Slappy Is A Focused Walker

About 2 weeks ago, Maddie decided she no longer needed walking training wheels, i.e. a finger to grab onto. In the last 2 weeks, her confidence has taken off, and she now gives herself, easily, a 20' radius apart from her folks. The learning has not come without it's price - cuts on the chin and nose, bruises on the forehead, busted fingertips, etc. - but both her parents and herself are very pleased.

Slappy Rides

First in her stroller, with her posse at the Farmer's Market.

Then, for the first time, in her forward facing, child car seat. There, Maddie learned that it is much harder to fall asleep in the car when your head is flopping all over. Somehow, she still managed.

Slappy Goes To The Circus

This morning Sam and Jess headed off with some trepidation to the Shrine Circus. Greg, their animal trainer friend, had gotten them and the Findleys, seats 4 rows back from the stage - and while excited, they were worried that Maddie might either be just old enough to enjoy the show, or alternatively, would get terribly bored and cranky, making the entire event short and unpleasant.Greg met us backstage by his lions, and led us onto the stage and into our seats.

We got the mandatory circus popcorn (salty!), and wondered what would happen once the show began.

We need not have worried. Both girls were amazed, and when the show ran slow (clowns = boring), the power of other kids took over, and the girls watched the audience excitedly.

There's Greg - to the right of the lion cage, kneeling down. The lions and the ponies were Maddie's 2 favorite acts. She also enjoyed the loud techno that accompanied some of the others.

How did we know she enjoyed herself? Here she is watching the ponies (you may pick up on the Dallas theme song in the background) - every time she got excited, which was about every other minute, she would swing her arms excitedly in the air. For Sam and Jess, watching her excitement was their favorite part, followed by the lions and the motorcycle ball of doom.

So as not to push our luck, we took our little Shiners out at intermission. After an hour and a half of circus, they were both still happy and awake.

Slappy Visits The Royal Palace Cont.

These are from Sam's camera, and too good not to post.

This is Jess' new favorite photo.

Slappy Visits The Royal Palace

This may look like any old day spent munching in Steve and Marissa's backyard.

Any warm Spring afternoon,

Spent enjoying mimosas and conversation.

But it was so much more. It was Lilly's 3rd Birthday Princess Party, and Cinderella herself was in attendance. She amazed all of the kids with her balloon creations, face painting, and story telling. She amazed all the adults with her ability to keep all of the kids en rapt and in one place.

3 hours later, the Kender-Page returned home to crash from the sugar rush and excitement. Lilly, on the other hand, was heard to have remained active for hours after her Princess Party, in a way only a new 3-year old with a 9-months pregnant mom, can.
(Jess is 26 weeks pregnant).

Slappy Has A New Hat

Just in time for playground weather.

Slappy Has An Early Morning

After a bed-time bath.
Fuzzy.

Slappy Joins Ladybug Music

Maddie had her first music class, which began with a bunch of shakers on the floor and a song with an opener of, "Hell-o to Maddie, so glad to see YOU!" She very much enjoyed shaking her groove thing.

Slappy Has A Happy Easter

Spring has arrived in Burbank.

And Maddie headed over to Edith's for a Easter lunch, complete with a whole ham, sweet potato fries, cupcakes, and boci ball.

How Tim and Shanna pulled this delicious lunch off with a little 6-week-old, continues to impress Sam and Jess.

Slappy Evokes Elton John

In her new birthday sunglasses from the Janisz family.

Slappy Does Not Hunt Eggs

At 8:50am, the family headed out to meet up with Marissa and Lilly at the Burbank Spring Egg Extravaganza. Sadly, this meant they missed the 9:00am egg hunt entirely.

Maddie did not seem to care, as the Burbank Animal Force was out, which was way more awesome. Please note, Maddie is not scared of the dog, but rather her exuberance had Sam holding her hand to help her with being "GENTLE".Lilly also had extra reason to be excited, as today was her 3rd birthday! Happy Birthday, Lovely Little Lilly!The day ended with a Lilly birthday celebration/egg dying party at John and Erin's. The eggs seen above ranged from classic designs to an eyeball, a bomb, and an avocado.

Slappy Enters A New Stage

The clingy one.

Slappy Has A Big Dinner

Which was accompanied with the comic genius of Lilly, who had ELF doing her first long string of belly laughs. What did it - blowing raspberries that made Lilly's bangs fly up in the air. Awesome. ELF laughed so hard, she began to cough. Also note, the woman to the right of Sam is Suzanne, ELF's grandmother, and the woman responsible for feeding Jess many a Mickey Mouse pancake when she was younger.

Slappy Parties Some More

But before she did, she picnicked in the park with her parents to get her stamina up. Both Sam and Jess agreed that being out in the park on a beautiful day was better than Sunday afternoons, pre-Maddie, spent indoors watching reality TV marathons. (Although, they did both also agree that at about 6pm, it would be nice to watch a movie and eat take-out).

Then they headed to park #2, filled with Maddie's favorite new toy - sand.

It was Emma's 3rd birthday party.

And each kid was given a pail, shovel, and bubbles. Maddie loves bubbles.

Her parents, however, were grossed out by the fact that you had to stick your finger into all of that goo to get the bubble wand. Thankfully, Tak, Emma's Dad, who has 2+ years of experience on them, jumped right in to bubble away for Maddie.

Maddie moved in closer for a better view. You can tell by her butt scootch track.

Slappy Has Her First Birthday Party

It was a gorgeous Saturday, filled with friends.

Noshing.

Running.

And 2 of Maddie's favorite 3-year-olds to show her the blow-your-candles-out ropes.It finished off with the quintessential first birthday cake (or in this case, first birthday cupcake). The verdict: icing = weird to squish in your fingers, cake = tasty, or I'll eat at least half of that cupake in under 2 minutes.

Slappy Has Words

Maddie has a few words, or rather, her own specific sounds that stand for words. For example - ma-man-a = banana, ma = more, and baa-poo = airplane. Jess got home from work today to hear Maddie say her first clear word. Your assumption that she was greeted with a delighted "Mama" at the door would be incorrect.

Rocky is our neighbor's cocker spaniel.