margaretyagan

I got up with Mom and made up for my not-so-great morning yesterday by being in a great mood.  Nana and I got in  plenty of play-time with my favorite toys and even read a couple books before breakfast.  I took a good nap and woke up so happy that I was dancing in my crib when I got up.

After a yummy lunch, we went out to our yard and I got to play on the slide that Aunt Sarah got me!  It’s still a lot colder than I expected it to be (though, in fairness, this is my first April in Chicago; a year ago I was on a plane to New York!) at this time of year.

Today Nana and I spent a lot of time learning “open” and “closed.”  We clap every time I open or close something, so it’s very fun to keep doing it over and over again!

I wasn’t my usual chipper self when I got up in the morning, which is to say I was still happy enough and having fun.  I ate a great breakfast, which got my day going even better.  I started walking pretty much as soon as I got out of the high chair — I’m even able to get up from a sitting position.  It’s a lot easier to walk bare-footed, so I’m especially quick to pull my socks off whenever I can.

I’m still really enamored with my teapot and the farm.  After lunch Nana got me to walk back and forth across the family room.  It’s like I had my own personal “walking coach!”  We took regular breaks for “tea” to make sure that we weren’t dehydrated from all the exercise.

All in all, it was a totally different kind of day and we had a great time!

Wow, I did not look good a year ago!

The big news today is that I’m definitely, 100% walking.  No more of this foot shuffling that inevitably ends in a fall.  I can get up, go somewhere, and sit down!

I got up this morning and went straight to my teapot!  No better way to start the day a singing teapot with a British accent!  I ate a great breakfast and then got right back to playing with Nana.

We played with the farm and the blocks and did a lot of practicing the meanings of “open” and “close” (applicable to my teapot, too!).  I say “oppa” — good enough for me!  I was in a particularly good mood, capped off my a perfect poop, and a nice nap.

After lunch, I decided to put on a walking clinic.  Nana was ecstatic!  As a reward, Nana let me taste her whole wheat linguine, which I loved!  I’ve grown to totally hate my rice noodles — but wheat is a whole new world.

Mom got home and I had dinner with her.  I ate pretty much everything, but totally rejected the dal (sorry, A/C!).

Check out this all-time great picture!

I woke up to a yucky, rainy day, made worse by A/C’s departure back to Boston.  I have no idea when I’m going to see her again!  On the positive side, Mom, Aimee, and Bridget were all around and I got to have fun playing with them.  We had planned to go out to brunch, but instead Dad went to Dominick’s (without me!) and brought home some ingredients for a home-made brunch.

After brunch, Aimee & Bridget had to go catch their flight, and I got some quality-time with Mom.  In the evening, we got a surprise visit from Uncle D’s friend Catherine, who hand-delivered a birthday present!  Who knew that a birthday could last for weeks!

Wow, remember my moses basket?

The highlight of my morning was seeing our guests, Bridget & Aimee!  I hadn’t seen them since last summer.  Boy did I have a lot of new tricks to show them!  They were a lot of fun, but seemed completely unaccustomed to the cold.  They wore about a dozen layers when they left!

When I woke up from my nap, Dad and I went over to Nana’s and Grandpa’s for lunch.  But Mom and A/C had  taken the car to go on a shopping trip to stock up Mom’s spring wardrobe, so Dad and I had to take the bus!  It was a pretty easy trip, actually.  We got Nana’s and Grandpa’s and had a great time.  The food was great and I like that their apartment is carpeted, which makes it even easier to explore.

We got back home in time for me to eat a snack and take my nap.  When I got up, Mom and A/C were back and we got to see Bridget and Aimee get all dressed up!

And, here I was a year ago…

I was excited to wake up and see both Mom and Dad home!  Mom took off for work, as usual, but was working from home today so I knew I would get to see him a bunch.  Dad got me dressed and then we went downstairs for breakfast.  I don’t mind amaranth and peaches, but man I’ll be happy when it’s all oatmeal all the time.

I took my morning nap at the usual time and when I got up, Nana & Grandpa Yagan were here to get me out of my crib.  I ate my lunch fairly well (even the salmon & polenta, which I’ve had mixed feelings about).  We had a fun time playing, and Aunt Claire even got in on the fun when she got back from her trip to visit Maddi.

At 2:30 or so, we had to run to my doctor’s office to get my 12-month vaccinations!  As you might remember, I had a cold on my birthday so I didn’t get any of the shots at my regular checkup.  Dad took a break from work to drive — and Nana and Grandpa came along for the ride.  My weight was good — 23 pounds or so.  As it turns out, I only got one immunization (MMR), but I also had to get two blood test that required my finger to bleed for an entire minute: a blood lead test and hemoglobin test for iron deficiency.  Both came back perfect!

Even though Mom wasn’t around, things went pretty smoothly…except that Dad didn’t bring a pacifier, O’s, or anything to soothe me after my shots.  Luckily I’m a tough girl!

Nana and Grandpa dropped me and Dad off at home and then they left.  I hung out with Aunt Claire until Mom got home.  I heard a rumor that we had a couple guests staying at the house this weekend, but I didn’t see them before I went to sleep.

I woke up before Mom left for work, after sleeping in a couple times earlier this week.  After hanging out with Mom, I played with A/C downstairs, looked out the window, played with her phone, and ate O’s.

Before breakfast, I danced with my teapot.  THANK YOU GREAT-GRANDMA DROSTE!  It’s definitely my favorite birthday gift!  I ate well and then played in the living room with A/C until Nana came by around 8:45.  I clapped and smile upon her arrival, which I kind of think she liked.

I had my nap a bit later than usual (10:00) and when I got up, Uncle Danny was back from his trip to Champaign.  After lunch, Nana and I went for a nice long walk (over an hour!).  For my afternoon snack, I had some orzo with vegetables and lots and lots of…strawberries.

Nana put me down for a nap and then uncle Danny was in charge!  I thought I’d test him out a bit, so I started screaming just about 20 minutes into my nap.  Uncle D came in, gave me my pacifier, and got me calmed down.  I went back to sleep.  About an hour and a half later, I woke up with a huge poop!  You should have seen the look on his face — he had no idea what to do!  Fortunately he figured it out…though he declined the opportunity to apply butt paste.

Here I am having fun with Uncle D:

Uncle D and I danced and got dinner ready.  When Mom got home, I greeted her with loud shrieks, which she loved!

I had my first play date a year ago today!

I woke up at 7:00, got dressed, and hung out with Uncle D and A/C.  I ate pretty well and then played with Nana. I had a shorter nap than usual and then Nana and I went for a walk, which got cut short (at 30 minutes) due to high winds!

Here are some fun videos from today:

Check me out one year ago today!

I woke up at 7:00, got dressed, and hung out with Mom until she left — much later than usual — at 7:45.  I ate breakfast with A/C and then we woke up Uncle Danny.  A/C and I went for a walk to — shocker — Starbucks, with a stop in Wicker Park on the way back.  I played in the kitchen until my nap, at 9:25.

When I got up, I was happy to see Nana come get me out of my crib.  She was very excited to see me!  We played and read books together until lunch.  The kebab wasn’t that great, but I drank a lot of milk and ate…and ate…and ate berries!

My afternoon was great, as usual.  It was cool to get to play with A/C and Uncle D when they took breaks from their work.  After dinner, A/C and Uncle D gave me more pickles, which I love as much as I did yesterday!  We danced and then I got my bath at 7:10 and went to bed at 7:30.

Here’s me from a year ago!

Well, after such a busy weekend, you can understand why I slept in until 7:00.  Mom was bummed that she didn’t get to see me before she left for work, but hey, I need my beauty sleep!  I woke up and was greeted by Aunt Sarah!  I was in a great mood and we played together until breakfast.  I played with my balloons and Aunt Sarah’s phone.

I was sad when Aunt Sarah had to leave!  I can’t wait to see her again.  Nana got here right around lunch time and played with my until my nap.  I got up and was surprised to see yet another familiar face: Uncle Danny!

My big accomplishment for the day was that I took 18 steps on my own!  Luckily, both Uncle Danny and A/C witnessed it, so there’s no doubt that I did it!  Unfortunately, Grandpa Yagan had to go to the hospital, so Uncle Danny had to leave to be with him (happily, he’s totally fine!).  I played with AC and discovered how delicious pickles are!

Check out these videos:

After my nap I started dinner with Aunt Claire and finished up with Mom after she got home. I think I even learned how to say “Claire”!

Wow, I looked like an alien a year ago!