Amaya and I Went into Teardrop Space Today - Back Safely at 1700 Hours - Over and Out

Nana and Panama left early this afternoon and Amaya and I decided we were bored. I asked her if she wanted to go into my Teardrop Spaceship and take a ride. She nodded yes, I said OK. As we entered the spacecraft, I pointed out that we could take pictures off of the Teardrop Bumper - I mean the the Gamma Ray Protective Shield - she said "Cowboy Up Grampa." I reminded her to call me Captain.

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I made sure she knew that I was the Captain and she would be my Copilot - I went over rudimentary instructions, including toilet protocol while in space, she was dry and wearing a NASA approved Baby Output Collector - therefore we were ready to go. I instructed her to wave to the crowd through the door, I mean the hatch, she did. We closed the hatch and went into the Countdown... Ready? 3-2-1...............Teardrop Blastoff!!!
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We were in an Azilian 360 orbit within seconds - I am used to getting there because that is where Panama and I usually go for our short hops. We opened the Teardrop door, I mean the Spacecraft Hatch and she had her first look out into Outer Space.
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Houston, we have a problem... Armed, Atrocious, Azilian Aliens spotted... What do we do??? No reply from Earth. We had lost all communication... we were left with only our own devices.
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I told my Copilot to open her mouth, show some teeth, look fierce. She did nothing, then I remembered, she has no teeth. Hard to look fierce with no teeth. I opened my mouth wider, a cosmic butterfly landed on my eyebrow, I bared even more teeth... My Ploy did not work... Aliens still staring at us like we were Aliens.
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After more facial antics, the Aliens finally took notice, they were clearly getting concerned - their green hands went to their Headalizer Guns, they started to point them in our direction. I heard once from Panama that our heads would change shape if the Aliens were to activate their Headalizer Guns in our direction.
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The Headalizer Guns were giving us the full treatment. We felt our heads changing shape. However, as our heads grew, our brains aged quickly: I got Alzheimers and even more forehead wrinkles and Amaya got smarter. Amaya begin talking in German, then Spanish. Soon she sounded like she was ordering a Latte in Italian. I knew this girl would grow up to be something special... Meanwhile, all I could do is talk Piglatin... Fortunately she knew that too.
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She started talking to the Aliens in their language, Azilian, explaining to them that we were no harm to them. That, in fact, I was retired and could hardly do anything at all besides grow and mow grass. They started laughing, making snorting noises, snorting pretend cigarettes I think and pointing at me. I recall that I was still talking Piglatin.

Amaya told me to hush in what I think was Russian. I did.
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She continued to talk to them. Her head was getting really big now. The butterfly changed eyebrows. I did not know what she was saying. All I could think about was "Iia ottaga aketa aa eepa." Soon the laser from the guns went from red to green. My head was starting to go back to normal. I could soon talk again in English. My Copilot started babbling. The Aliens were gone... I knew we were going to be ok... my Granddaughter saved the day!!! We started our engines and went back to Earth.
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I opened the Teardrop door, we were back to Earth safely. I took one more picture to memorialize the trip. I noted later that my Copilot hid her face with her hand. She wanted me to have all the Glory... What a special little girl we have here.
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Sweet Peas for supper tonight... she likes them even though she is making a little face. (The Facealizer effects have not quite worn off. We will both be better by tomorrow.)
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Pancake Visits, Panama Studies, Amaya Drinks, Panama Runs in the Sun

Eric, Megan and Panama came for supper - as soon as Megan comes in the house, Amaya wants to jump out of my arms into her arms. (I think Megan bribes her with raisins.)

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Eric and Megan left Panama for an overnight but took Megan's old bed and Megan's old school desk that Grandmother Maxine refinished for her years ago. They are going to set her up with a little study area in their house. She is doing really well at school.
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Panama and Amaya sharing their toys nicely.
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To be on the safe side, since we know that Amaya could be vulnerable to Celiac's Disease, we are only letting her drink gluten free beer. It is a little more expensive but she is worth it...
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Megan and Panama having a little run in the setting sun.
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My Grandchild practically floats through the air like an Angel...
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Mother and Child, the only thing missing is a Manger, three Wise Men, a couple of Goats, a few Sheep and a Cow or two.
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I am a Farmer, I Found a Ladybug in the House and Applesauce: Yummy

Well, maybe I wish I was a farmer. I did do some farm things as a kid. Does that count? Well at least I can dig up the yard and plant grass seed. The ground is very wet and the grass sprouted out in just a few days. I noticed it Sunday morning as we were loading the Jeep for church. Amen, we have a little more grass growing...

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Nana was going through some clothes that Megan gave to Erica to use and we found this Ladybug Halloween costume. Panama did not use it as she had already transformed into something else. Not sure if a Ladybug meets Erica and Michaels plans... Whatever she will be, she will be cute.
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The first taste of something "sweet" - she seems to like applesauce mixed into her rice just fine.

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Its Casual Friday: Get Tall, Get the Jeans Out, Go On A Picnic

I asked Grampa to make me tall again like he did on a previous post. He did and then I tried to walk around the picnic basket. Holy Cow!!! Having really long legs makes it hard to walk. I asked Grampa to make me short again, I think we might go on a picnic, cause...

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...it's Friday, a day that I try to get Nana to let me wear my jeans that Panama gave me. Here I am getting ready to take Nana and Grampa on a picnic. Want to come along? Picnic on the porch... in the rain. Oh well, picnic in the Family Room, you all come!!

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Amaya Getting Paid to Pose & Smile, Playing Peek-A-Boo With Nana, Eating Organic Carrots and the Benefits of a Diet Dog Food.

Whats up, Nana? You got any raisins in your pocket? No raisins, no smile today... I have been watching alot of CNBC with Grampa - He helped me with a business plan.

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Lets play peek-a-boo Nana... go hide but leave the raisins here... I promise to come look for you... (After I fill my pockets with a few treats that is ...)
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I don't like to see organic on any of my food labels... Grampa says that that usually means only natural sugars, no yummy additives. Hmmm... I am curious though to know what carrots taste like...
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OK, bring them organic carrots on... lets see if the label is right, are they really tasty?
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Second thought, put that organic carrot label and a little water into the blender. Maybe that is what they were "selling as tasty."
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Nobody has yet fed me anything better than Taco Bell's food though. I have really slimmed down too since I went on his diet dog food. Another added bonus - look at how my arms have grown - I can almost crawl faster than Nana can walk now!!!

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Amaya is 7- Months Old, Understanding How to Use a Toothpick, Breakfast in Bed and Crawling: A New Adventure and Skill

Amaya is now 7-months old - how time is going by. She used to be a baby!

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Panama is almost two years old - how time is going by. She used to be a baby!
I guess you can say the same thing about all baby girls - they quickly turn into little girls. They need to be taught some basics, like how to use a toothpick after Breakfast, Lunch or Supper, or in between if you care to. Grampa suggestion, start with a Q-Tip.
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Breakfast in bed with the babies, I mean little girls.

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Panama and I ate everthing except the ham - we gave that to Amaya. (Notice that I cropped out most of the morning hair evidence.)
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Amaya saying "Goodbye to Grampa" as Erica takes her away in her big girl carseat.
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Amaya now officially crawling on the furniture.
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She turned 7-months and suddenly became proficient in crawling on hands & knees. She is done doing the army crawl! However, she is still as noisy as a Army platoon doing a road run.

Pack & Play is A-OK and Vegetable Scale Weight Results

Erica and Michael got a really good deal on a lightly used pink & green Graco Pack & Play over the weekend at a local garage sale. We introduced it to Amaya on Sunday after Panama left. (Rest assured that Grampa gave it a good scrubbing before putting our babies in.)

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She thinks it is swell at this moment but she is fretting right now as I have her in it while typing up this post. Earlier she was on my lap giggling at this picture enlarged to full screen while we were uploading them.
. We gave Amaya a quick weigh on the vegetable scale (we put her feet into a plastic bag of course - we do not want anything to happen to her valuable toes) while we were shopping at the Commissary on Post yesterday. The results, as you can see if you enlarge the picture, is 17.5 lbs of lovable little girl.
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Squash: 6, Girls Match and a Walk Around the Prison Yard

Nana got to introduce Squash to Amaya while Michael and Erica were out to a college function. (Appropriately enough it was a nurse musical called "Hey Florence.") We decided that squash is about a 6 on a scale of 10. We cannot wait for the fruits: yummy!!

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Panama and Amaya, dressed for church in the Nicaragua dresses that Megan brought them from that lovely country. They are getting to be good buddettes.
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Panama waking up at 6:30 to get ready for church. She hugged her dollies good morning while Grampa flashed the camera in her eyes. She brightened up quickly when Grampa suggested that they could go eat cottage cheese and pineapple. Nana suggested we try peaches today rather than pineapple, and Panama said, "No Way Jose!!"
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Panama was helping Grampa water flowers in the backyard when all of a sudden she took off and started walking the outer perimeter of the yard. Pretty soon the dog started following her as well. Pretty soon after that Grampa started following too so that he could get a photo. I think we looked like two felons and a bad dog walking the perimeter of the prison yard.
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"Betta not mess with us, we bad we bad..."
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Panama Came for a Quick Overnight Visit

We always love to have our Panama visit for an overnight. She was excited about the fish that Nana made for supper but was not too excited about dessert. Nana promised dessert and then showed her a green bean...

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But then she brought her a plate of her favorite stuff (besides Grampa's cottage cheese and pineapple breakfast): Watermelon!
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She told Grampa that sometimes when she eats alot of watermelon that her eyes get red. Grampa thinks its true after he looked at the picture. Aren't Grampa's silly...
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Nana and I took a bath and then she did my fingers red and my toes too. Grampa tried to make the red really stick out and he made my fingers greenish. Oh boy, a girl like me needs a professional photographer. All this talent I have and only Grampa to take pictures.
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Momma picked me up early this morning at Exit 24 and I am on my way to Montessori. We get pizza for lunch!! Thanks for coming to visit us Panama, we love you.
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1st Drive, New Car Seat, 1st Hair Lesson and First Crib Nap

Grampa and I are doing alot of driving - he drives really slow compared to what I see Nana and Momma drive. Sometimes I help him out and stand on his lap and do a bit of driving - so far mostly in parking lots, like at Mom's grade school. The school policeman think its really funny to see a baby driving and he follows us around on his Segway with his pretty lights on. Grampa goes really fast when he follows us and pretty soon we leave him far behind and we go get ice cream - we have lots of fun together.

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Mom and Dad got me a new "big girl" car seat and I can't wait to use it.
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Panama had a sleepover last night and we all had a picture taken in Nana's lap. Panama told me a joke thing-to-do and it is really fun and easy to do. Whenever Grampa is taking pictures of us, we take turns smiling - it is really funny to see everybody think that we are not too happy. This makes us happy - doing smiley jokes on Grampa.
. Panama is like my Rock Star Idol - she gets to go to the Montessori School and everything. She told me when I get to be two like she is, my hair will be longer and she will show me how to make my hair do like hers. I can't wait because she is way too cool.
. I finally decided to do my first nap in the new crib today. Grampa cried and whined for almost half an hour, finally I couldn't take it anymore and just closed my eyes so he would settle down. I meant to close them just for a minute but then I fell asleep for an hour - I must have been tired and didn't know it...
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