I Like Hats

Cassandra likes to play with hats.  She previously modeled hats but lately has been getting frustrated.  We think that is because the hood of her coat blocks her vision because it is a bit too big.  We switched back to her monkey hat recently and she is very happy with it, not pulling at it constantly like she did the coat hood.

Anyway, she recently discovered Mommy's Mikey Mouse stocking cap.  Mommy had gotten it out because the weather turned cold.  (Well, cold for this warm winter at least.)  Here she is having fun with it.

Cassandra's Darth Vader imitation is quite impressive.  In addition to the look, the triangle has a small hole in it so her breathing even resembled what you hear when watching Vader on screen.

Grandma Wendel and Daddy's cousin Theresa make a cloth "book" for Cassandra.  Various pages show how to button buttons, work a zipper, and tie a shoe, as well as peek-a-boo and may others.  She enjoys reading the book on her own but will bring it over to us and want to sit in our laps too.

Cassandra is very proud of her ability to sit in a chair without help.  She generally claps upon completion of this task.

Mommy Created A Monster

Mommy made a mistake.  She fed Cassandra a banana bread muffin.  Cassandra liked it.  Mommy gave her one the next day.  Cassandra decided that she should get one everyday.  She sometimes gets mad that there are not more muffins.  This child has a new favorite food.  When we listen carefully when she does talk, she is actually asking for banana bread.  Of course, it sounds more like "ana bed" but she is definitely trying.

Playing House And To Dance Or Not To Dance

Cassandra continues to learn and explore.  Lately, she has been carrying her house around (birthday gift) and has us hold it or her while she plays.  I think she is partial to it because if you hit the right buttons, you get a song.  She "dances" to the song.  Of course, to her dancing is swaying left to right.  I'll post some video of it if I can catch her in the mood.

In the meantime, here is Cassandra not dancing.

Note the hair.  This is all natural, not even static!

I'm Better Now

Well, the last few weeks have been fun (Christmas and Birthdays) and not so fun.  On the 3rd, we took Casandra back to the doctor for shots and a checkup.  We would have gone to the doctor anyway because of her behavior, hitting the side of her head again.  The ear infection is back and apparently it is what caused the gunk in her eyes.  This gave us the opportunity to try yet another antibiotic:  Strawberry-Banana.  We didn't think Cassandra would mind this as much as the bubblegum because she likes both those fruits.  The first night, she threw up on me after about an hour.  The second night, she threw up on me after about two hours.  We finally got the food in her stomach just right so no more rejections but the damage was done.  She fought us every time we tried to give it to her.  She cried like we were torturing her.  Thank goodness that is over with.  She is clearly much happier now that the ear infection is gone.

Cassandra is really good about her books.  She can't read yet but likes to sit and "read" just like Mommy and Daddy.  She goes through her book collection looking for the book she wants.  If the book is not what she is looking for, she piles it on the floor.  Here she is grabbing "That's Not My Reindeer..."

And then she "reads" it on her own.

And then she tells us she wants up so we can read it with her.

Lunch Time!

Cassandra hasn't been a picky eater.  The only thing she has flat rejected was the spinach.  Well, thanks to an ear infection, she has discovered another disgusting flavor:  Bubble Gum.  The antibiotic tastes (and smells) like it.  The smell was so sweet that I was feeling nauseous the first time I gave her the antibiotic and she wasn't too thrilled with it either.  It doesn't taste nearly as good as the cherry acetaminophen.  On the bright side, this explains her hitting the side of her head on a regular basis.  Anyway, today she finished the last of the stuff and a few days ago she finished the goo for her eyes.  She has had some problems with gunk in her eyes after sleeping and it looked like it might be pink eye.  She is doing much better now.

Cassandra enjoys eating different things.  She really enjoys crab cakes.  Take a look.

Sunday Best

As many of you are aware, neither member of Cassandra's staff is particularly in love with pink.  However, I will say that Cassandra looks pretty good in pink.  The first picture is Cassandra carrying around her favorite book, "the Monster at the end of this Book."

Cassandra leaning against her new wheels.