New nap time, please

Beatrice didn't use those words exactly...but she got her point across.

The 1 Year Old Song

"I'm 1 year old!  1 year old!  1 year old!"

"I'm 1 year old!  1 year old!  1 year old!"

And repeat 100 times. (Sung to the presidential tune of "Four more years!")

This was the song I found Sarah B and Beatrice singing today.  Sarah B was singing and Beatrice was holding up her fingers (think Nixon).

Beatrice also had what I would consider her first real phone call today.  She actually said 'Hi' and 'Bye' (pronounced with a heavy Southern accent) to her Grands in Georgia.  We then attempted to call Mama and Dada so she could say Hi/Bye...I had visions of calling everyone...but instead Beatrice revolted and went inside to read, thank you very much.

What day is it?

Honestly, I'm not entirely sure...it's Wednesday (I just checked the calendar).  So we've been busy recently.  And still sick.  I'm trying to get over whatever this is (cold, flu, The Plague), and Beatrice is/was fighting an ear infection.  Zack, aka Old Iron Constitution himself, appears to be fine again finally.  Though even he is still "a bit tired".  So...long way of saying, we've just been hanging out, laying low, and not transitioning to my new computer (and thus not blogging).  Oh, and I've been working a ton.  That has probably had some impact on the amount of blogging.

We don't look that bad in the photos though...(note, the most you'll see of me is my foot!).  Here is a photo that nearly broke my heart when I saw it this morning.  It's Beatrice in my coat the day I was in LA for work.  

And some photos from this weekend when we finally all made it to the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History together.  Very fun.  Beatrice enjoyed showing Daddy all of the animals, especially the area that looks like Guyot Hall from Princeton (my favorite).

And lots of hanging out...and eating guac.  Yum.

I'm looking forward to the day when I can say, "Beatrice, what day is it?" and get the answer from her.  She is now saying "HiDaaaiiieee" (Hi Daddy).  So cute.  

Stargazing

So I have to admit that when I found out we were moving to SoCal (Southern California, for those of you not in the know), I thought, "Oh fun, we'll get to see lots of Hollywood-types." Not so much, it seems. The few sightings:

* David Beckham: I was reminded of this yesterday when I left work in LA early to come home and go straight to bed as I was ill. Instead I sat in LA traffic for what felt eons. On Santa Monica Blvd I realized I was creeping along at 2miles an hour next to David Beckham in his ridiculous customized Escalade (www.celebritycarsblog.com/2007/07/exclussive-photos-of-david-beckhams.html). He is much smaller than his photos make him appear. And no, Posh wasn't in the car. I called Jas to share the 'moment'

* George Clooney: Zack and I caught a glimpse of him when we were driving through Malibu one early Sunday morning. Ok, actually we just saw what we thought was his custom-made car that Zack had read about somewhere. Or something. (www.imdb.com/find?s=all&q=george+clooney)

* Anthony Edwards: You know, Goose from Top Gun. In Santa Barbara, after a jog. Much taller and skinnier than I would have thought. (www.imdb.com/find?s=all&q=anthony+edwards)

* John Cleese: In Santa Barbara at Lazy Acres, our local grocery store.

* Dennis Franz: Sarah B took Beatrice to the Montecito Von's (another grocery store in SoCal). This was during the time when Beatrice was still charming everyone in grocery stores with smiles and waves (before she could run). The story goes that some nice older man played with Beatrice and said "He is just so cute. Rosy cheeks.", to which Sarah B replied, "SHE is a girl!" Afterwards some people came up to her and said, "Don't you know who that is? That is Dennis Franz from NYPD Blue!" Sarah B said she wasn't that impressed, as he obviously couldn't tell that Beatrice was a girl. That and she'd much rather it had been Ricky Schroder. Me too!

That's it. Seriously. I thought for sure I could get a second job as a paparazzo out here. But no.

*

In Beatrice news, she is growing up so fast! She is already a shoes (and purse) hound. Zack found her in her closet the other morning trying on all of her shoes. She shut the closet door on him, so she could try them on alone! Here she is trying on my shoes:

Beatrice has also learned how to blow her nose. Seriously. She obviously got this from watching Eleanor. She'll grab a tissue, bend 45-90 degrees at the waist, and snort into the tissue. And then typically drop it on the floor. Amazing. Not sure I understand why the bending is necessary, but I'm all for the results.

What else? Beatrice is really enjoying cooking. She has her own cabinet of dishes. The new thing is to empty everything out onto the living room table, stir the "food" in the bowls, pretend to eat, and then put everything back into the cabinet and slam it closed. Beatrice also still loves singing "The Wheels on the Bus" - in the photo below right she is rotating her hands, which is signal for "Mommy/Daddy, start singing!"

Finally, Beatrice has started playing Mommy to her dolls. She is so sweet with them. Here she is with her Daddy's Cabbage Patch doll (yes, it's an Oakland A's doll):

Still, I don't think I'd leave a newborn with her anytime soon. Beatrice is still fickle about the whole motherhood thing (see below).

Beatrice as Muse

Beatrice is officially an artist now! Or at least an artist's muse. Of sorts.

Laina does amazing body prints on canvas. And what isn't cuter than a baby's bottom? The combination (and thought process helped along by a bottle of wine between us) - baby bottom prints on canvas!



So there it is! Non-toxic paint plus a protective layer of ointment, one semi-cooperative baby, 5 adults, and a quick warm bath immediately afterwards (not to mention Laina's artistic talents in touch-up later this week) - and it's avant-guarde baby art!

In other Beatrice news - she is making sounds that are starting to approximate words, largely in part, I think, to her newfound love of reading (thanks Eleanor!). The only problem? Like her mother, she enjoys reading the same books over and over and over. This alphabet book we've already read more than 20 times today. No kidding.

And she has finally mastered the sit-and-spin toy Sarah B bought her for Christmas. If only she hadn't figured out where the on switch was....


Finally, Sarah B left this afternoon for a long weekend at home. Beatrice is going to miss her! (So are we!!)