"Raise Your Hand" if You're a Princess...

Yes, my 2 year old has perfected the princess wave... and just in time to put it on display at the Maryland Renaissance Festival this past weekend!  Given this girl's slight obsession with princesses, her Daddy had the great idea of taking her out to the festival so she can see the horseys, a good ole' joust (the state sport of Maryland, of course!), and princesses galore!

Our hour-long trek turned into a three-hour wait in traffic as everyone else in the flipping state had the same idea... Sunday was a gorgeous day and we all wanted to take advantage of it.  Luckily, our newly potty-trained daughter "held it" for the entire drive (3 hours!!) and we were able to get to the privies before an accident occurred-- a small miracle, indeed.

Had the festival not been packed to the brim with commoners like us, I think Doodle may have had a better time... there were too many people rushing around to really let her roam and there wasn't even a chance of getting a seat in one of the theaters around the place.  The actors were bombarded by the crowds so it wasn't even possible for Doodle to get an audience with his and her majesties. 

We did manage to sneak up behind the last row of seats for the joust and held Doodle so she could see... she was enthralled with it and seeing her little "Ooh!" and "Aah!" made it all worth the trip!  While she wanted nothing to do with Daddy's turkey leg, we did manage to grab a few snacks and play with some fancy bubbles before we left!

I'd highly recommend the festival... just perhaps on a less crowded day (if it exists)!

Have you been to a renaissance festival?! Did you love it!?

Party Rock Is In The House Tonight...

With a Summer Camp Director for a Dad, it was only time before Doodle started learning the line dances that they do at Mountainside.  She's borderline-obsessed with "Party in the USA" or "Party-S-A" as she calls it.  She definitely knows the song and joins in singing parts of the song and chorus (in toddler-speak, of course)!

Dad's new favorite camp song is called "Party Rock Anthem," by LMFAO.  I came back from a work trip last week and found Doodle attempting the Mountainside Dance...

(Note: if in a public or office setting, you may want to turn down the speakers... there's a lot of toddler-shrieking)

Party rock is in the house tonight

(Make ocean wave motions with your hands towards the front)

Everybody just have a good time

(Fist pump...)

And we gonna make you lose your mind

(Hands over your temples/head and shake your head back and forth)

Everybody just have a good time

(I think you fist pump again...)

This is what most nights look like at our house... some dancing, a little dinner, a clip of a princess movie and all-around good time! ;)

Introducing... "Doodle Says"

Now that our little D's vocabulary is expanding at a quicker pace than I imagined, she's already starting to say some things that make us crack up.  Probably not out of the ordinary for anyone with a toddler, but I want to document them regardless... I don't know how frequently I'll get around to posting them, but I want to at least make the effort!

While at the beach last week D reportedly came up to Nancy and Pop Pop and said, "Nancy! Good idea-- Stroller and Pizza!?" and then proceeded to bring them the stroller.  They then went to get pizza (of course! Doodle asked for it!) and she ate two slices!  Joe and I were slightly sceptical about this interchange, but after Pop Pop retold the story to different people a few times, we're guessing that it actually happened!

Here are a few bedtime versions of "Doodle Says"



Me: Doodle, It's time for a nap...
Doodle: Shh, Nagny Seepin.
*Yes, when she says her name it sounds like "Nagny," and yes, she's wearing her Ariel bathing suit over her clothes and sleeping with a princess cell phone.  Some things are not worth a fight!



Me (Waking her up from a long nap): Doodle, time to wake up...
(rub her back... D rolls over on to her belly and curls up even tighter)
Doodle: groan. (Just like her Dad does!)
Me: Do you want to stay in bed and sleep?
Doodle: (Pops her head up) "Yes. Nagny Seep." (Burrows back into her pile of pillows and stuffed animals)
I actually walked out of the room and closed the door... she ended up waking up a few minutes later, but it gave me a chance to giggle and tell Joe about it!



 I am truly thankful that this child sleeps... she's slept in her crib from 6 weeks old and through the night at 3 months.  After blog-bragging, she'll have a rough night tonight that I will complain about for days, but she's usually pretty good (and I must admit that I don't mind rocking her if she has trouble falling asleep-- gives me some quality cuddle time)!

Just for good measure, here's a glimpse into her crib (or at least part of it)... 



She has her princesses, "Seeping Booty" and "Pincess Belle-Booty Beast," her two puppies (one being used as a pillow, one not shown), her Leapfrog My Pal Violet, one or two pillows (only one in this photo), her cup of water, a blanket, Wolfie (not shown), Marine Bear (not shown), and Slapshot (not shown).