Monday Matinee: Chimpy Signs

K and I have been doing signs for Chimpy since the get-go. When asking if she's hungry we make the sign, when changing her diaper we make the sign, when chasing rats out of our kitchen we make the sign. The signs must have sunk in because she is returning them. Not just in mimicry, but legitimately. And I have to tell you, it's a little creepy. Suddenly there is this little person talking to us. K and I have never had any problem 'reading' Chimpy, but this is a whole other experience. Specifically, "more" has been the strangest. It could refer to anything: more food (usually), more music (when I stop singing), more hug (aw...), or in this case...



And because people have asked, here's Chimpy's vocabulary (in order of learning):

hungry
diaper
flower
cat
more
bath
milk
music
book
light
toothbrush
dog
dog-book (her first compound word)
compost (means "let's go check out the garden," I started saying "compost" because we take the compost out most mornings)

Four Picture Friday: I <3 Toronto

Ah, vacations. All rules and routines get put on hold for a brief week.

Chimpy gets her first taxi ride and her second greatest compliment. Our Somali driver said, "Your daughter is very beautiful. In my country we have arranged marriages, I would be very happy if your daughter was to marry my youngest son." We exchanged cards.

Chimpy and daddy crash a wedding.

We stayed two nights on Algonquin Island just a short ferry ride on Lake Ontario from downtown Toronto. There was an Ironman going on and Chimpy thought she could make the swim back to downtown.

We opted to take the ferry instead.

Chimpy's fondest dream realized: meeting a dog on the streetcar.

Chimpy's Travel Tips: Kids, be sure to eat the smallest morsel for breakfast so you are good and hungry and cranky for your flight. That'll teach your parents to not buy you your own seat.

Goodbye, Toronto. We love you!

Petite Sommelier

We're in Toronto drinking wine. See you in a few days.

Wednesday Moment of Zen

Four Picture Friday: Get Up, Stand Up

Wednesday Moment of Zen

Four Picture Friday: Lil' Gourmet

As you might recall from this post, Chimpy enjoys her food. The line between gourmet and gourmand is only as thick as a few letters, so we're doing our best to cultivate some sort of culinary appreciation. In this first picture, Chimpy is trying to figure out the mystery herb in her spinach omelette (it's tarragon):



When shopping, we check ingredients carefully:

No high fructose corn syrup, we're okay!.

There's lots to learn when shopping. Here, Unca Joe shows Chimpy how to test coconuts for ripeness:



Table manners are also important to food appreciation. Even birthday cakes should be approached with the appropriate utensils:



Chimpy is a great help to her Dada in the kitchen. Here she's making a final check on our trout.

"Where's the chervil?!"

And why do we eat so well? It gives body to our hair:

Wednesday Moment of... aw, Chimpy, Come On!

Four Picture Friday: Parenting Don'ts

Today is Chimpy's birthday! She made it to one year, if only by the skin of her eight teeth. The Mayo Clinic guide is full of dos and don'ts, but here are a few the editors might consider adding to the next edition. For now, we are going to throw our copy out. Happy birthday, Chimpy. Happy birthday, Everybody!

Don't give your baby caffeine.

Don't put your baby on the fridge.

Don't use horse clippers on your baby.

Don't let your baby swim without earplugs, she might get swimmer's ear.


**BONUS MOVIE!**
For her birthday, Chimpy went to Wee Play to see the kids. This was the first time she got to push one of those baby walkers around and she loved it.

Wednesday Moment of Zen

Four Picture Friday: Chimpy's Canadian Cousins

Wednesday Moment of Zen

Four Picture Friday: This Is How We Roll

Grubby gardeners.

When Mama gets home from work.

Dinner on the rotten deck.

*Shameless Plug*

Did you know Chimpy's papa wrote a book?

Wednesday Moment of Zen

Four Picture Friday: Then and Now

Eating then.

Eating now.

Park then.

Park now.

Petite Vampire then.

Petite Vampire now.

Wednesday Moment of Zen

Grazie molto, Nicole!

Four Picture Friday: Shout Out to West Virginia

Happy West Virginia Day, Everybody!



Finding West Virginia

It's got to be around here somewhere, Chimpy.

Ah, the Crocodile Creek placemat map comes through. Thanks for nothing, Rand McNally.

State Mammal: Black Bear
Chimpy demonstrates the West Virginia way to rassle a bar.

First, you stare it down to establish your dominance.

Smackdown!

Then shake.

Next!

"Mountaineers Are Always Free"

Here's Chimpy's tribute to the Mountaineers. Let's go!

See You Around, West Virginia!