablespoons baking cocoa
1 egg
3 Tablespoons milk
3 Tablespoons oil
3 Tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
Splash of vanilla

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well with a fork.
Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
Pour in the milk and oil and continue to mix well.
Add the chocolate chips and vanilla and mix again.
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts.
The cake might rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!
Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.

ENJOY!

P.S. If you try this before I do, let me know what you think!

10/22: Turn Off Your Cell

I didn't read this in time to turn it off for the duration of the boycott, but it's off now.

Big Girl Bed!

At almost 20 mos., Olivia began climbing INTO her crib, so we decided, we'd better pull the front barrier off and make it a big-girl bed before she decided to climb OUT.

These pics were taken her first night in her "new" bed.

She had a rough time at naptime, earlier in the day. She cried and climbed out, and pulled the wipes out of the container, and moved the garbage behind the rocker and unloaded the blanket drawer and cried and played with the monitor, and cried. And, finally, after several visits and an extra lullaby, she fell asleep.

At bedtime, she cried a bit, and climbed out of bed a bit, but she did fall asleep much quicker, probably also due to the short nap earlier.

Big Girl! Sweetly sleeping.

No front barrier to keep her confined!
"Woudja stop with the flash, Mom?"

Also, last night - 10/19/08 - she successfully used the toilet for the first time, for both functions! BIG girl. I wish that meant we were going to be done with diapers, but I am a realist, and we came home from the store with another box. But we're getting closer. Yay!

(I didn't provide pics of this milestone. Sorry.)