We're Back

We had a good couple of weeks in San Diego visiting Nonny & Pop--we even got away for a few days while the grandparents babysat. 48 straight hours without Fiona was something of a record, even if we did spend the entire time quoting Winnie-the-Pooh and wondering how our daughter was doing (fine, it turned out). Fiona went to the zoo (again), and was very excited to see the elephants. She also got to do some more swimming in the pool and increased her mastery of going up and down stairs (she's even started doing some of the two-step landings standing up!) She did very well and both flights, although she wasn't going to do anything so foolish as sleeping when she could be awake, climbing all over Mommy & Daddy, and wearing us down as we tried to keep her from climbing into the aisle. We're trying to get her back on east coast time (not too quickly, since we're enjoying sleeping past 6:45 a.m.) and weaning her off the round-the-clock Pooh DVD diet that indulgent grandparents allow but cruel parents don't.

My favorite story took place while we were off camping and Fiona was staying behind in San Diego. Nonny & Pop held a small party for their friends to show off their granddaughter; apparently, Fiona spent most of the time walking around the (covered) pool carrying a balloon that somebody had brought for her. After dinner, Fiona was put back on the ground to play while the adults tried to have a conversation. Fiona knows what her post-dinner routine is, however, and poked Nonny on the leg to tell her it was "bathtime." Nonny told her that they'd do it in a little bit, but that she should go ahead and play for a while. Fiona took a walk around the pool and then came back to Nonny. This time she told her more forcefully: "bathtime!"

I guess parties are all well and good, but you can't keep Fiona from a chance to play with her bath toys.