Talking Toucan

On one of our many visits to Cracker Barrell (favorite road trip stop), we purchased a toy called "The Talking Toucan."  It's a little stuffed bird that repeats everything you say over and over in a high-pitched squeaky voice.  Somehow it made me laugh at the time and I thought it would be fun to turn on when we have company over.  It pretty much makes everything you say sound stupid, so we don't turn it on very much.

But that's fine because we now have our own little living talking toucan.  Isabelle is talking up a storm and she repeats everything you say, just like the talking toucan toy...but much cuter.  I'm not sure you'd know what she's saying if you didn't just say it yourself.  But she sure does try.  There is really nothing more adorable than a talking toddler.  Each word has it's own cuteness and while I find myself trying to teach her the correct pronunciation, I almost don't want her to start saying words the right way.  When she finally started saying my name (ahh, the sweetest sound!)...she'd call me "mobbie" instead of "mommy".  Sometimes it would even sound like "bobby".  And I loved it.  Now she says Mommy (sometimes "mama") and I kinda miss the old way! 

 My favorite part about our copycat conversations is that she nods in agreement while she repeats what I've just said.  I've also learned about the words that I apparently say a little too much.  "Okay" must come out of my mouth constantly, because that is now Isabelle's all-time favorite word.   I also say "okie-dokie" a lot, and "sound good?". 

 Some of my favorite of Izzy's favorite words:

firetruck = "iuh-shuck"

granola = "gawowa"

outside = "ows-eye"

school = "sool"

bouncy house = "oucy ouse"

strawberries = "bowbawies"

goldfish = "oh-ish"

Some of her favorite names: Cici - one of her very first words and she says it pretty perfectly
Granddaddy -="gahdadee" or something like that (very tricky)

Ellie = "ay"

Brun = "boon"

Mac = "mac"

Libby = "ibby"

Betsy Grace = "esie -ace"

Matthew = "afew"

Laurie = "Ahwee"

Crockett = "cockett"

Isabelle has the tendency to leave out the first consanant in a word, which is why I now realize that all those months she was saying "adee" she was saying "Daddy", just as I suspected.  She also says "Oh" for "No" which is so stinkin cute. 

 Everyday I am amazed at what she remembers and what she is learning.  If I promise that we will do something in an hour, she doesn't forget.  We drive by places like Cici's house, Christ Church (school), even the library and grocery store, and she points and says what they are. 

 She is really into naming the mommy and daddy in books and on TV.  This morning there was a recap on GMA of Dancing with the Stars, and she points to the TV saying, "mama? daddy?"...meaning the couple dancing must be a mommy and daddy, right?  I guess she's just used to seeing me, all glammed out, being swept off my feet by my hunky husband.  Ha!

  This age is so fun.  I swear it really does just keep getting better.

Last weekend I was busy making two crazy groom's cakes...both for the same groom!  The first one was what he picked, and was served at the wedding reception.  A tire shaped cake since his weekend hobby is racecar driving.  Seems like a pretty cool guy!

You might change your mind when you see his favorite casual look!  The bride surprised him with a teva cake just like his own, complete with the gray sock that he always wears with it! 

Now that it's nice and warm out everyday we have been loving the outdoors.  What a switch from last year when Isabelle was crawling everywhere.  Being outdoors was not so easy.  Now we play on the deck and splash with the water table, the bouncy house is out every week, and trips to the playground are plentiful!

Here are the Barksdale cousins enjoying dinner together one evening (Izzy half naked after playing with the water table!):

Isabelle and her buddy, Laine, bouncing together in the never-gets-old-bouncy house.  Apparently they thought it was much more fun without clothes on.

I swear Isabelle could spend hours at the water table.  Here she is with school buddy and neighbor, Hartley. 

 Love me some naked babies!!

In Which I Play the Broken Record

Remind me to never, ever attempt to debate the stricture of gender roles on reality competition TV with anyone who loves reality competition TV ever again. I cannot help but get all didactic about it. And I really sort of hate reality TV of any stripe (although the competitive ones slightly less, as they at least seem to have a purpose behind their existence besides annoying the shit out of me).

Isabelle's 2nd Birthday Party

This year we decided to (once again) have a beach-themed birthday party since (a) there isn't room in our house for more than 2 families, (b) you gotta have water if you're going to be outside in July, and (c) there's nothing more fun than the beach for 2 year olds!  But we added a little flair to the theme with Curious George, who is Isabelle's absolute obsession these days.  She requests that we watch the TV show or read the books at least 3 times a day. 

When she awoke from her nap to see the backyard transformed into a beach, she was both bewildered and delighted....

Back at the beach??!

Isabelle got eaten by the shark. Sadly the homemade shark "tunnel" made his last appearance this year (making room for other stuff in the attic). 

Splash pool! 

"Jungle Juice" smoothies - Izzy's favorite homemade smoothies were served (yogurt, ice, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, mangos, orange juice...yum).  Check out the sweet t-shirt I got at Old Navy for the occasion.  Isabelle now requests that I wear it daily.

Girls in the yellow hat.  We bought the one for Izzy and my crafty assistant made a big one for me!

 The set up.  We used our coffee table (turned train table) plus a masonite board to make a nice big rectangular table for the kids.  My clever father-in-law constructed kiddie benches to fit perfectly. The 2 little vintage Curious Georges on the table were Brian's when he was a kid!

Favors: Izzy's favorite Curious George books!

 "The Cake in the Yellow Hat" was banana cake with chocolate ganache filling.  Notice another vintage Curious George (saved by my parents from when we were little!).  This obsession clearly runs in the family!

 Food table with Isabelle's Curious George above hanging from the streamers.  That silly monkey.

 The menu: "George's Wedges" (watermelon and canteloupe wedges), "Ooh-ooh-ah-ah nuggets" (Chick-Fil-A), "Curious cheesesticks", "Monkey Tails (homemade soft pretzels with an assortment of dips).  I know, I know.  I'm just a little into details.  Not to mention a huge dork.

 We caught a Romeo and Juliet re-enactment by Macon and Joe.

 Betsy Grace and Loulie playing at the water table.

 Brun and his little look-alike, Sutton.

 Carolina girl with her daddy.

 Izzy and Laine making castles.

 Dinner time!

 And the very best part of all...CUPCAKES!  Little yellow hat cupcakes.  Of course now Isabelle says "George and yellow hat" whenever she requests a book or TV, rather than "kee George" the way she used to say "curious george).  I might have overdone the yellow hat just a bit!

 Isabelle had a special cupcake with a little George on top.  She is even more obsessed with cupcakes than with George. 

 This child is a professional cupcake eater.

 She savors every bite.  The sugar buzz is starting!

 Now here is the highlight of the party.  Izzy got some special attention from her adorable boyfriends.  John Daniel is her "b-day buddy" since they were born 2 days apart...just a few hours after we left the hospital with Isabelle, little JD popped out just down the hall from where we were at CMC.  They have a very special bond!  And they LOVE to flirt!!! 

The cutest part of this was when John Daniel came over to Izzy to give her kiss and decided he needed to take his hat off to get close enough.

 Isabelle was eating it up!

 He decided to play it safe and give her a cheek rub.  SO sweet!

 Since Isabelle was obviously waiting for a kiss, little William, her other handsome boyfriend came in for the real thing.  They locked lips TWICE.  And she loved every minute of it!  Oh boy, we're gonna have our hands full! 

John Daniel waiting for another chance.  Is it just me, or are the boys lining up for my cutie-patootie?  12 years from now her Daddy is going to be in for it.

Back for more!

 2 genetic sources of Isabelle's charm and good looks:

 A very happy birthday girl!

We couldn't have asked for more perfect day.  My crazy over-attention to detail, food, and decor might have led to the after-party-hangover the next day, but it was all well worth it!