The First Year-And-A-Half

As seen in New York Family Magazine: http://www.newyorkfamily.com/the-first-year-and-a-half/

From mastering animal sounds to throwing pretend tea parties, a toddler shares with us the highlights of turning 18 months.

     

   

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Dream: I am pushing my baby doll down the street in her stroller. Baby has learned so much in the past months thanks to my fabulous parenting. Baby walks and talks and is developing a lovely disposition and personality. She is strong, smart, independent, sweet, and pretty adorable (if you ask me).  We turn the corner and head into our apartment building. Our doorman, Mr. Andrew, greets us with smiles and high fives. He alerts me that I have a package, but I tell him to just give it to Mommy later. Baby and I are tired and want to grab a quick lunch before nap time. Hopefully, Mommy made us grilled cheese sandwiches. Yum, yum!

Reality: I am reclining in my stroller seat as Mommy pushes me home from a Music Together class. We sang a special “Happy Birthday” for my half-birthday. What a special day! Can you believe I am 18-months-old already? Time flies when you’re an Elle Belle! And this baby has learned so much in 1.5 years–it is remarkable. I am so strong, smart, and independent. And if you ask me, I am a natural learner. Well, I guess Mommy helps me learn a little. As we continue our stroll, I start daydreaming about making a documentary about me, the super duper one-and-a-half-year-old.

I know the perfect song to kick it off: “Harder, better, faster, stronger…” These are Kanye’s words that I live by. I can walk along with my baby stroller, run endlessly, climb stairs, push my radio flyer wagon, kick a ball, jump on the trampoline, and even undress myself. That last one comes in handy when Mommy asks me if I want to wear something and I say, “No,” and she puts it on me anyway. I can just take it off and say, “No way!” As you see, I am strong physically as well as when it comes to willpower.

I am told that I am one smart cookie. My vocabulary is rapidly growing as is my comprehension. I articulately say many words with authority, especially: No way, doggie, golf, cupcake, grilled cheese, and bye bye. Leading sing-a-longs and reciting key segments of my favorite books are other smartypants pastimes. I also know my colors, letters, and numbers. I know that while my favorite color is blue, not all colors are blue (some are red and purple). I can sing the alphabet song with gusto, and I can clearly count to 10, even if I do use the number two for one and two (just until I learn to say “one” properly).

I am a budding artist, coloring on paper with crayons. And I mastered my animals and making their corresponding sounds, learned my shapes and can fit them into my shape sorter like a pro, and spent endless hours identifying my body parts and also finding them on my dolls. My favorite body part for now is the belly button. When I touch Mommy’s, it makes her go, Hee hee! How silly! And the list goes on. Are you floored yet? My grandparents are!

I am also sweeter than sweet. I must say I am quite affectionate with those I know and love. I understand letting friends deliver high fives and will even give a whole ten if I am in a giving mood. I have mastered the art of giving nice, gentle kisses as well as blowing a kiss (which was no easy task). I also learned that I should not kiss with my tongue: this is reserved for puppies and the French. (That’s what Daddy told me.) And I love to deliver bear hugs and know Mommy and Daddy love getting them.

When I want to be, I can also be pretty adorable. Playing pretend is off-the-charts fun and everyone loves to play with me. I host the most fabulous tea parties! We cheers with our tea cups, with fresh brewed tea, and I make homemade tea sandwiches. Delish! And I am pretty cute when playing a pretend mommy and caring for my baby dolls. I even spice things up by being a crazy, cool mommy, letting Baby bounce on my legs as we sing our favorite Music Together song, “Trot Old Joe.” But I have to stop playing with Baby when the phone rings. I pretend to answer–it’s always Daddy! “Hieeee!,” I say with enthusiasm and I mind my manners and always say “bye bye” before I hang up (even if Daddy is still talking while I do so). But everyone’s favorite is when I pretend to get ready with my makeup mirror and say: “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all? Elle!”

I am exhausted just thinking about all the great life accomplishments I’ve achieved so far–and I am only 18-months-old! I am pretty sure I will have to make a mini-series instead of a documentary.

As my day dream bubble pops, I realize I am hungry and Mommy already got us home and made me grilled cheese. Yum, yum! Who knows what can happen next? Maybe I will even use the potty soon.

Mickey Mouse Rocked the House

As seen in New York Family magazine: http://www.newyorkfamily.com/mickey-mouse-disney-live-music-festival-madison-square-garden-elle-belle/

So I just got my Trumpette socks rocked off seeing Disney Live! Mickey’s Music Festival. This is only my first reporting assignment but I think I’ve found my calling—I definitely want to be a music journalist when I grow up. You see, being in NYC you become immune to celebrity sightings, but today I hit the jackpot—I saw Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and other Disney friends at Madison Square Garden! And I even got a light-up necklace and princess wand. Rock on!

I was transported (literally) to the Theater at MSG where the coolest Disney stars came to shine. I willingly sat still for several minutes at a time to enjoy this musical spectacular (shocking, I know). Mickey himself hosted the show and Minnie, Goofy, and Donald helped break it down. They were joined by some fan favorites from “Aladdin,” “The Little Mermaid,” and “Toy Story,” and the stories magically came to life on stage. It all started with Mickey and friends boogying to “Everybody Dance Now” and the music was so fantastic that I could not keep my bum bum still.

First, we went on a magic carpet ride with Aladdin. Between us, I didn’t quite get the Genie’s over-the-top sense of humor, but laughed along with Mommy anyway. And I was a bit upset that Genie couldn’t get Donald Duck’s name right… He called him Don and Ronald, and was being downright silly. Everyone knows who Donald Duck is! We all tried to tell Genie but he acted like he couldn’t hear us. That blunder aside, he still magically transformed Aladdin from a street rat to a prince before our very eyes. I only wish that I could have been Princess Jasmine and taken that magic carpet ride on stage.

Then we went for an adventure under the sea with Ariel. The mermaids rocked it out to “Single Ladies” in what was a truly memorable performance. From their funky neon hair to their sparkly fins, those aquatic beauties were dressed to swim and had everyone riding the wave! I especially loved seeing that Ariel has as much trouble figuring out what to do with a fork as I do (we’ve both used it as a hair comb), but was troubled by her interactions with that scary sea witch Ursula. However, in true Disney fashion, there was a happy ending. The stage transformed into an ocean and I felt like I was swimming right along with Sebastian, Flounder, some jellyfish, and other fishy friends. Swish swish!

Next, my “Toy Story” friends knocked it out of the park. Woody and Jesse brought along Bullseye, who stole the show if you ask me. I squealed and screamed with delight when he danced around stage; he even jumped rope! I can barely run with two feet, let alone jump rope with four. It was off the charts! Yee-haw! And I must also tell you that they went on a space age adventure with Buzz Lightyear and it involved super-sized asteroid bouncy balls which were even tossed around the
audience.

They saved the best for last because the finale was a medley of all my favorite characters getting everyone up on their feet and dancing. Being a dog lover, though, the show stopper was Goofy’s rendition of “Who Let the Dogs Out?” He had everyone barking! From “Toy Story” friends breaking it down to “Cotton Eyed Joe” to Minnie’s spin on “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” this girl (Baby Elle Belle!) had a ton of fun. Mickey Mouse rocked the house!

Happiness is...

 Happiness is...seeing Disney Live! and rocking my socks off with Mickey and friends!