Environmental Phenomenon Review: Snow

Clouds on the ground!

Ummmmm....snow?!  SNOW?!!!  Apparently I saw this stuff last winter, but to be honest I can't remember what I ate for breakfast yesterday, so at this point snow is entirely new to me.   

I recently woke up from an excellent night's sleep and was brought into Mama and Dada's room for our daily morning routine.  There was no hint as to the wonderland that had developed outside their window between bedtime and wakeup.  We went about our usual schedule of snuggles, storybooks and the good morning song, and then Mama opened the curtains.  Holy Nananas it was a new world!  Everything was covered in a white fluffy blanket!  I was desperate to leap from the window to grab all of it, smoosh all of it, taste some of it, and smoosh all of it some more!  This was sadly not possible as I have yet to figure out how to get directly from the confines of Mama and Dada's bed to their floor, never mind to the outside of their window.

Luckily for me, later that morning Mama bundled me up in the stroller for a walk through the magic.  While it was truly breathtaking, I was only able to observe the snow from a tantalizingly close-yet-all-too-far distance.  The best part was when we got back in and the stroller wheels were covered in snow.  All it took was a split second of Mama with her back turned for me to grab a handful and smoosh it.  And boy did I smoosh it...on the entranceway tiles, on my face, in my hair, on the wall...  Here's an unexpected piece of information: snow is cold water in disguise.  You might be expecting to cover everything in luxurious cloud-like fluff, but you'll end up soggy and shivering because snow instantaneously dissolves into cold water upon smooshing.  Another unexpected piece of information: under the snow covering the stroller wheels is a fine layer of dirt that has turned to mud.  Nine out of ten Mamas agree that this is great for smearing (in case you are wondering, unfortunately MY mama is the one in ten who disagrees).

Bottom Line: WHEEE!!!  Let it snow, let it snow, let it...MUD!!!!!   

Destination Review: Prince Edward Island

Perfect.  Exquisite.  Idyllic.

Mamamamama, Dadada and I just got back from our summer vacation on Prince Edward Island.  You've probably heard all sorts of bucolic tales of life on PEI and I can confirm that every single one is true.  We spent the week in a cottage by the Ocean, enjoying food like blueberries and corn off the cob.  A bunch of our family and friends came to stay in cottages right nearby, so it was non-stop fun and affection all week.  Lots of babies and kids and grown-ups available to share a laugh and a snuggle.

Obviously it would not be difficult to label this as one of the best weeks of the 54 weeks I've been around, but it did not come without its glitches.  First of all, PEI is not like home.  You can not jump in the stroller and get wherever you need to go.  You have to be strapped into a car to get most places.  Being strapped into a car is pretty much my least favourite thing ever, next to eating strawberries (gross).  You can tell it is pretty much my least favourite thing ever because I yell at you the entire time I am being forced to do it.  Full-on yell at you.  Then I cry.  Then I yell some more.  I definitely don't get tired out enough to nap.  I should, but I don't.  Hours can go by.  Hours and hours.  But I'll just keep yelling.  Serves you right for strapping me into a car. 

The second glitch is the fact that I had to sleep in a room that was not my bedroom.  If it's not my bedroom, I'm not a fan.  Even if you make it seem as much like my room as you can given the limited resources available to you at a little cottage in the middle of nowhere, you can't fool this baby.  I wasn't born yesterday.  I was born 54 weeks ago.  I've seen a lot.  I know when a room is not my bedroom (interesting fact: 99% of rooms are not my bedroom).

All that said, PEI is beautiful and warm and friendly and pretty.  There is a bustling downtown area in Charlottetown for you urbanites, and plenty of rolling hills and red sand beaches just minutes away for those of you who eschew the hustle and bustle of a city in the summer.  At this point in my life, I like everything, everywhere, so this place is pretty much right up my alley.

Bottom Line: WHEEE!!!  PEI should stand for Perfect Escape for Infant.

Activity Review: Pulling My Cat's Tail

Oh this guy...

 

Those of you who follow my blog are well aware of how much I love the cats that I live with.  Here's a little background on these fantastic roommates of mine...:  There are two of them.  One is white and one is orange and white.  They make a sound like this: "meeeowwww" (sometimes Mamamamama imitates the sound for me and her impersonation is spot on and quite enjoyable).  The cats are very funny (examples of hilarious things they do include sitting, walking, and walking then sitting).  While the white one (let's call him "Cat") is remarkably good at avoiding me at all costs, the orange and white one (let's call him "Other Cat") loves to snuggle with me and the feeling is super mutual. 

Sometimes I can get Other Cat to make a sound like this: "Raaaaooooorrrrawwww".  I've determined that this sound can be elicited through a healthy tail pull and that it means "High Fives!" because it is most often accompanied by Other Cat smacking me with his hand.  Other Cat has terrible aim, but I think if I keep up the tail pulls we can eventually improve his accuracy and get some stellar hand-to-hand high fives going.

Whenever I pull Other Cat's tail Mamamamama and/or Dadada usually look concerned and say things like "the cat doesn't like that".  Oh really?!  Well, as the British say, "Blocks!!" (did I pronounce that right?).  Other Cat and I are best buddies and I'm pretty sure my best buddy would let me know if he didn't like having his tail pulled!

Bottom Line: WHEEE!!!  You could try to tell me cats don't like having their tails pulled, but I think you'd be pulling my leg (which I would not enjoy).

Toy Review: Fake Cellphone



Oh hey guys, eavesdrop much?!

Like most Mamamamamas and Dadadas, Mamamamama and Dadada have smartphones.  They use those smartphones to take pictures of me, play music for me, have video calls with Grandma and Peepa, and CRUELLY TAUNT ME WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF UNHINDERED SCREEN SWIPING.

Every time I get close to one of their smartphones, they move it away from me.  The few times I've gotten my hands on one, and begun the glorious practice of screen swiping and icon pressing, it has been quickly whisked away and replaced with the toy pictured above.

Are you kidding me with this doodoo?!  Here's what's wrong with my "cellphone":

1. The screen is tiny and has no colour.  Also, it cannot be swiped and has no icons to press.
2. It is constantly on speakerphone mode.  Call me cautious but I don't want my private conversations broadcast willy nilly around the house.  If I want to tell the unknown voice on the other end of the line about what Slobber Bear (my favourite snuggly stuffed teddy) said about Mona the Monkey (handmade for me by my wonderful Auntie M), I certainly don't want Henrietta Hippo (another Auntie M special) to overhear.  She's sweet, but can NOT keep a secret.
3. This thing rings constantly.  There is no silent or vibrate mode.  I can't bring it anywhere.  Imagine how embarrassed I'd be if a call came through during my Rainbow Songs baby music class?!  So disruptive!
4. It's NOT A REAL PHONE.  What am I?  A newborn?!  I can tell the difference between an awesome real smartphone and a fake toy cellphone.  No matter how lovely the music it plays is or how inviting the friendly voices are, can I accidentally call one of Mamamamama's clients on it, or somehow, inexplicably, figure out how to access the App Store and randomly download an "identify this bird" App?  No.  No I can not. 

Bottom Line:  WAAAH!!!  Nice try Mamamamama and Dadada.  Nice try.

Activity Review: Pulling Everything Off of Every Shelf, Ever.

Notice I am not reaching for The Gruffalo.

Now that I've mastered crawling and pulling myself up to kneeling and standing positions, the world has become 200% bigger and better.  True story.  The best thing about a bigger and better world is that it comes with shelves (and drawers), and those shelves (and drawers) come with books, pots and pans, stuffed animals, blankets, and shoes, to name just a few.

Along with a multitude of items, I've discovered some really great facts.  Did you know:

1. Not all books come with hard thick pages?  Some come with easy-to-tear paper.  Fantastic fun.
2. Pots and pans can be banged together, AND banged against any other thing within reach, including floors and walls?!  Delightful.
3. Stuffed animals are generally light enough to throw halfway across a room? Done and done.
4. Blankets can be strewn completely around oneself such that one can become trapped in a virtual blanket prison?  Infuriating - but test it out - repeatedly, often, and unrelentingly.
5. Shoes can fit under furniture so that Mamamamama and Dadada can only find 1 when they next look for a pair in the shoe drawer?  Serious entertainment.

If you are reading this, you've probably been pulling things off of shelves for years, so I'm sure you'll agree with me that there's basically nothing better (other than waving, high fiving and stacking).

Bottom line:  WHEEE!!!  Shelving boredom since June 2014.

Food Review: Mango

I can't even...

Dear Mango,

Marry me you old so and so.  Prunes are dead to me.

Yours with undying love,
Ducky

Bottom line:  WHEEE!!!  Dum dum dumdum, dum dum dumdum...

Destination Review: Vancouver

A mountain making sure the sky doesn't go too far.

Five months ago Mamamamama and Dadada took me to a place called "Florida".  "Florida" was amazing.  It was warm, Grandma and Peepa were there (I just love those two!), and I had a bed, food and lots of attention.  Pretty much all the comforts of home, minus the freezing cold weather.  A++. 

Well just this past week Mamamamama and I left Dadada at home (the bad part) and went to Vancouver to visit Grandpa (the good part).

Vancouver is great!  I had a bed, food and lots of attention.  Plus there were mountains (for those of you unfamiliar with mountains, they are big shadowy things that connect the ground to the sky), and an ocean (best described as a large pool I was not allowed to splash in - though inexplicably a bunch of birds WERE allowed to splash in it - I'm still a little miffed about the injustice of that situation, but I digress...).  We went for lots of walks, met lots of people, snuggled with Grandpa and threw food all over his kitchen floor! 

The biggest drawback to Vancouver was the endless trip there and back.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy waving at every possible person just as much as the next baby, and Mamamamama is a delight to cuddle with - but an estimated 17 hours straight of nothing but waving and cuddling in an "airplane" is enough to drive any baby to fuss and/or nap. 

I wish we could go to Vancouver every week, but would prefer if it relocated to the Park down the street from our house.  That would be much more convenient.

Bottom line:  WHEEE!!!  The next best thing to throwing food all over my own kitchen floor.

Activity Review: Bubble Time

Aren't they beautiful?!

I'm about to share an experience with you, dear reader, that can only be described as magical.  When you are finished reading this entry, you must immediately go to your nearest bubble store to buy bubble water, and then head to your front porch to blow as many bubbles as you possibly can.

Now that it is no longer colder than a refrigerated jar of purée outside, Mamamamama and I have made it part of our routine to sit out on the front porch in the late afternoon.  We read some books, play with some toys, try to put leaves into our mouths when the other person isn't looking (no?  just me?), and watch with awe as bubbles float around us, courtesy of Mamamamama and a bottle of bubble water.

Bubbles are quite possibly the most beautiful and frustrating things on earth.  Beautiful because they fly and are full of swirly rainbows and are the most perfect circles.  Frustrating because they either fly too high to grab, or they vanish as soon as they feel threatened (which is basically ALWAYS, much like our cats).  Sometimes Mamamamama will catch one on her magic bubble wand and bring it to me, but bubbles submit to no one, not even Mamamamama, and they disappear the second I reach out to grab them.  The element of surprise is no match for a bubble's magic. 

Bubble Time is truly one of my favourite times of day.  Especially because a few days ago I made Mamamamama so proud she cried a little when I repeated her question "more bubbles?!" back to her (granted it sounded more like "ma baba", but I'm new to this whole "words" scene).  Now I let her know whenever I'm ready for more bubbles by telling her "ma baba" while clapping my hands.

I'm gonna have to look into this talking thing a little more closely, because it seems like a highly effective way to let Mamamamama and Dadada know exactly what I want...

Bottom line:  WHEEE!!!  Ma baba!!!!  Ma baba!!!!

Book Review: The Gruffalo

Writer's interpretation of the Gruffalo monster.  Not to scale.

If Mamamamama or Dadada tries to read me the Gruffalo one more time I'm going to sickup.  Who has the patience to get through this book?!  The word-to-picture ratio is 5 thousand million to 1.  If I want to have the Gruffalo read to me I will grow up, get accepted to Oxford and major in English Literature (with a minor in Clapping to Music).  I mean seriously - I happen to know that Dadada has read War and Peace (#proudbaby) and from the sounds of it, it is about 1/10th the length of the Gruffalo.  Yes, I've cited a hashtag, a ratio, a fraction and at least one made up number in this post.  What of it?!

For those of you with a couple of years to kill, here's what you're getting yourselves into: Mouse is stalked by several ravenous animals.  Mouse scares ravenous animals into retreat with tales of scary Gruffalo monster.  Baby gets distracted by paint drying and/or falls asleep.  Story continues for hours.  Baby gets fussy.  Story continues for several more hours.  Baby loses mind and pushes book away forcefully whilst trying to escape from Mamamamama's lap.  Story continues on ad nauseum.  Baby grows up, gets married, has children, enjoys a rewarding career while maintaining a fulfilling work life balance, returns to childhood home and finds Mamamamama is only halfway through reading the Gruffalo.

Bottom line: WAAAH!!  Longest.  Book.  Ever.

Book Review: That's Not My Dinosaur

Pretty sure this isn't my dinosaur...

 

Those of you who have been following my Blog know that dinosaurs feature prominently in my favourite literature.  So it's no surprise that I am able to formally convey my extreme appreciation for the excellent text that is "That's Not My Dinosaur".

This book is part of the Usborne Touchy-feely series written by Fiona Watt and illustrated by Rachel Wells.  Overall this series is truly spectacular.  Although the theme of the books is similar, each volume has its own unique character and subject. 

The premise of "That's Not My Dinosaur" is that you have a dinosaur (yes please!), but you can't find it (oh no!) and you have to check out a bunch of dinosaurs (yes please!) to determine whether those dinosaurs are yours (one is!).  Most of the dinosaurs are pretty easy to rule out because (for example), their horns are too rough, or their teeth are too bumpy.  I mean COME ON, as if my dino is going to have such bumpy teeth! 

The only drawback here is that the suspense is almost too intense and self-doubt can start to creep in.  Will I ever find my dinosaur?!  What if I don't?!  Will it find a nice family to live with?  Does it have enough to eat?  Are my dinosaur's teeth that bumpy?  Maybe they ARE that bumpy.  I can't remember if I even checked my dinosaur's teeth the last time I saw my dinosaur.  Oh my gosh, does my dinosaur even HAVE teeth?!  I don't have teeth.  WHY DON'T I HAVE TEETH?!

Bottom Line: WHEEE!!!  A real page turner, so long as you don't overthink it...

Activity Review: Clapping

Are those hands or are those hummingbird wings?!

 

I've started to notice that I can do stuff.  Like actually accomplish things.  One of those things is making Mamamamama and Dadada cheer "Yaaayyy!" and clap on command.  This is useful for so many reasons, the first and foremost of which is that it makes me super super happy.  The key to getting a cheerclap out of either or both of Mamamamama and Dadada is really quite straightforward, and I'll share it with you here, dear reader, because everyone should be able to elicit cheerclaps whenever they need a sweet pick-me-up (read: NON-STOP).

The secret is: clap your own hands together.  

That's it!  Seems too good to be true doesn't it?!  It isn't.  It's real, and it's that easy.

I figured this out just the other day and I'm not kidding, any time I clap my hands together Mamamamama and Dadada cheerclap along with me.  It's so delightful I can't even handle it.

Here are my of tips for executing the perfect clap:

Take each of your hands and bring them together enthusiastically several times while maintaining eye contact with your Mamamamama or Dadada.  We're not looking for perfect technique here.  Your enthusiasm will make up for whatever you lack in skill and accuracy.  Smile a lot and look especially proud of yourself each time you manage to bring those hands together.  I guarantee your day will be full of cheerclaps aplenty.

Bottom Line: WHEEE!!!  Yaaaayyyy!  Yaaaayyy! Yaaayyy!  Yaaayyy!  Yaaaaaayyy!  Yaaaaayyy!  Yaaaaayyyy!  Yaaaayyy!  Yaaayy!  Yaaaaaayyyy!  Yaaayyy!  Yaayy!  Yaaaaayyyy!  And so on.

Destination Review: The Doctor

Not the actual very sharp something.

 

Apparently "Going to the Doctor" is something us babies are pretty much obligated to do.  It seems to happen with more frequency than I'd like (I'd prefer never) and with little to no warning.  I still haven't figured out why we have to "Go to the Doctor". 

Sometimes we go so that the Really Really Really Nice Lady can tell me how cute I am and then jab me with a very sharp something.  What the what?!  If you are a really really really nice lady, why are you forced to work as a Baby Jabber?  Can't you find employment as a Swimming Teacher (my Swimming Teacher is a really really really nice lady and the most unpleasant thing she has to do is put my face in the water) or a Person Who Carries a Briefcase (Mamamamama carries a briefcase and is frankly the nicest lady I know)?! 

Other times we go so that the Relatively Friendly Lady can put me on a "scale" and tell Dadada for the bazillionth time that I am in the "50th percentile".  Apparently this is very important information and Dadada makes sure to call Mamamamama to share the news as soon as we leave the Doctor.  Dadada repeats the things he said to the Relatively Friendly Lady, like "great", "sounds like everything's on track", and "that's encouraging", so I'm guessing the Relatively Friendly Lady is doing some good work as a Scale Operator.  The only feedback the Really Really Really Nice Lady gets is when I purposefully give her my best "I thought you liked me!!?  WHHHYYYYY WOULD YOU DO THAT TO ME?!!!!!" eyes.

If the Doctor was to ask me how they could improve on the experience of "Going to the Doctor", I would tell the Doctor that they could use more toys, less jabbing, and more job opportunities for the Really Really Really Nice Lady.

Bottom Line: WAAAH!!!!  The only benefit of "Going to the Doctor" from what I can tell, is that I can safely remove Baby Jabber from my list of potential careers (Cat, Swimming Teacher, Scale Operator and Person Who Carries a Briefcase are still on the list).

Destination Review: The Park

So this is what it sounds like, when doves fly.

Back when I was a young baby half my age, Mamamamama and Dadada would occasionally place me in a motorized swing at home.  There was a lot wrong with that swing, namely that it (a) wasn't Mamamamama or Dadada, and (b) came with sound effects akin to either sloshing around in a small mud puddle or disturbing a large group of small yet surprisingly irate birds (normally I love birds, but I felt under imminent threat from that flock).  So imagine my surprise when just this past weekend, Mamamamama and Dadada made the bold decision to put me in a swing at "The Park". 

The Park is an interesting place.  Lots of people frequent The Park - people my size, people just slightly bigger, people much bigger, and furry people that bark and run around a lot.

Once I had been lulled into a false sense of security that we were just "going for a walk" in a place with less cars and more benches, I was stealthily transferred from the comfort of my stroller to a seat suspended thousands of feet above the ground. 

I have to admit, I was skeptical at first...even a little nervous...but then...Mamamamama placed her hand behind me and gave me a little push.  The rush!  The freedom!  The joy!!  All of a sudden my affinity for birds made sense - I was flying and it was amazing!  I haven't laughed that much since one of our cats walked into my room last week (for those of you who haven't seen a cat walk into a room, it's HYSTERICAL).

Bottom line: WHEEEEeeeeee....!  WHEEEeeeee....!  WHEEEeeeee....!

Food Review: Prunes

If only I had the dexterity to open this bag.

Eating is probably my favourite thing to do.  I love tasting food, toys, non-food and non-toys.  Banana, cucumber, mango, spinach, and the sleeve of whatever-shirt-I-happen-to-be-wearing-that-day are some of my all time faves.  With all the delicious things to eat out there, you might think it would be impossible to choose just one absolute favourite - but you'd be wrong, because: PRUNES.   

Have you guys tried these things?  I mean really sat down and savoured one?  Because they are amazing.  The texture, the flavour, the colour, the mess...  It's pretty much exquisite.

Last month Mamamamama and Dadada went on a "date" to celebrate Dadada's birthday.  Apparently they visited some sort of fancy restaurant and couldn't stop raving about it.  I can only imagine the dishes they were able to enjoy.  The thought of it (and the imminent tooth budding on my lower gums) makes me drool.  Prunes ceviche?  Prunes cooked sous-vide?  Prune clafouti?  Prunes rabarabaraba*?

Bottom line: WHEEE!  No matter how they're prepared, prunes are fine dining at its best.

*Note: rabarabaraba is in fact not a cooking technique or type of dish, but an eating style that involves smearing whatever you've been served all over your high chair tray and then leaning over and smooshing your mouth into it.  Highly recommended.

Music Review: Raffi - Singable Songs for the Very Young




He sings AND he paints?!

Here's the thing - I love music, just love it.  I'm particularly a fan of hip hop circa late 80s early 90s (if you haven't already jolly jumped to Bust A Move, it's a MUST).  So let me tell you, when I find an album I love, it puts a real spring in my tentative parent-assisted step.

That brings me to what I can only describe as my album of the year: Raffi's Singable Songs for the Very Young.  "But wait!" I can hear you say, "That album was released in 1976, before either of your parents were even born!"  True enough, dear reader, but it's new to me, and I'd venture to say it is so good it'd win album of the year EVERY year from 1976 to whatever year it is now (I'm gonna guess 3058 based on how old Mamamamama and Dadada appear to be).

"Brush Your Teeth" is reason alone to buy this album.  With lyrics like "Ch ch ch ch, ch ch ch ch ch", it's clear Raffi is a genius with excellent oral hygiene.  You can sing that line to me anytime, even in the middle of a "that spoonful of baby breakfast cereal is not getting into my mouth fast enough" meltdown, and it will bring a smile to my face. 

Bottom line: WHEEE!!  Sometimes music just speaks to you, and sometimes it speaks to your soul.  Raffi gets me, and I get Raffi, and so should you.

Destination Review: The Zoo

This guy pretty much sums it up.

What's the deal with the zoo?  I'm not gonna lie, I found it pretty boring.  Who brings their 8 month old to the zoo anyhow?  This was essentially an extra long stroller walk featuring a bunch of strange and large looking animals, NONE OF WHICH I COULD TOUCH.  Remember those naps I'm not so into?  I took one.  That's how bored I was.  I napped right through the panda experience.  And Polar Bears?  More like Snore-ar Bears.  AMIRITE?!

One bright spot of the trip was the aquarium with all of the fish and coral.  That was colourful and full of movement (read: somewhat entertaining for an 8 month old).  

 

Also of note: no ducks.  Plenty of geese and seagulls, but no ducks.  Huge disappointment.  

Kudos to Mamamamama and Dadada for giving it a shot, but this was clearly a thinly disguised date day to check out some giant pandas before the summer crowds swarm in.  

Bottom line:  WAAAHHHhhhzzzzz....etc.

Destination Review: The Pool

I'm basically part fish.

Guys.  GUYS.  The Pool.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with it, The Pool is an extra large bathtub - all play, no scrubbing.  What it lacks in soap, The Pool makes up for in fun.  Here are just SOME of the fun things that happen in The Pool:

1. Mamamamama puts her face in the water.  IN THE WATER!  Can you imagine?
2. Seriously.  She puts it in the water.  The water gets on her face.  Oh man, you should see it.
3. Other babies' Mamamamamas and Dadadas put their faces in the water.
4. Some Mamamamamas and Dadadas, including my own, blow bubbles when their faces are in the water. Pretty much the greatest thing ever.

Less fun things that happen in The Pool:

1. My face goes in the water. 

Bottom line:  WHEEE!!!  Totally worth the bundled-up stroller ride in winter.

Activity Review: Napping

Don't worry, I'll be up soon.

I don't mind sleep.  It's actually pretty great.  I prefer to do it at night, so long as I can occasionally and unexpectedly wake up and demand a snack, or full-on meal.  Sleeping during the day, or "napping", is less interesting to me.  I'll do it, but not for long.  Unless you are putting off doing something important because you are sure I'm just going to wake up after half an hour anyhow - then I will nap for somewhere around 2 hours, seemingly out of the blue. 

I'll tell you what I won't do anymore: take a third nap.  I used to be willing to take a quick 30 minute "snack nap" (a "Snap" if you will) in the late afternoon, to get me through to bedtime without any epic meltdowns.  That was before I realized that I could stay awake and play, occasionally and unpredictably peppering late afternoon/early evening with epic meltdowns.  Less mature babies need the Snap, but when you get to be my age (I'm 8 months old after all), Snaps are a thing of the past.  Unless you are referring to my morning and early afternoon naps.  Those are pretty much Snaps about 80% of the time. 

Bottom line: WAAAH!!!  Who needs over 1.5 hours of restorative sleep when you can get inadequate rest in 30 minutes or less?

Book Review: Busy Day

This dino has places to be.

I consider myself to be a pretty lucky baby.  Among many other fantastic routines, Mamamamama and Dadada read me 2 books every morning.  Count 'em.  2.  Seriously, please count them because I don't know how and there are no fact checkers working on this blog.

Generally I love books.  In case you are not familiar with books, they have pictures, letters, colours, pages, covers and flavours (note: the flavours are usually the same, consisting primarily of paper and fingerprints, with hints of cherry and oak and finishing on soft notes of apricot and vanilla).

My favourite book of all time has to be Busy Day - from the Look and Learn series illustrated by Jan Lewis and devised and produced by Tucker Slingsby Ltd.

This is a really good book.  You can tell I enjoy a book because, like you, I wave my arms about excitedly and squeal as soon as I see it.

This book sets out one busy day in the life of a bunch of dinosaurs.   SPOILER ALERT - It's a REALLY BUSY DAY.  The dinos wake up, eat breakfast, go to school, do a bunch of things at school, go grocery shopping, come home, and go to bed because they are exhausted from all the things they did all day.  I can't emphasize enough how busy this day is.  Not only do they bake cakes, but they eat them.  They learn in class, play music, paint, play a racing game, take the bus, the list goes on and on.  The biggest drawback of this story is that I'm pretty sure some of my favourite dinos from the other Look and Learn books do not get to have a busy day because they are in the sausages the carnivore student dinosaurs are eating at lunch.  The one herbivore at the table looks to be eating his salad pretty nervously.

Bottom line: WHEEE!!! Crawl, don't walk, to your nearest bookstore to pick up a copy of Busy Day.  It's full of twists and turns you never see coming, no matter how many times it's read to you.

BLOG!

Not actually me.

Hello.  Mamamamama calls me Ducky, a lot.  She calls me other things too and it has quite frankly left me wondering what my actual name is.  Parenting fail.  I'll shelve that for 15 years or so and bring it up when curfew negotiations ramp up.  Anyhow, Ducky it is.

I make a lot of sounds that resemble the word blog, so this forum feels like a natural fit. 

"Waaah or Wheee?!" is where you can find my reviews of many of the baby-related things you've bought, been gifted, coveted and wondered about.  I'll give my honest opinions about books, toys, destinations, gadgets and activities.  What you do with those opinions is up to you.  If I were you I would put them in my mouth, bang them together, put them in my mouth again and then throw them on the floor.

So let's find out what disappointed me (WAAAH!!!) and what I can't live without (WHEEE!!!)...