ding ding

Charli loves ringing the bell! This is actually the second time Charli's been bike riding. Brian snuck off the first time while I was out with Sam, so I don't have any video of that. Charli doesn't look particularly thrilled in this video, but she definitely likes biking. She often says, "go hiking?" and tries to put on her helmet. Why she calls it 'hiking' I don't know; she says 'bike' just fine. Kids! I just don't understand them!

high (shiny) fashion

Tonight for dinner we ordered takeout from the Vietnamese place right around the corner (you know, "benamee"), where we often order takeout from. I mean REALLY often - after Charli was born, we showed up there one night and the owner had a gift for Charli. It was so sweet, but I felt a little bad because, well... I don't even know this woman's name.

When Brian came home with our takeout, he had an extra bag. Benamee owner bought Charli another gift! I'm so embarrassed! I still don't know her name! Charli, however, loves the jacket. We pulled it out of the bag, and Charli gasped, and put it on after dinner and wore it around the house for the rest of the evening. If the pictures are not big enough for you to tell, it's an A-line jacket with bell sleeves, and on the back there is a bow with a sparkly thing hanging down. O yes, and it's made out of shiny fake fur, with twinkle stars and big shiny buttons. What's that? You could tell that part? I know, but I had to say it anyway...

happy birthday to you

For some reason, this arrangement of bowls means "happy birthday to you". Charli gets out these bowls, sets them up in an arc on the floor, and then dances around them madly, singing "happy birthday to you" the whole time. I have no idea what the significance is.

baby exchange

Nina and I tried out a babysitting exchange thing - she watched Charli last weekend while Brian and I had lovely dinner with Daisy and Jim, and we watched Bella last night while Nina and Dex went out. It was great! Charli and Bella had a terrific time, and they were so adorable together. I am very envious that Nina does this all the time, although I suppose the experience might pale if I did it too often...


Badespasse (bath fun - see how much my German is improving?)






Charli loves the playhouse now - she's finally grown into it. Bella is a big fan, too!







BFF

pee!

Charli just peed on the toilet! Twice! I am in shock!

Charli has been sitting on the toilet for a while now. She uses it 1) as a delaying tactic, and 2) right after she's taken a dump in her diaper. She likes to sit on there for a while, often with a blanket and a book, and produce nothing. So today she came back with her nanny, Carolina, and said she wanted to sit on the toilet like she always does, and I told Carolina that she does this all the time and nothing happens, and immediately she peed on her little toilet. I was flabbergasted. Then she wanted to sit on the big toilet (which has a little seat on it for her), and she peed again there. I was floored.

I am still in shock.