Weekend Fun

Dear Abigail,

I'm trying to catch up a little, but didn't want to leave out a fun weekend we had. Mimi came up (surprise, surprise) and brought Em with her. We went to Mexican on Friday night but didn't do much beyond that. Saturday morning, you had a birthday party to go to at none other than Monkey Joe's. Maybe you recall the last birthday party you went to at Monkey Joe's? No? Well, to sum it up, the second oh Monkey Joe came out, you hid, in Daddy's arms, and wouldn't be seen again until you were forced in your car seat to go home! BUT, that was a couple months ago, and I was prepared this time, as were the parents. Immediately upon walking in, I asked Connor D's parents (it was his bday party) to please inform me when Mr. MJ was going to make his appearance. What's funny is I didn't have to tell them, as they remembered your fear from the last party!!!! As did the other parents, who were gracious enough to be on the look out! But, with all that said, you, being the smart one and all, knew where you were, and knew what was coming. It was tough at first. You did NOT want me to put you down, even though there were 200 bouncy houses calling your name. You'd get in one and then just start looking around for that monkey. Finally, and I'm not sure what clicked, but you saw Connor playing, so you just jumped in and off you went, having a blast!

It was a little difficult taking pictures, as you were running from one place to the other - no car in the world, especially not a care out there fore MJ. But then... it was time to eat birthday cake and sing Happy Birthday... Again, you knew what was about to happen. It was like a lightbulb went off. You had no doubt that sooner rather than later, Monkey Joe was going to make his appearance. So, up into Mommy's arms you went, and there you stayed. Even through singing Happy Birthday to Conner, through eating your pizza, through it all. Finally, the inevitable happened. I'm pretty sure 10 parents came up to me to warn me of his appearance, so we went outside the birthday room and just watched all the other kiddos give him hugs and high fives. Well, I watched. You steadily had your face buried in my chest only to sneak a peak out of the corner of your eye. Finally he left, but you weren't convinced. You insisted that you "need to go home" and, even after trying to bribe you with a cupcake AND ice cream, we decided to leave. I was ever so happy to see that car seat. Carrying a 2 1/2 year old AND a baby in my belly wasn't the most relaxing event... And sure enough, the second we were in the car, you were happy. You have NO fear whatsoever of climbing or jumping our anything else, but a crazy blue 7 foot tall monkey puts the ever living fear in you??? Okay, fine, that does make sense. To say the least, we will NOT attend any more birthday parties at Monkey Joe's until this fear of costumed creatures subsides.

Of course, Mommy can never let things rest, and decided to torture you just a little bit more. Elmo just happened to be at our local toy store that day and I wanted to see if just maybe, JUST MAYBE, things would be different if you actually new the character and loved the character (i.e. Elmo). So we met up with Em and Mimi for some lunch and headed that way. You kept telling us over and over again that you were going to give Elmo a hug and you couldn't wait to see him. So I was getting pretty excited. All excitement cleared the second we walked in the store and you saw the actual 7 foot tall Elmo himself (or well, what is supposed to be Elmo...)

For the record, Mimi forced you to take a picture. I was done torturing you for the day, but she insisted that she hold you and try to get you to loosen up around him. Didn't happen. And to this day (2 weeks later) you tell us pretty much every day that "I don't like the big Elmo. I only like the little Elmo." The rest of the afternoon was spent relaxing, napping, and trying to forget about the eventful day... Mommy and Daddy went to a birthday party that night so you, Mimi and Em at pizza and I'm pretty sure stayed up late.

Sunday brought on a whole new day that did NOT include any costumes, but did include the pool! Aunt Steph, Ellie and her Aunt Meg all joined us at the pool where we had a good time swimming without swimmies! And Ellie loves the pool now, too!!!! Apparently her Nona taught her to love it like Mimi taught you to swim! Grandmothers are cool like that, no doubt. You also enjoyed a little air time, that is, you enjoyed being tossed back and forth (and back and forth and back and forth) from one person to the other!

After a good lunch at the pool, we headed back to the house for naps (or so we thought. You and those naps - nows not the time or place but man alive!!!!! anyway...) - so we headed back home and Mimi and Em gathered their stuff and headed back to their home. A fun weekend over all little water monkey!!

Love you!