We All Scream For ...

The ice cream has been spotted. "Help, Mommy!"
The ice cream has been scooped. "Rory do!"
The ice cream has been enjoyed. "More, Mommy! Puh-leeease!"

Breakfast in Bed

For Mother's Day, Rory brought her Mommy breakfast in bed. However, Rory couldn't resist claiming some of the breakfast for her own!
Here are my lovely ladies mid-bite!

"Bear"

After months of worrying whether Rory would ever show an affinity towards stuffed animals, she finally fell in love with one.
"Bear" is her new best friend. For the last few days, Rory has wanted "Bear" by her side.
Was it our recent trip to the National Zoo that might have sparked her attachment?

Cheers!

Rory put on quite a show at Austin Grill this weekend. Her aunts and uncles have taught her to clink her sippy cup with the glassware of her elders and adorably say: "cheers". When Rory saw the "baby" in the mirror, who also happened to have a sippy cup, she knocked her sippy cup against the mirror and yelled "cheers" to the other baby! This got quite a chuckle out of everyone who watched.

Burke Lake

This Memorial Day Weekend, Rory took her parents to Burke Lake Park, where she rode the mini-train with ...
... her Uncle Allen and Aunt Chelle!
After her ride on the mini-train, Rory spent a lot of time on the slide, or as Rory calls it, the "SHLIDE!".
And, finally, Rory took a spin on the old fashion carousel.

Rory, News Junkie

Very frequently, we happen upon Rory devouring the headlines in the Washington Post. What a news junkie she's become! (Look closely, the newspaper is upside down.)

Spring at Indigo Landing

As Spring has returned to Washington, Rory has insisted that the family spend more time "outside" (a word that we frequently hear first thing each morning). Fortunately, Indigo Landing has something for everyone (more on that later). Not since the Fall have we ventured to this restaurant/bar/marina/park. Here's Rory at 21 months, and ...
here's Rory at 13 months, last Fall. Can you believe that in the Fall, Rory was just beginning to speak ("Go" was her first word), walking was a novel feat, and her Daddy could still claim to have more hair than his daughter. What a lot of growing Rory did over the Winter.
Here's Daddy and Rory strolling along the marina, admiring the water views, the quacking ducks, and the fancy sailboats.
Here's Mommy and Rory enjoying the, well, the mixed drinks. (I told you that Indigo Landing had something for everyone.)

Rory likes the view from her Daddy's shoulders.

Rory picked the flowers that are in her hands; she later presented them to her Mommy!

"Rory Silly": The Videos

Rory's expression was priceless each time the monkey went pop!
Rory's uncles gave Rory her first bowling lesson, and she taught them how to get the pins to wiggle.
Yes, Rory likes to don a bag, push a stroller, and run around the living room. (She does this daily.)
Allen and I took Rory back to the Portrait Gallery so that she could walk on water again. This time, we brought boots!

She's getting so big!

I've got several new videos that I'm editing, but in the meantime, I thought I'd leave you with this little snapshot of Rory, age 21 months. I just think it captures her personality well ... the backward glance and sly grin that say "yeah, I'm trouble"; the wispy hair; the box of raisins (her new favorite snack); and the playful way that she is walking in her Grandma's shoes. At 34 inches tall, she remains in the 90th percentile for height. She's in full toddler mode!

Rory Visits Grandma's House

Grandma bestowed the princess beads on Rory, and Rory decided that Grandma makes a pretty fun jungle gym, as this video shows!
Rory put on quite a show! This video captures Rory's early artistic and musical genius with the synthesizer.
Rory loved the Radio Flyer wagon that her Grandma and Opa Paul had waiting for her. We toured their docks in it.

And Daddy and Mommy especially appreciated their babysitting services, which we used to escape to the Beaufort Wine Festival. We found a great North Carolinian winery, Childress, and fell in love with Tobacco Road Cellars. (Actually, Daddy fell in love with the wine a little too much, returning home and "retiring to bed" at a very early hour.)

Rory Visits Grandma's Beach

While we were in North Carolina, we paid a visit to Atlantic Beach, where Rory proved again that she is a true beach baby.
In fact, Rory ran straight into the ocean despite the cold temperature of the water.
She spent much of her time simply contemplating the natural beauty of the ocean (or farting, hard to say sometimes).
Daddy tried to build her a sand tower ("tower" is one of her favorite words), but she insisted on stomping it before I could ever get it too high.
Rory and Mommy spent lots of time on the swings, as this sweet video showcases.

Rory Visits Grandma's Aquarium

While we were in North Carolina, we visited the aquarium in Pine Knoll Shores, and Rory decided that she wants to be a hermit crab when she grows up.
Rory and her Mommy look at the rainbow trout together, while Daddy (in the background) practices his fly fishing cast.

Rory and her Grandma watched the exciting show together in the main tank, where three divers swam with the fishes and sharks.

"Chelle silly" ... Aunt Chelle showed Rory why alligators are not to be trusted.

Rory got a closer look for herself.