Birthday Bash for "Bampa"

Tonight we celebrated Grandpa's birthday. All the cousins, aunts, and uncles got together to make sure he started this year off with plenty of family, food, and fun.


Dinner was followed by an exceptionally delicious ice cream cake. Daddy ate three pieces!


Most of all, it was just wonderful to all be together. Lots of hugs were shared by all.

Accessorize and Exercise

I got fully suited up for a morning in my kitchen. I thought we were making pizzas, but somehow mine never came back down after I threw it in the air...


As part of my recent accessorizing, lately I've been letting mommy put barrettes and ponytails in my hair.


This weekend we even tried pigtails (which, for the uninitiated like daddy, refers to the fact that they are smaller, not that there are two...since both ponies and piggies - to my knowledge - have only one tail each).


This morning my cousins came over for brunch. Charlotte carried me around as if I were her accessory (or at least part of her fitness program).


Speaking of fitness, I can do a somersault sans assistance. Check it out...

Diaper Dilemma

Ever since I started using the potty, the only time I wear a diaper is at night, under my jammies. Lately I've been trying to put the diaper on, but I'm still not quite sure how to get it to cover my bottom.

Going to the Zoo, Zoo, Zoo. How About You, You, You?

Mommy, daddy, "Uncle" Josh, and I headed out to Brooklyn to see my cousins at the zoo. No, no, it's not what you think, I'm not related to the baboons or the 'roos...Oscar, Daisy, Aunt Julie and Uncle Spencer met us in Prospect Park.


Despite not being directly related to the animals, on my front paws, I looked an awful lot like a meerkat.


I also loved leaping across lilypads like a froggie.


Oscar and Daisy really came out of their shell...


While Uncle Spencer hatched a pretty cute chick (Daisy!).


The sea lions and I both eat "fishies"...though theirs are slimier than my cheddar cheese kind.


"Uncle" Josh preferred to feed the llamas their llunch himself.

Money Meltdown

In these tumultuous times, each day we read about another financial institution needing a bailout or a recovery package. Unfortunately, this morning my home savings and loan (the piggy bank that "Aunt" Julissa gave me) experienced a collapse of its own when I dropped it on the floor sending my pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters plummeting.


As you would expect, the Dow dipped 85 points at close of business in response to the news.

Diaperless Diva

This weekend I said 'buh-bye' to diapers and 'hello' to underpanties and the big girl (aka mommy's) potty. I didn't have a single accident and mommy and daddy were so proud of me.


My toilet transition was made more fun by the songs/rhymes in my potty book, Tinkle Tinkle Little Tot, which include 'The Itsy Bitsy Poo Poo' (not to be confused with the spider...) and 'The Tushy Pushy' (sung to the tune of the Hokey Pokey). Ta da!

"Hey, Man!" Happy Purim!

Tonight I emerged from my cocoon to take Mema and Grandpa to Purim services.


I made sure to show Grandpa how to read the whole Megillah - right to left.


Mema metamorphosed starting with the antennae, but the best part was using our pasta as a grogger then donating it to a food pantry - what a good idea!

Take Two (and Call Me in the Morning)

Not sure it will always be this way, but for now, I love having my picture taken. I've also come to recognize when mommy and daddy think I'm doing something adorable that warrants capture on video. I'm such a perfectionist that I like to keep doing cute things over and over until they're perfect!

In this scene, we've just set up my toddler bed (thank you, Caplans!) with all my babies and stuffed friends. I won't be sleeping on it for a bit, but at least it's a fun new place to play. Action!

Take one...


Take two...


So, which one do you prefer??

Gym Bliss, Baby Bris, Big Sis, and Eskimo Kiss

This morning mommy, daddy and I headed off to the gym. I was spotted swinging from the bars like a monkey...


...and balancing on the beam like a wheelbarrow.


But when I got the chance to explore the other equipment, I chose to do so without assistance.


Then it was off to NJ to meet baby Ethan, Benjamin's little brother. I don't think he had quite as much fun at his party as I did.


Speaking of baby brothers (and sisters), I finally got to feel mine kicking in mommy's tummy. At first I tried kicking back, but was told it was better to 'make nice nice' with my hands and that there would be plenty of time to kick her/him once s/he arrives.


For weeks, I've been asking to go to the museum the way Olivia does. So we waited for a pretty day and Brielle and I took our parents to the Met. In addition to admiring some beautiful paintings and sculptures (I particularly loved Degas), we rubbed noses quite a bit.

10,000 Maniacs - But I'll Call You Fans

Less than two years after launching my blog, I can't believe that you've made 10,000 unique visits - Lian-iacs!

In honor of this auspicious occasion, I've decided to update my profile and my photo...but for historical reference: "I enjoy uppies, being tickled, and eating - preferably in that order. I also love spending time with my family, especially when they give me uppies, tickle me, and feed me."


Thank you to everyone who keeps their eyes (and bookmarks) on me online. I plan that even once I'm two and life gets more hectic with a little brother or sister in the house, I will keep all of you up-to-date on my comings and goings.

Getting to the Square Root of the Issue

Now that I'm learning my numbers, I was excited to hear that today is Square Root Day.


Only eleven days until Pi Day...

Isn't having a math geek as a mommy frustrating???

Snow and Tell

New York City received today what daddy called a very lame snowstorm, but it was enough to close the public schools for the first time in my lifetime (actually, the first time in a half-decade, which is evidently a very long time).


I was happy when I heard that my school was closed, but we all celebrated when daddy got the call on his way out the door that he didn't have to go to work either.


In fact, I got all dressed up for the occasion! Daddy called me his "snow angel."


But I still don't get what daddy is doing, lying on the wet, cold ground, moving his arms and his legs...


I prefer to stay on my feet in the snow.


Hard to believe that in less than two weeks I went from swimsuit to snowsuit. How long until summer again???

I'm Not Even Two-two Yet, but I Feel Old!

I'm used to being the baby, but this weekend, I spent a lot of time with much younger friends.

Friday night we saw Astrid and her parents. I have known her since she was in her mommy's tummy. Here's a photo from the Lianarchives...


Saturday and Sunday morning BoMa and BoPa stopped by. We got to review old photos of all of the people I've known. Do you like my tutu?


Sunday morning we had brunch with Sorin and Rian (note that the tutu is still on). Sorin and I got a little quiet time together without the burden of our parents or his little brother...


....until things got chaotic, while we were playing his new Dr. Seuss game.


Jamie and Celena came over with baby Linnea. I was a little cranky when mommy and daddy were holding her, but I think I still might be cute enough to make her blog. Or maybe it was that I wasn't wearing my tutu.


She wasn't even the youngest baby I "saw" this weekend. Benjamin and his parents came over on Saturday night just hours before he became a big brother (welcome, Ethan!).


Who knows? Rumor has it that over the next few months, there may be another baby around...bring it on, so long as s/he looks up to the big sister in the house!