It’s cold season around here. Bad thing about kid colds is that they happen often. Good thing is that they’re usually short-lived and we don’t complain (except when it comes to kleenex and that nose suctioning thing). And a little cold is not going to stop us from going to a birthday party! Off to cousin Ella’s 7th birthday party (and Uncle Scott’s birthday too). There was lots and lots of yelling and loud music and dancing. And dessert – cherry cupcakes, chocolate cake, chocolate pie… I tried them all. And then I crashed. Tired, cranky and sick, I wanted to stay at the party for a sleepover, but Mommy said I needed to go. I wasn’t happy, but I still got to sleep over at Nana & Papa’s house and that was pretty fun too. I get to see Ella and Grace this week for Thanksgiving! That’ll be fun!

I got a stuffy nose too, but that hasn’t stuffed up my learning abilities. On Tuesday I figured out crawling! Hand, knee, hand, knee, repeat, repeat, bellyflop. I also have some cool breakdancing belly-spin moves to twist around and turn corners. I can almost go from crawling to sitting… I just need to tip myself up a bit more… I’m almost there. It won’t be long.

In the meantime, I’ll just clap to myself. I’m a reckless clapper… don’t get too close or you’ll get clap-slapped. I practice often: during dinner (watch out for that spoon), during playtime on the floor and during bedtime, most often when I just wake up. And I probably don’t realize that I’ve learned a word, but I say “mom” all the time. One day I’ll put the word and the person together. For now I’ll just repeat it over and over until I learn my “d” words.

I’m hungry. Not a little bit either… a lot. I eat 4x a day and have taken the hunger level to a new high by requiring a 5th meal around 2am. I think it’s because I’ve just been so busy lately, what with rolling and playing with toys and throwing everything (I’ve got quite an arm), I need more food to keep up my energy level.

Mommy has not been pleased with my extra snack in the middle of the night. To combat this, I’ve been given extra food at dinner to fill the empty pit that is my stomach. It seems to have worked as I’ve been sleeping through the night again since I started midnight snacking a couple weeks ago. And I’ve been expanding my horizons to all the new foods out there. I’ve tried every flavor of baby food so it’s on to people food. I really want what’s on YOUR plate.

And I got news for you… It’s not quite official yet, but I can crawl. Pick up your stuff if you don’t want me to drool or choke on it.

So much Halloween candy… so little time. Slowly, I’m finishing my bucket-o-loot, but it’s disappearing faster than I’m eating it. Someone is eating my candy… and they’re taking all the good stuff! I’m not naming names, but they go by “Mommy” and “Daddy.” I overheard them talking and I hear that there may be more candy coming because Daddy didn’t get enough. Good! Maybe I can get my hands of some of it too.

And after the costume hysterics and all, I finally have a good photo of my cowgirl costume. Maybe we can do it again next year…

And coming to a Christmas card mailing soon… Pics of me and Evan! We didn’t listen to directions and were crabby, tired and hungry, but we’re so cute that it didn’t matter.

Just put me on my knees – or not, I’ll get there myself – and watch me rock! I’m 7 months old today and I’ll bet that I’ll be crawling before I’m 8 months old. I like to get into this crawling position when there’s a toy out there in front of me. I’m kind of “winding up” to get ready to roll and just go and get it. Now, I finally fizzle out and plop onto my belly. It’s usually not a big deal unless I really can’t figure out how to get to that toy. But gimme a minute or two and I’ll be able to twist and roll over to it or some other toy to turn my attention to.

Other big news: I got moved into a new car seat. I just grew out of the other one. So now I have Elise’s and she got a new one. Mommy says I look so small in this big seat. But I’m not.

My two weeks of birthday finally came to an end. My friends and family are all so wonderful and generous with toys of every size, quantity of parts and volume. I got games and books and movies and toys. I love being three!

You thought I was helpful when I turned two? I’m so much more helpful now. I clean out the dishwasher, help with the laundry and feed the cats. I watch Evan – and play with him too – because he’s pretty cool when I can make him laugh. And I remember everything. You said we could watch a movie after dinner tomorrow? I’ll make sure you keep to your word.

This week is going to be pretty cool. Daddy went to Las Vegas for work. Me and Evan get to go to Nana and Papa’s when Mommy goes there later this week. I can’t wait to hear all about their trip! But you know what they say about what happens in Vegas…