Day 763: Ice Cream!

 Man, vacation in Florida sure is nice. For lunch, Momma gives me ice cream!

And for dinner, more ice cream! I could get used to this place.

Days 758-763: Florida!

I know, I know. I hear you. Where is Charlie??? The answer: Florida! Been having a big ol' time with Mum and Papa and all the Aunties. And also dolphins and manatees. Momma even swam with a shark, but I guess it wasn't intentional. Anyway, I'm sorry for being so quiet. I'll be home later this week and with plenty of photos to share. In the meantime. Happy Memorial Day!

Days 753-757: Grandparents

One of the best things about being a kid is having grandparents. They're like extra parents who show up sometimes to take you places and give you presents. Grandmom and Granddad came up to visit us at the house this weekend and it was very nice to spend the weekend with them. They did some painting, threw some rocks with me, and bought me this cool fly swatter. Don't ask me why Granddad is making that funny face -- Grandmom says he always does that in photos.

Tomorrow, Mom and I fly to Florida to see Mum and Papa. I hope they let me carry my fly swatter on to the plane.

PS - I also hugged a bear. (Don't worry, he's not real. Or stuffed. Well, he's stuffed. But fake stuffed.)

Days 751-752: Trains!

Have you guys ever been on a train? So cool! I'd only been on subway trains until last week when Momma and I took a shiny silver train up to some town where Daddy picked us up. It was fun -- we went so fast! But the bar car was closed. Momma seemed disappointed about that.

Day 750: Nature Boy

 I love New York City, but it's really nice to get out of town on the weekends and go up to the house. Technically, you can throw rocks in Brooklyn, but it'll probably get you in trouble. At the house, though, I can throw them whenever I want. I can also run around on grass that isn't plastic, or I can just sit back and take in the bird songs under a tree. I think in this picture I'm composing some verse.

I also like to go for walks, to the creek, to the caves, to the ruins. On this walk, I saw a frog. Make that, a FROG, but for some reason Daddy kept calling him a toad. 

Days 747-749: Big Jump!

BIG JUMP! Presented without comment.

Days 745-746: Upstate!

Hi! Did you wonder where I went? I went upstate! On a choo choo! With Momma! It was fun!

Finally it stopped raining and today we saw some frogs and also a turkey. Then we went to the playground and I made some paste out of goldfish crackers and milk when I got bored in my car seat! I put this paste in my hair! And in my eyebrows! Ha.

Day 744: Me = Helpful

In the eyes of most adults, having a toddler complicates things for parents. Most people think we always get in the way. I prefer to see the positive in this matter: I think having a toddler is like having a little personal assistant to help out with such tasks as folding laundry (pictured), sweeping ( but not vacuuming! dear god, no vacuuming), and of course making cookies. I'm excellent at cleaning bowls full of cookie batter!

Day 743: Cool Car!

I love blocks -- this isn't exactly news at this point. But I'm always happy to get some more of them, and one of Momma's friends brought me a big bag of them for my birthday and these blocks even had some special wheels that turn a block into a car. Mostly I build towers, but now I have these wheels, so I decided to build a tower on the car, and each time I add a level I like to yell, "Cool car!" I'm going to need a step stool if this thing gets any higher.

Oh, by the way, yesterday we all went to the doctor -- me, Daddy, Momma, and Lamby. I'm not going to lie - this wasn't my favorite experience of the week -- but I at least had Lamby going through the same experience, and after we got shots and finger pricks, the nice doctor gave us Band-Aids. Mine fell off but Lamby is still wearing his today.

Days 741-42: Here Goes Another Year!

 Yesterday was my first day of being 2. It felt pretty much the same as being 1. And if you ask me how old I am, more than likely I'll say "FOUR!" though I'm not sure why. It just sounds better.

 We had a nice day in the city. It was really nice out and we took the choo choo to Manhattan. Did you know there's a huge park there too? It's great. And like our park, it has a zoo! A better zoo!

 Auntie Claire came and met us there and we saw some penguins and watched the sea lions eat and do tricks. Those guys are really funny. If the wall wasn't so high I'd definitely have gone swimming with them. I think we'd get along well.

Day 740: Happy Birthday to Me!

Guess whose birthday it is today? This guy! No, not this guy as in Elmo, the huge balloon guy in the pictures. This guy as in ME! Speaking of Elmo, though, thanks to Mum and Papa for sending him. I love him and we've been walking around the apartment together since yesterday. He even gets along with Lamby.

But back to more important matters: Can you believe I'm two? TWO! (Editor's note: NO!)

Also, some housekeeping. Clearly we need to hire a mathematician, or maybe just a person who can read a calendar, here at Charlie's blog. Because I might not be able to add yet, but I know people who can -- at least if they have an iPhone handy -- and if a year has 365 days, and I'm now two years, that should be Day 730. Or maybe, 731 if we're counting Leap Year. Apparently I have time traveled. So, hello from the future! 

Day 739: Try Again!

Hey, I forgot I could put video on here! Cool! Here's a game I made up last weekend. It was really fun, until the ball popped. Oh, well.

P.s. - I forgot to wish Granddad a happy birthday yesterday. Actually, I didn't forget, but he wasn't home so I couldn't. But, HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDDAD! See you soon.

Day 738: Big Boy Chairs

My parents are always trying to get me to sit in the high chair, or the booster seat. But I'm over it. I get the trick. And I don't see them sitting in chairs with seatbelts! I also like to be mobile with my food, so as to provide maximum dispersal for crumbs. Mice need to eat too.

Sometimes I sit on my little reading chairs, but up at the house I like the bench at the dining table. Last weekend we got these cool new bar stools. They're like high chairs, but without the tray or the seatbelt. And without a back. Which is pretty cool, until you fall off and bite your tongue. Which I obviously did. Oops. Good thing I have a short memory.

Day 737: Behind the Wheel

I spent a lot of time driving my Batmobile yesterday at Habana Outpost. I love driving — I prefer to be behind the wheel — but some kids are happy just to go for a ride. Like Leo, for instance.

I don't think Molly's old enough to drive just yet. But she sure is cute.

Days 735-736: Haircuts. Hmmmm.

Mom decided that my bangs were too long and getting in my eyes. So, she took me to a lady who specializes in haircuts for kids. This happened.

Now, I'm no expert in haircuts, but I'm not sure we needed to pay a "professional" to get this result. I'm pretty sure I could have done it myself!