Goofy day

Callie had quite the goofy day yesterday.  We were out for most of the morning walking around the local flee market, playing at the park, checking out the dogs at the dog park and walking along the River Mall looking for fishies.  There are no fish in the small "river" that runs through Rokko Island.  It's water that is about 2 ft. deep at it's deepest that runs down a concrete path, but Callie insists that there are fish in it :)  

When we came back inside to get lunch ready Callie was pretty hot and dirty so I stripped her down to her diaper, but a big towel on the kitchen floor and gave her a large pot with soapy water.  This was a suggestion from a Mommy friend and it kept Callie occupied for quite a while, while cleaning her arms and hands too :)  In fact, she really didn't want to stop playing, even to eat!  At first I gave her a spoon to play with in the water but she kept dipping it in and then drinking the soapy water.  So I gave her a cup thinking she would put the spoon in the cup . . .  She ended up filling up the cup and then dumping it all over her belly and giggling.  She was having too much fun!

Playing in the water

Once lunch was ready I scooped her up in a big towel, dried her off, put on clothes and then we sat down to lunch.  She kept talking about her hat before she would eat and I had no clue what she meant until I realized that she wanted the hooded towel I had used to dry her off.  She sat for most of her lunch with her towel "hat" on.  What a goof ball!!

Callie and her towel "hat"

Apparently the hat fascination didn't wear off once she woke up from her nap.  We were getting ready to go outside and play with some friends.  I had my sun hat on while I was trying to put on Callie's shoes and she kept asking for it.  She had so much fun wearing the hat and even started posing with it when I was taking her picture.

Having fun with Mommy's hat

Posing for the camera :)

What's really funny about the whole hat thing is that ever since her Doc Band came off she has put up a huge fight when I try to put a hat on her.  It gets so sunny here in the summer and she is so fair I was worried she was going to end up with a sunburnt head for most of the summer.  Hopefully she continues to love hats :)

Callie vs. the Laundry Basket

I got one of those small pop-up laundry baskets the other day and Callie had quite the time playig with it . . .

Inside the laundry basket

How do I get out of this thing???

Starting to figure it out . . .

Finally sitting up straight.

Get this stupid thing off of me!!

Going in for more!

Rats, I got stuck again!

Showing the basket who's boss!

Grandparents visit

My parents were in town visiting a couple of weeks ago and we had so much fun.  We did lots of playing at the park, the zoo, an amusement park, baseball games, had lots of yummy dinners and just had a good time enjoying each other's company.  Callie really enjoyed having her Grandparents here, as well as all the extra spoiling she received :)   She even started saying Grandpa, which made Grandma a little sad . . .  They were been such a big help, giving me a much needed break.  Scott and I were even able to go on a date night to a great restaurant in Kobe. 

The proud Grandparents!

My Dad and I were able to go to an away game the second day they were here.  It was a day game so my Mom stayed home to watch Callie after she woke up from her nap.  It was the first baseball game that I have actually been able to watch (you baseball mom's know what I mean) in two years.  Scott pitched two innings and got the win!  My Dad took this picture (can you tell) of Scott warming up while the cheerleaders were dancing . . .

We had great seats on the third base line.  They were smack dab in the middle of foul ball territory, so each seat had a plastic shield that you could raise or lower.  

One of our many times at the park

Watching the pigeons and the boats at the Kobe waterfront

In the huge Ferris Wheel at Harborland Amusement Park in Kobe

Playing with the penguins at the zoo

Posing with her new penguin pal :)

Family picture at the zoo

The big 2-9!!

Well, I am now one year closer to 30, or I guess I could say the age I will be for the rest of my life :)  My birthday was on Wednesday and I had a good time celebrating it with friends.  Scott was still on the road so the morning started out with a birthday drink at Tully's, our normal morning hangout spot.  On of the girls played with Callie so I could have at least five minutes to sit still and enjoy my drink :)  Then later that evening we had a small get together with a couple of good friends.  We had dinner and all the kids played and there was also very delicious cake.  It wasn't anything too different from our normal routine, but it was nice to be celebrated and treated extra special for the day!

Me and Callie at Tully's with Callie's new tricycle.

Callie playing in her favorite toy of the night, a big box!  The older kids were playing in it and once they left Callie crawled over right away and was having a blast!

Callie with her new favorite friend Lily.  She calls her Yilly, it's too cute :)

Callie helping me blow out the candles on my yummy cake.  It had frosting made from scratch!

Callie trying to steal my cake

Amanda reading to all the kids at the end of the night

Lockdown

We have been on lockdown here on Rokko Island since Saturday afternoon when the first domestic case of the N1H1 flu (swine flu) was reported in the Kobe area.  They decided to cancel school for the upcoming week, advised people to stay away from from large public gatherings, limit train use, and to wear masks, wash hands regularly and gargle (not sure about the last one).  So needless to say we have been pretty bored.  

The one thing that has been keeping us busy has been the new bike we purchased.  Callie has been obsessed with bikes lately.  Every time we are at the playground and she sees a kid bike she wants to go over to it, stand by it, and sit on the seat.  And when we are walking in the stroller she loves to point out all the bikes, which are pretty much everywhere!  So we thought getting a bike with a seat for Callie would be a good idea, and we were right, she loves it!  We have been going on morning bike rides and Callie talks pretty much the entire time.  At times she gets so excited and starts kicking her legs that she ends up kicking me in the bootie :)  She has also started poking me and tickling me in the back when we have to stop to wait to cross the street.  I'm so glad we got the bike, it's a great way to exercise and Callie really enjoys it.  Once Scott comes back from this road trip we are going to get a bike for him too so we can have family rides :)

Callie and Daddy on their first bike ride!  

She was so excited!  I planned on waiting to let her on the bike until we purchased a helmet (she has a helmet now and wears it every time she is on the bike), but she saw the bike parked outside our front door when we were on the way inside and got so excited.  This picture was actually taken in our apartment building in the outdoor hallway.  It's a big square so it was a pretty good track.  Callie was yelling "Mama, Mama" the entire time, like she was saying Mama look at me, this is so cool!

Callie also had a big "first" today.  After dinner we were playing and I got out her little shopping cart push toy.  Callie was excited to see it and stood up behind it right away and started walking with it!  She went back and forth through the living room a couple of times and even navigated her way from the living room, turned down the hallway and then into the kitchen!  I was only inches behind her the entire time, and at first still hand my hands on her hips, but eventually was just hovering making sure I would be there to catch her if she stumbled!  I am so excited that she has started doing this.  The last week she has been getting stronger at walking with us holding onto her arms and now she is one step closer to walking independently!  Below is a short video of her pushing the basket, but you can see her take a couple of steps.  It's pretty short because it was hard to film and be close enough so she didn't fall :)  Also, please excuse my scratchy voice in the beginning of the clip.  I have been suffering from Spring allergies and am pretty congested, and no, I don't have the Swine Flu!  Enjoy!!

Cute videos

Here are a couple of cute videos from the last couple of days . . .

Callie playing in the tub with a new fishing toy:

Callie jamming out in the living room.  Sorry it is sideways . . .

Bad blogger . . .

I know I have been a very bad blogger lately and I am very sorry.  Callie really seems to be wearing me out these days and any free moment I have I like to just veg on the couch.  Plus, it takes a lot of brain power to try and write witty posts and comments :)

Since it has been a month since the last post I'll just give a general overview.  In the last month we have done lots of playing in the sand/dirt at the park, visited the Bird & Flower Park, gone on our first road trip, made a morning trip to Kobe, went to a magic show, enjoyed a couple Friday night "Happy Hours" at the River Mall, and Callie has started pulling up on every piece of furniture and started cruising like a pro.  

I have too many pictures to post from the last month, but if you want to check out some photos follow this link to my Facebook album: 

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=18930&id=1133892863&l=0121cb1558