Uuupppp-pppuh

Libby's favorite word these days is "up" (as in pick me up; put me up on your lap; help me up on the couch so I can maul the cat; etc.). She pronounces it "uuuuppppp-pppuhhh." Here is her exact face after she is on the "pppp" part (as you can see from the picture, upppp-pppuuhhh also means "pick me up over the gate").


I say it's her favorite word, but I should say one of her favorites. She also likes to say "Hiiii" and "Bye-bye," and she loves to woof-woof at dogs, cats, and squirrels. In the last week, she's also started to say book much better (it's pronounced boo', by the way; I've been saying it wrong all these years) and has started on shoe, which is right now at sort of a tstst-sshh sound.

Alphabet Caterpillar

Libby’s Aunt Lisa and Uncle Ned sent her this Leap Frog Alphabet caterpillar for her birthday (thanks guys!)

One of the greatest things about this is that it not only has a mode where pressing each leg makes the caterpillar say each letter (A, Bee, See) but also a mode where it will say each letter sound (ahh, buh, cuh). Which means you can use it as a simplistic speech synthesizer (cuh,ahh,tuh). Oh the mischief I shall wreck with this.

Or so I thought. My giddiness was short-lived as I went straight for the crown jewel of curse words. Fuh –uw—ha ha, that tickles. What the hell? I’m not trying to tickly you, I’m trying to make you make a c or k sound and thereby make an innocent child’s toy give me thirty seconds of juvenile pleasure.

Alas, ‘tis not to be. After hours of experimentation I discovered the parameters of Caterpillars no-cursing algorithm. I, at first, assumed that it simply had a list of words that it would cause the last letter to giggle rather than finish the word, thereby robbing me of a tiny pleasure. But it turns out that the algorithm is cleverer than that. Instead it just blocks two letter combinations. Not just the obvious ones either, like u-c or o-c but also phonetic ones like a-x.

So they went to a lot of trouble. Why exactly? I realize that I’m not the first person to make children’s toys like this try to do things they really shouldn’t. But really, who exactly am I (are we) hurting? Is a child really going to accidentally hit on a letter combination that comes up with a dirty word? And if so, what exactly is going to happen? Will there head explode? If so, I wholeheartedly support the blocking of said letter combinations. More than likely however, they won’t even realize they’ve made a word (it takes an adults imagination to really make works out of the sound combos). And if the Leap Frog Alphabet Caterpillar is still kicking around when Libby’s six or seven and starts thinking along these lines (too early? She’s really smart) then so be it. If you’re smart enough to make the caterpillar curse, have at it!

Here then is the definitive list of letter two-letter combinations (and one three letter) blocked by the Leap Frog Alphabet Caterpillar as well as examples of words that are banned and thus make my daughter cry (really,no honestly, she’s heartbroken every time she can’t make it say ‘clock’ ). Thanks a lot Leap Frog.

Ax; Ag; As; Ax; Fc; Fk; Fx; Sc; Oc; Ok; Sk; Sx; Tit; Xt; Uc; Uk; Wp

She's a Maniac ...

It's only 7:20 on Oct. 31, and I already have that post-Halloween if-I-have-another-sweet-in-my-lifetime-it-will-be-too-soon feeling. Ugh.

And speaking of sweet, our sweet little flashdancer had a great (and busy!) Halloween. She's been on a nap strike for a few days, so I worried she wouldn't have the energy to make it. I shouldn't have worried. Our little party animal did just fine.

I'm cheating: This picture is actually from a Halloween party Sunday.

We had playgroup at our place today and made a real Halloween party of it! We even attempted to corral the kids into a group shot. This is as close as we got, although I'm impressed it even turned out that well. It was a little like herding cats.


Then we "napped" (Libby cried for 50 minutes and slept for 10 -- about her usual M.O. these last few days) and followed that with a visit to Daddy's work. We came home to find Halloween cards from both grandmas (what perfect timing!), and Libby ended the day with her favorite activity: playing with Daddy and making him put on her new fave, a headband.

Smiley

Libby has the most wonderful laugh and smile, and we can get to see and hear them these days more than ever before. It's wonderful!

Grandma Betsey sent us a wonderful care package chock full of stuff for BBPD, Libby, and Mommy (sorry about your luck, Daddy). In it was a seat cover for BBPD. Daddy decided to put it on and pretend he was a baby. Libby found it so hilarious, she had to emulate her beloved Daddy.


Grandma also sent a pair of snow boots that Libby loved. She clomp-clomp-clomped all around the house with them.

Libby's First Birthday

One year of life with our little monkey. I can't believe it!

We had a truly special first birthday celebration thanks to our family and friends. My parents stayed to take Libby out to breakfast (and I forgot the camera, of course) and then they left for Ohio. Libby has missed G&G; it was like living in Carnegie Hall for a while there was so much applause ringing out constantly. Libby ate up their attention and misses it sorely now.

Daddy took Libby's birthday off, and we spent it running errands and getting ready for our party. Of course, the Maryland contigent also called to wish our girl a good day. Libby was so excited to talk on the phone with Grandma! (She loves the phone these days.)

Then we had a big group of friends here for a pasta-and-cupcake-filled celebration. As Libby sat on my lap and crumbled her birthday cupcake and listened to "Happy Birthday," I looked out on the smiling faces of our friends and was humbled by the wonderful Chicago family we have built here. I'm so glad they could celebrate with us!

World's best "Happy Birthday" singers gather for a meal.


Yum.

I like the feel of this but don't you dare try to make me eat any!

Libby's thinking, "Umm, I'm tired and getting a cold and they keep trying to force cake down my throat. Just put me down so I can play with the kids!"

Sophie and Evie read a book whilst standing on their ears.

Rachel and Sophie play whilst standing on their ears. (Our guests are very talented!)