Weekend routines

On a typical weekend, I will get up at the usual time of 7am and have a nice breakfast with either Mama or Papa. The other parent will usually try to get in a few extra winks, but I feel that is becoming more difficult because I am becoming more vocal. I can ask for "nana," my favorite yellow fruit. I can also bang on my eating tray because it makes a good amount of noise. In either case, the other parent is not going to sleep much longer. Two parents are more fun than one anyway.

My walking skills have improved tremendously over the past few weeks. I can make laps of the living room without sitting down or holding on to anything. I can even do the laps while carrying something good, like the new spoons and sporks (spoon-fork combination eating utensils) Mama bought me.

We usually get to do some sort of short errand in the morning before it is time to have lunch and a nap. A trip to the grocery store or the big Costco are entirely typical. I like shopping because there is always so much to see, noises to hear, and new odors to smell.

The remains of the day are usually reserved for going to the park or elementary school. Sometimes we take Zadie on a nice walk down at Shoreline park in Mountain View. There are always lots of wild birds down there. I don't know the species, but my parents don't either. They are reduced to wading birds, herons, seagulls, pelicans or ducks. I am sure there are others but we'll learn their names later. The esteemed ornithologist, John James Audubon would be unimpressed.

Football playoff history

Congratulations to the Chicago Bears and the Indianapolis Colts for winning their respective conference playoff games this weekend.

Congratulations too to Lovie Smith and Tony Dungy, the two head coaches for guiding their teams to victory. What makes this event notable is they are the first African-American head coaches in the history of the NFL to make it to the Superbowl. Not one, but both of them - and they are longtime friends with the utmost respect for each other. That's cool. That's also why I am doing my best to impersonate the big linemen on the field. I am down in my stance getting ready to tackle someone, maybe Zadie dog if she isn't careful. I may not have the intensity of Brian Urlacher, but I am surely cuter than him. See you on the 4th of February for the big game.

Active bath

Remember way back, when bathing was more of a passive process? I would lay in my bath hammock in the kitchen sink and get my parts washed. It was sometimes fun, sometimes not. Well not now; bathing is always fun. Especially in the big bathtub with either Mama or Papa. I like the anticipation - getting in the cool white tub, pretending to know how to run the faucet, and the feeling of warm water from the duck.

Mama has taught me how to say bubbles, the fleetingly transient and transparent balls that she blows. She has also shown me the letters of the alphabet in their colorful and foamy state. I like to play with my tugboats from auntie Pattie. Just ask me how much I like to splash the water out of the tub. I tolerate getting my hair washed and figure it's a small price to pay for the rewards of bathing.

It's a long weekend to honor the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. Enjoy it, I know I will.

Sliding and standing

Over at the elementary school, on any given sunny afternoon, one will find lots of kids climbing on the playground equipment. If you are lucky you'll find me, Mama and Papa there too. I have taken to the slide like a fish to water. It makes me very happy to slide down by myself, head-first if possible. I have been able to climb up the stairs by myself too. If you haven't been down a good slide recently, I highly recommend it.

If you haven't noticed, some of my recent pictures suggest that I have been standing on my own. Perhaps even walking a little. Well, on the eve of my 16-month birthday, I can honestly say that I am on my way to being a full fledged walker, a categorical toddler. For long distances, say from the couch to the love seat, I'll still get down on all fours and crawl. But on the odd occasion bipedal transport seems the better option.

And some recent vocabulary as of today. Moo are the animals that look like dogs but are much bigger. Neigh (horses) are animals that look like dogs but are brown. Duck are the small yellow animals in the bathtub and kitty cat is just too darn hard to pronounce.

Happy new year

We had a nice quiet New Year's eve. In fact Papa was tired and went to bed before midnight. It was after the Times Square ball came down but before it was 2007 in California.

That's ok, we had a busy day. I played with Zadie dog. I am pleased that we get along so well, or rather, she tolerates my antics. She doesn't mind too much when I pull her tail, pet too hard, or bite her stuffed snake. She's a good doggie. I bet she wonders when I am going to stop growing. We're already about the same weight and I am definitely taller than her when I stand up.

Happy New Year everyone. 2007 is going to be great.