What have I been talking about lately?

In the last month or so, these are the words that I've used in my blog (bigger words are more popular):

(Do you like it? You can make one too from http://www.wordle.net)

Amazing Butterflies!

We went to the museum this afternoon because they're having a special butterfly exhibit, in addition to the outdoor butterfly rainforest, of course. It's really cool, it's a big maze that teaches you all about the life of a caterpillar/butterfly.

You start off as just a little caterpillar, see?

As a baby, you have to learn how to move, inching forward piece by piece. Good thing Lela and I are so good at working together!

Then we learned about leaves, climbing, and eating. (I thought this part helped me resemble a fairy... Fairy, butterfly, same idea!)

But not all leaves are good! There are some plants that try to eat you if you're a caterpillar - they have these creepy leg-like things on them. I did NOT like this part!

Then, once you're all full of leaves, you build yourself a cocoon and hang out there for a while.

Then you're a butterfly! (There were no pictures of that part of the maze, we kind of got lost and confused for a little bit...)

As a butterfly, you have to be very careful of spiders. We climbed up a spider web just to see what it would be like, even though as a butterfly you should never do this.

I got all the way to the top!

And then the spider came home - can you see her face? Eeeek!

Ha ha, Mami's funny...

Apparently butterflies dance to attract their prince charmings. This I can handle!

I don't know what this was all about but it spun around and was fun.

However, the very best part of the exhibit was getting to fly like a butterfly! With the help of a nice butterfly-helper-man, of course.

That was so much fun I did it again:

What a great - and educational - way to spend a VERY hot afternoon, don't you think?

Some close-ups

For some reason Mami thought I looked particularly cute at dinner tonight so she took some pictures. Now she'll subject you to them too.

He's got the whole ... what?

Just a little dinnertime serenade. . .

So long, thumb!

For several weeks now, Mami and Daddy have been trying to convince me to stop sucking my thumb. For the post part, I ignored them. But then one day, pretty much on my own, I just up and decided that I wouldn't suck it anymore.

(I'm very strong willed. If you tell me the sky is blue I will swear it's fuschia. But if you tell me you don't care what color it is, I'll describe it in minute perfect detail...)

Sooo, anyway, for about two and a half weeks now, I simply have not sucked my thumb during the day at all. The only time I do it is during nap time or bed time, and even then just for a couple minutes. Mami and Daddy are very proud of me and Mami took me on a special treat today to celebrate what a big, thumbless girl I am - I got a real manicure and pedicure!

I was a little confused at first, what with the bathtub for my feet and all, but I adjusted pretty quickly. My pedicurist was extremely nice and gentle.

We washed my feet and then scrubbed them. (As if I have any callouses at my tender age!)

It tickled!

Then I got a calf massage. I tried to lie back and relax but it tickled a little too!

And then... we painted. I got to pick my own colors!

We painted my hands too. I picked a different color for them.

And here's the final product:

OK, here's a close-up. Fingers = bright purple, toes = turquoise!

I'm very proud of myself, and it was so much fun!

"Mami got the tenure!"

Yesterday was a big day for two reasons. One, it's almost Mami's birthday, and two, she got some exciting news at work:

(I make it sound like a disease, "the tenure,"... But it really is a good thing!)

Lela and I were clearly very proud of her.

I did some jumping to show her just how much!

But we celebrated with an extra special treat: CAKE!

Don't be fooled, it's not just me and Lela that like cake, Mami's a fan of Publix buttercream icing herself:

We lit the candles and sang to Mami, and Daddy tried very hard not to burn himself with the sparkles. (The things he does for Mami... quite touching, really.)

Check out these looks of pure rapture on our faces as we watch the cake make its way in:

Mami opened our presents too, and will open the others on her real birthday. She seems happiest with the bow.

It was a nice little party!

Swimming progress

I've been making great progress in my swimming lessons. Tomorrow is the last day but Mami came with the camera today to document my work (since Lela is having her surgery tomorrow, I'm going to my lesson with Grandma).

Don't worry, no matter how good I get I will always start the day with a little Ariel pose.

(This is the one I mean: !)
Then I dip my hair in the water and get ready for fun.

One of the first things we work on every day is blowing bubbles. Check me out!

We've also learned to float on our backs, and I can almost do it now without sticking my legs straight up in the air.

In my down time while Ms. Amanda is helping the other girls, I like to practice putting my head under water. My friend Jayla looks at me funny when I do this.

I went so far under once that Ms. Amanda got a little worried and had to check to make sure I was doing this on purpose.

Note that Mami wasn't worried, she kept filming. Brave fearless blogger, she is.

But I was fine, I came right up smiling!

OK, a little wet and bedraggled sometimes, but happy!

My favorite part is by far the jumping in, still. And look how good I'm getting!:

But also, look how good I've gotten at kicking:
And even almost swimming!

I'm really hoping Mami will sign me up for some more lessons so I can keep learning!

Sign me up for the triathlon!

As you know, I've been learning how to swim this week.
I'm doing great, Mami and I spent the afternoon at the pool today and I jumped from the side into the water without holding on to anyone. Over and over. And over. And I'm almost able to kick my way back up to the surface.


In the mean time, when Mami came to pick me up at Grandma's yesterday I had a brand new trick to show her - I had learned to ride my tricycle! The Big Wheels isn't quite as easy, but we practiced with it at home this morning. And of course we got a video for you blog fans.



I of course have been a master of running for quite some time now. So triathlon, here I come!

My first trip to the dentist!

It's been quite a week for me. I went to swimming lessons again this morning and then after that Mami and I went to the dentist. I'd never been before. 
At first, I had a hard time sitting in the special chair, I kept sliding down!

But then I figured it out. I was very brave and kept saying 'ahh', even when I didn't need to.

They got me all ready with this bib thing and sunglasses because they were using a bright light. And then they tilted me backwards and the nice lady counted my teeth. 

(20, in case you're wondering.)

Then she brushed them. She let me choose what flavor toothpaste I wanted. I chose orange.

And then when I was all shiny and clean, the dentist himself came in to look at me teeth. He counted them again (I guess he didn't trust Ms. Tina), and poked at each one of them to make sure it was ok.

Check out these pearly whites!

I did great. Mami was very proud of me! Then I played by myself in the little playroom they have there while Mami got her teeth cleaned. She was even prouder of that!

We get to go back in 6 months, at which point they said they might brave x-rays, but we'll see about that... those lead aprons probably weigh more than I do! :)