Happy Birthday...to ME!

I'm three today, and while I haven't been timely with most of my recent blog posts, this particular mile-stone I'm not about to miss talking about!

It's been a busy third year - a new sibling (she's great), a new cousin (he's pretty cool too), a new uncle (now I can really call him "Uncle" Billy), a trip to Florida (I miss the beach!) and, as Baba says, the best is yet to come!

We had all types of family in town for my party (including Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Brooks all the way from South Carolina and Uncle Patrick and Funita all the way from Madison, WI!). I had my birthday party at school too with all of my friends Friday (some rather amusing video of that forthcoming). And, at my request, Baba made me a PURPLE cake. It was delicious! I got toys, clothes and...a BIG WHEEL (my feet can't quite reach the pedals, but we're working on a solution to that).

Here's wishing all of you a happy May and wishing me many, many more..."the best is yet to come." 

My (Funny) Big Sister

My Big Sister Katerina is so funny! Today, after dinner, she was doing all kinds of crazy things in the kitchen...spinning around, jumping up and down, I was cracking up so much I could barely breathe.

Sunshine

...not so much in East Greenbush today (kind of overcast and cold - had a little snow fall earlier this morning). Instead, a way (way!) overdue post on our "winter" trip to visit Yiayia and Papou in Florida. It was great! Lots of beach time, a little bit of pool time, lots and lots of sunshine and Yiayia's delicious homemade rice pudding. I also had my very own seat on the airplane in between Mommy and Baba (Victoria sat on Mommy's lap). I can't wait to go back to the beach (we're heading to South Carolina this summer...so beach-time is only a few months away!).

Bye-bye binky, binky bye-bye!

In the wise and imortal words of Elmo: "bye-bye binky, binky bye-bye." I have slept with my binky since very early in life (several weeks old, in fact). For the first year or so, I routinely used my binky. In recent months (the last year and a half, to be sure), I have used the binky at nap and bed time exclusively. Wednesday, Ms. Laura (at school) encouraged me to decorate an envelope and send my binkies to the "Binky Fairy" so that she would take them to my (new) little cousin Marek. Sounded reasonable enough, especially given that this so-called Binky Fairy would come bearing gifts. So, that day, I decorated and envelope and we put it in the mail to the Binky Fairy. That day, I took a nap without my binky and that night, I slept without my binky. It sure wasn't easy, but Mommy and Baba said that the Binky Fairy would bring me a gift for sending away my binkies. The next morning, a new doll (baby Amanda - she can take baths with me - very cool!) was at the base of my bed. The Binky Fairy came!!! Even at school, the Binky Fairy brought me a new slinky! So, now nearly five days later, I'm binky free and proud of it! As Baba likes to say, we're binky-free in the Christakis household (Victoria never caught on to the pleasures of binky-sucking).

My SWEET Valentine!

Belated Happy Valentine's Day to you and that special someone in your life! I was Baba's Valentine this year (and last year too, I think; Mommy's getting jealous!). The day before Valentine's Day, Mommy and I made cupcakes! While I helped Mommy, I also helped clean the bowl by eating the raw batter - YUMMY! When Baba got home he got a kick out of my general demeanor...watch and see...

Super Bowl, SUPER Prediction

With the football season (sadly) behind us, I wanted to brag a bit about my football acumen. As some of you know, since the start of the playoffs over a month ago, I've basically been accurate in predicting the winning team 75% of the time. This includes the 49ers over the Saints, the Broncos over the Steelers, and the Giants over the Packers. Tonight, I was 100% correct in picking "Big Blue" over Brady and his boys to become world champions. Here's the video proof (NOTE: I fleetingly selected the Pats, but thought better of it).

Parties (Tea, Birthday, whatever...)

I've been hosting parties ("tea" really isn't accurate - I usually serve milk) for Mommy and Baba. I enjoy hosting them and they enjoy attending them. This last time we were celebrating birthdays. No one person's in particular - just birthdays generally. Baba snuck a video (longer than usual, but worth the extra few minutes). He was trying to be nondescript, but I caught on (as you can tell when I grab the "camera" out of his hands).