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!

Red

Petra still loves Little Red Riding Hood. Yesterday, as she was running out the door wearing only a diaper, she stopped and said "cape?!" She wanted her Little Red Riding Hood cape (really just a hoodie sweater). I hung her sweater on her head, and she asked for "bask?" her little wire easter basket, so she could collect flowers for Grandma. Once she had her basket, we walked around our yard picking flowers and filling the basket. We tried to video with grandma (any of them!), but alas, none were available to take the cutest video call in all history. Oh well, their loss!

Petra is also big on the three bears at the moment, and we've gone from having oatmeal in the morning to having "porridge" (still oatmeal, but easier to get her to eat!). Very cute!

Belly!

Petra went belly dancing this weekend! She and Daddy were out on a walk and we stopped by at the Bazaar on the corner to see what they had. Petra was obviously attracted to all the shiny objects. The back room of the shop was set up as a dance studio, and they had just finished a belly dancing class. Petra started playing a drum she found, and the women from the class ooh'd and ahhh'd, and came running over to meet her. One wrapped her up in a scarf covered with jingly things, and got Petra to start dancing. She loved it! She shook her little self round and round, jingling jingling jingling! Add the giant mirrors on the wall so she could admire herself, and Petra was in heaven!

If she hadn't just filled a diaper, we would have bought her an outfit, but we got out without spending a penny. She was so cute though, and had so much fun that we'll have to go back. She has a standing invitation to come for belly-dance lessons every Sunday!

Summertime

And the living is easy! It's always easy with Petra. Well, easy for Daddy at least. Mommy and Petra were left alone for 4 days while Daddy was away on bidness (long story involving missing groundcrews, thunderstorms, mechanical problems, and squalid accomodations. Don't ask). Petra remembered her daddy though, and came running down the hallway calling "daddy" when she heard his voice when he got back. Ahhh, my heart! Such a sweetie!

Daddy and Petra stayed home together to play on Friday. We played in the water table in the back yard and played around the house, but despite being tired she refused to take a nap. We decided to head to the beach, and of course just before getting there she conked out in her car seat. We parked in the shade and waited, waited, waited. But 1/2 hour later she was still out, so we just came home. She woke just as I parked at home, cheery and ready to play some more.

We went to meet Mommy for lunch, and Petra got cuted left and right on the visit. Co-workers and strangers all adored her.

Back at home it was nap time again, but no nap was forthcoming. By 4:30 she was getting cranky and I put her down, like it or not. And like it she did. She must have been more tuckered than I thought, because she conked out and didn't wake up until the next morning! Sleepy baby!

Saturday Petra woke up hungry (shocker there, she didn't have any dinner)- she ate a whole bowl of oatmeal and some yogurt, and a few strawberries. While Mommy hit the gym we had an early morning visit to Le Maison du Pain for yet another breakfast. Petra was greeted as a celebrity, and got the full tour of the kitchen. Then she scarfed two rolls, two bowls of fruit and feta, and a slice of ham. She might be having a growth spurt- so much sleeping and eating! Petra met a 3 year old named Zoe and greeted her with a big hug. Zoe is all of 4 inches taller than Petra. Zoe's mom was amazed at how big Petra was, and how active.

We finally did make it to the beach with Katie, and the girls had a great time. We stopped for coffee at Peet's and Petra took a little swim (it IS awfully hot). Again, though, she conked out the second we got home, and didn't wake up again. She MUST be growing.

Petra continues to be a little monkey, despite the name change. At the park Sunday she was climbing the monkey bars and hanging by her arms with no problem. She poits up to the bars and says "monk." Soon she'll be swinging from one bar to the other! She also loves her motor vehicles, from cars to rockets. Mommy found a little car by the side of the road and brought it home for her and she loves it!

The Keys to my Heart

She always had them, but recently she really learned how to use them. Keys that is. She has her own little set she'll carry around and stick in all the keyholes in the doors. Such a clever little girl! Thank God for deadbolt locks though! It won't be long before she is on her way out the front door!

Petra is in a very loving mood. She is giving everything hugs and kisses. Trees (hug, smooch), toys (big hug, kiss, kiss), the pillow (hug!), Mommy and Daddy (big hug! Big kiss!). I love our loving little girl!

She's become quite a walker. Sometimes coming home from daycare can involve walking 4 or more blocks as she keeps picking new directions to go. Going anywhere is not particularly efficient, but at least she isn't a couch potato! Now if we could only get her to go the direction we want her to walk in!

One of Petra's favorite stories right now is "Little Red Riding Hood." She loves both the cheesy pop up book version (wolf with no teeth, sent down river on a log) to the Trina Schart Hyman version (Red and grandma eaten by wolf, woodsman splits him open to rescue them). From the popup version she learned how to cry "help! help!" and now she'll stand in front of the window in the breakfast room and cry "help! help!" out the window. I just hope a cop isn't driving by or Mommy and Daddy will end up in jail! Petra likes to dress up in her "Red" out fit, with her hoodie sweater and a bucket. So cute!