Friday, September 30, 2011

penny told me a story!

this morning on the changing table, penny told me a full on story.  i was stunned!  she had her plush elmo doll to play with while i changed her diaper, and she said "bye bye" to him and started walking him away from her.  i asked her where he was going, and her reply was:

supermarket - shopping apples.  elmo cart!  so excited!  first change poop diaper.  car seat.

as it turns out, elmo needed some butt paste because his butt hurt when he took a bath (surprisingly, HER butt hurt when she took a bath not too long ago), and elmo wanted to share his apples with her when he returned from his shopping trip.
it is so much fun getting a glimpse into her imagination!

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

She Also Rules The Cookie

labels are important

penny is learning many things nowadays, at a rapid clip.  she loves to point at and identify everything, categorizing them and making sure that she knows what she's looking at.  she can identify by color, animal type, gender, size...she's working the adjectives and nouns.  she is also getting very good at remembering names and associating memories with the company she had at the time.  when we walk by restaurants in the neighborhood, she can tell you what you eat there, and who she's eaten at each one with.  i can ask her "where did you go with katy belle this morning?" or "who did you see at the playground yesterday?" and she is quick with a reply.

the other day, we were walking through the neighborhood, and a man greeted her with "hi, mami."
penny pointed at herself and said "little girl."

Monday, September 19, 2011

penny met elmo!

if you've seen the photo alex posted below, then you know that penny got to meet elmo tonight.  but not just the walkaround elmo, penny got to meet the real thing, too - and got two "kiss kiss"es from him!  she also met cookie monster.  let's take a step back.
alex was invited to the red carpet launch event of the let's rock elmo toy, where kids were strongly encouraged to attend.  i left work early to meet them, and we all entered the lobby of the empire hotel.  we waited for a bit in the lobby, then went up the stairs, checked in, and saw cookie monster!  penny was a bit shy with him, but gave him a high five, and seemed really pleased with that.  we headed back to elmo's "tour bus", where penny got the chance to check out the toys - and she had a blast!  i chatted a bit with the toy's designer, who was super nice, and seemed really happy that the kids were having a good time.  we ate some chicken fingers and sliders, and drank a juice box, then got on the line to meet the walkaround elmo.  penny was starting to get a bit sleepy and cranky at that point, but she got her second wind, discovered a counting cookie monster toy, had a second round with the tour bus toys and then it was time to line up and head into seats.  we got to see the world premiere of an elmo video, and then randy jackson and elmo performed.  penny was transfixed - she truly loves elmo.
after the performance, kevin clash and elmo came out into the crowd to say hi to all of the kids, and penny got her kisses!  she was thrilled!  alex had brought her to the event in her elmo stroller, and she had an emotional reunion with it - she missed it so much.  on our way out, we got a ridiculous amount of swag, and took a moment to breathe.  it's a good thing we did, because the subways were completely screwed up.  it was insanely crowded*, and penny was on the verge of a meltdown for the entire way - and i can't blame her.  we got home, took off our shoes, and penny went straight to sleep, but not before we talked about the fun time she had at the elmo party.  "cookie high five!" is how she summed it up.

i feel super lucky to have met kevin clash nine years ago, and i feel even luckier to have been able to bring penny to this event.  sometimes i really can't believe my life.

*the highlight of my subway ride home were two frummy ladies who spent the whole trip talking about food. as it turns out, haggis is "just like a kishka."

Fun Fact: No one will ever make Penny as happy as Elmo

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Not Ready For This Jelly

Coney Island!

the best things in life are free

it's true.  and penny gets really good things!  for example, if you're penny, and you are taking a walk in the neighborhood, before you even leave your own block, the lady in the hair salon on the corner will come out to say hello, ask if she can give you something, and come back out again.  she will tell you that what she's going to give you cannot be found in american grocery stores - it is russian candy.  your parents will expect it to be a piece of candy.  but no!  it turns out what you are being given is
frozen chocolate covered cheesecake.
of course, you cannot beat the simple pleasure of
swinging in a swing
and, when we're talking about the best - The Best - things in life, there is nothing that beats having a couple of parents that will, every now and again, with zero warning, explanation or remorse
reveal your secret identity.