29 September 2009

Know Your Body Parts

As Rodney was stepping out of the shower this morning, Zora pointed and said: "Daddy has penis."

"That's right, baby girl," Rodney replied, toweling off. "What does Zora have?"

"Vagina," she announced proudly.

"And what does Mama have?" he asked.

"Mama has bum!"

Does this mean I'm some neutered Barbie?!

27 September 2009

A Weekend in Philly and Brandywine


Zora is none too happy that I'm slurping up the strawberry ice cream + sprinkles we picked up at Franklin Fountain, an old timey ice cream fountain, in Philadelphia.

She is thrilled, however, to be watching the Thomas the Tank Engine at Longwood Garden's Garden Railway

Check out other photos from this vacation at our photo gallery.

16 September 2009

Out for Coffee

Warning: This story includes potty training-related details. If you're not up for potty humor and graphic descriptions, please skip this post.

We're at that stage where it's time to start potty training. The books say don't push it, but I kinda feel like potty training is the warm up to college entrance stories.

"Oh, so-and-so, was so easy to train. He didn't like to be dirty. I think it took a weekend."

"Blah blah trained herself at 18 months!"

Freud had A LOT to say about it. Quote from the very authoritative About.com: Freud believed that positive experiences during this stage served as the basis for people to become competent, productive, and creative adults. Failure to be encouraging during the anal stage means Zora is destined for The Couch.

Yeah, no pressure there.

So like a good parent, I've been encouraging without being pushy. We've gotten a lift-the-flap potty book. We take field trips into the bathroom. I let her flush. I let her pull out the toilet paper. I let her look at her poop. She even likes to look at dog poop and her friend Will's poop.

Recently, I started associating her poop with the toilet by taking her diaper to the bathroom and "dropping the kids off at the pool." After a satisfying plop, I waved to Zora's bowel movement.

"Bye bye, poopy," I said.

Zora, who had followed me in, looked up. "Where did poopy go?" she asked. "Out for coffee and hangaburrs?"

14 September 2009

Salon Uggie

When people ask me if I cut my hair, I can guarantee you one of two things: 1) I DID get my hair cut and I'm riding on that post-salon, blow-out high, or 2) I washed my hair. Today's good hair compliments stemmed from my Saturday trip to Salon L'Eau where Carey worked magic with her shears. While she was at it, I asked her to trim Zora's shaggy head. Of course, Zora needed a wash first, and the lovely shampooist was happy to oblige.

"Self" Zora said as she hoisted herself up on the three zebra striped and textured pillows that the shampooist had placed on the chair so her little noggin would be above sink height. Then, Z squeezed her eyes shut. Ready.




She had so much fun that she enticed Uggie to try it out.



Then she and Daddy worked out a nasty case of the sillies while the stylist cut Mama's hair.

Trying on New Identities

Zora enjoys being Zora, but lately she's been trying on new identities.

I am speed -- An homage to Cars.

I'm a backhoe -- Stated while placing her forearm against her forehead, dangling a fork in front of her face, then using the fork to scoop up rice and veggies.

04 September 2009

Zora and the Sprinka-leu