Happy New Year, Colorado!

You often say that word, “Colorado,” in your discussions with me and Mommy, but we have no idea what it means. I don’t think it is about the state of Colorado, and I don’t think it is a blending of “cold water,” so it continues to perplex us as you continue to say it.

You also are taunting us lately….saying “Don’t chase me Daddy,” as you invite me to come after you. When we tickle you, you comeback with, “Don’t touch me.” Mommy put you in your place when you told her that. “I can touch you if I want to…I gave birth to you,” Mommy told you.

It is the new year 2016, and now the Sunday before we have to go back to work, work, and daycare. Here is a steamy link of what’s happening in our little world since last post.

Your 2nd Birthday Party was a hit! You requested a flamingo cake and Mommy and Gaga baked and decorated it.

What’s in the news these days: The presidents of China and Taiwan, after 4? years, are sitting down to talk about getting along after the Chinese Civil War Mao Tse Dong and Chiang Kai Shek. There continue to be police brutality episodes around the country, most recently in Chicago, where a young boy and older neighbor lady were killed. People are calling for Mayor Raum Emmanuel’s resignation. There seem to be terrorist attack reports more often, with Paris in December and a radicalized husband and wife pair in San Bernadeno, CA a few weeks ago. The Islamic State, or ISIS, is claiming to be the perpetrators behind these. Reading the paper is depressing.

What you’re doing these days…..You are in a possessive phase lately. When we’re out in public, you like to tell people that we are “My Mommy,” “My Daddy,” or “My Boo.” Your bedtime now is about 8pm, so Mommy and I usually start our dinner before you go to bed. Typically, one of us is cooking in the kitchen and the other parent entertains you, but you sometimes run into the kitchen and ask whoever is cooking to carry you. I love hearing, “Daddy Carry?” even though the timing is not propitious. Your quotes are becoming more conversational and longer. “I need more milk.” Your use and knowledge of words seems to be exploding, with constant three-word questions like “Mommy walk Boo?” or “Daddy watch football?” A few weeks ago you asked Mommy, “Mas cheese por favor.”

You pee pee in the potty now most mornings. To prompt you, we sing “Let it Go” from Frozen. You also love the snowman song and almost know all the words. Here are other things you enjoy doing…..Drinking the bath water, going to daycare to see Luz and Delfina, and Soyla, saying “knock knock…..Mooo!” as your first knock knock joke, tickling me and Mommy with the monster puppet, giving Boo her kibble,  watching Sean the Sheep episodes on our iPads, building castles with your blocks, and going on Magic Carpet rides around the kitchen.

 

Back in Crescent City, IL you played a lot with your cousins and Gaga and Grandpa. One morning, after you had been playing intensely with Kali, Annika, and Alden, you disappeared for a little while. When Mommy went to find you, you had put yourself down for a nap.

Three days before New Years, we went to Suncadia for a mini-vacation in the mountains. It is very important for Mommy and me to have you enjoy snow, so we try to set up the experience with as much hype and hot chocolate (and marshmallows) afterwards as we can. Though you don’t enjoy your hat, you seemed to enjoy the snow.

I was proud to finally finish decorating your bedroom with kites. There is one final touch needed, your handprint on the blue kite. You have not wanted to help with that yet.

Here is my 1 Second Everyday video for the YEAR 2015. I’m very angry at my iPhone for kaputting on January 16th last year, so I don’t have the very beginning of the year, but the rest is here and it is fantastic. I tagged everyone I could who was in these videos on fb, and now it has over 1.5K views! Having these summary shots, mostly of you, remind me how fast you are growing, and how much I love our family.

Love, Daddy.