Winkie!

We came home from work one day and found that Petra has been replaced. If you ask her what's her name, she'll reply "Winkie!" We have grandma to thank for this. Apparently she was so thrilled by Petra being able to wink, that "Winkie" became a nickname, and stuck like a bug on a windshield. We can just picture the poor lost child telling security her name is Winkie, or the bailiff saying "All rise for the honorable Winkie Lindstrom." I'm sure it will stick with her forever.

The three of us survived 3 weeks of vacation (meaning the babysitter was on vacation, not us). A week with grandma and grandpa (swimming pools, beach, Chico's), a week at home with grandma (beach, travel town, first bus rides), and a week split with mommy and daddy (park, bakery, beach, aquarium). She had a wonderful time, and it's amazing how much she has changed in just three weeks. She talks much more, using whole words and short sentences. She has a mind like a steel trap, remembering everthing about the garbage collecting process (garbage truck, pick up, empty, go dump, grass in green can, etc.), the names of all her friends at the bakery (Carmen, Josephine, Robin), and of course, Winkie.

We nearly did her in though. We ran her so ragged, on the night before going back to "school" she was super cranky and running a fever. Poor thing! We ended up putting her to bed an hour early, and running the fan on her all night. But this morning she was back to her normal cheerful self, with no hint of fever. Such a good baby!

All Aboard!

Choo-choo, Choo-choo, Choo-choo! That's what Petra was all about today. And no jolly trolley at the Grove for her! Grandma and I took her to Travel Town at Griffith Park and saw the real thing! I think she had more fun here than we've had anywhere before! Halfway across the entrance bridge she broke into a run straight for the locomotives, and climbed up to explore. Each time I dragged her down from one, she'd say "more more more" and run to the next. She explored every train, and then had to ride the little train that she had been staring at every time it circled the park. She loved the ride, and then, of course, wanted "more more more." We had a little snack first, and she ran through the museum, played with the toy trains, and did handstands (!) in the padded play pit. Then another ride around the park in the little train (and again she wanted "more more more"). She conked out within minutes of hitting the car seat for the ride home, but boy was she happy!

And Travel Town wasn't even our first stop today. We started out with a walk (she in the stroller) to Maison du Pain to visit our friends the bakers, Carmen and Josephine. Petra knows their names now, and was excited for a visit. She was snuggled half to death by Carmen, and given lots of tasty treats. Even at the end of the day Petra remembered the trip and told Mama that "Josefee" gave her fruit. So sweet! Oh yeah, and the pastries are great!

All last week Mama's father and his wife were visiting to sit for Petra while Karan, our wonderful babysitter is on vacation (3 weeks!). This week is my Mom, and next week we're all on our own! Petra is just having a wonderful time with all the g'rents, though I imagine it's a bit exhausting for her. She has been sleeping like a log!

Just in the last week her language skills have been shooting through the roof again. Two weeks ago Carmen and Josephine would have been "Ca" and "Jo" at best, but now she has the whole name down. Lots of words that she only had used the first syllable of, she now pronounces perfectly (she got lauded today for saying "yes" so pleasantly when asked a question). She's also using two word sentences quite often. Such a smartie! And of course, she's super cute too, as a woman leaned out her car window to tell us this morning!

Youuuuuuu!

A very busy week! Grandparents galore (all of them, one after another after another!). Parks, beaches, playgrounds, shopping, swimming. Whew, I'm tired just thinking about it! Petra has been great for all the g'rents, making them feel VERY special (which, of course, they are). How special is grandma? This morning, Petra wanted to go see grandma BEFORE she even had any boob!

We're trying to figure out pronouns at the moment. Petra has a rough idea of how they work, but how the heck do you teach the first and third person? "You" clearly means "me" or "mine" to Petra (after all, we always are referring to her when WE say "you"!). Nowhere was this more apparent than the other day at the playground when her cracker-keeper cup went rolling down the slide. A kid materialized at the bottom and grabbed a handful of crackers. Petra shouts "Youuuuuu!!!" and (cue adventure music a la "Indiana Jones") flings herself down the slide grabs the cup and yanks it out of the other kid's hand. We have some issues with possessiveness, even if we aren't to clear on the possessives!