Currently in Production

Bailey came bouncing in to announce that she's making a movie. It's called The Giraffe Who Died. Catchy title, eh? I'm thinking an Oscar win right there. According to Bailey though, "you'll just have to see it once they finish making it." Okay, Director Red, will do.

She's currently reading James Patterson

I found Bailey sitting in the living room this evening with a book, just reading away. (So it seemed.) And what book had my redhead's attention? James Patterson's Along Came a Spider, which is a decent book, but hardly Kindergarten literature. But it's not much of a surprise that she'd already be in to criminal thrillers, even at this age, because she is after all, Bailey. She happened to know it was about spiders and worth pulling off one of our bookshelves. Yeah, definitely the book for a Bailey.

I'll tell you what she wants, what she really, really wants

In case you didn't know, quite soon my redhead turns 5! That's right folks, it's been that long. And even though she's been compiling an ever changing list for quite some time, only Mommy and Daddy really know about it. She's an active kid so the things she usually wants, are things that keep her busy, and mostly only craft-type kits like Play-doh, Bendaroos, extra Pixos, the Pixos 3D set, Chixos (which just came out), Paperoni (also a new item), Zubber, and some sort of bear factory toy that makes miniature stuffed animals.

She's still into science, fell in love with the little Legos during her Kindergarten stampede, and doesn't have a scooter, but would want a princess one. She's still madly in love with board games and really wants the Curious George beach one at Target, the Spongebob version of Operation, and one of the Littlest Petshop board games.

In fact, she's crazy about anything Littlest Petshop, which she affectionately refers to as "Little Best Petshop," but she's going to be getting a TON of the little animals for her birthday already, and likes the VIP Pals which are stuffed animal versions that you use on the computer like a Webkin, something else she's requesting, and something else she does not have.

And the thing she wants most right now is Fancy Nancy, a doll, which is shocking to us as well, and although my heart has yearned for quite some time to buy this doll for her, I was under the impression she felt nothing for such a doll and she has since started wanting it after we bought her presents. Anything Fancy Nancy, including the books is welcomed since we have none of it yet and she looks just like her, except the eyes (Fancy Nancy's are green, Bailey's have always been blue).

That's about the only doll she's shown an interest in, but does love absolutely anything Tinkerbell, and any and all stuffed animals, just don't tell her father I told you that. He's been wanting to kill off her collection since the beginning of time. She doesn't need any clothing, but I can't tell you not to buy it, just that she has more than she possibly needs after I hit one too many Gymboree sales (yes, I realize I'm addicted).

She still loves her Leapster and doesn't have Creature Create, Mr. Pencil, any Dora games, just to name a few and the ones she's shown an interest in. We also recently purchased a Wii, so Wii games would be fine, particularly the ones that keep kids active. I also have a suspicion she may soon have a use for SmartCycle games, except the Barbie one. Those are just my suggestions and I'm sure she'll appreciate anything she receives because she's just that great of a kid!

I'd almost forgotten we had a website...

You probably have too. But if you have some time, I finally placed some overdue photos in the albums. Check them out: http://baileyhardt.babysfirstsite.com

She mowed me down

"The grass hasn't gotten mowed yet, has it?"


"Um...I already mowed it this morning."

"Oh."

That will teach me to get up early so I could mow (with a manual lawnmower, as in, not motor) while it was only 85.7 degrees because apparently it's not noticeable anyway. And that was even with a snail's help. He hitched a ride at the top while I sweat off some fat, at least I'm hoping I sweat off some fat. That's probably not noticeable either.

Worm Experiments

Bailey couldn't wait to start moving tenants in to her worm farm she got for Christmas from Aunt Susie's tribe. (Of course, Aunt Susie didn't know they were getting her such a contraption since we used a gift certificate they gave her way back in 2006 to purchase that as well as a couple other novelty science kits.) But that's not the point of this entry. Oh no. Is there a point?

Yes!

Bailey was so ecstatic to get some fresh worms in to her habitat and then she came across the book again that came with it. And in it were "worm experiments" so after a couple days of reminding Daddy, my little scientists were on their way to doing evil deeds to some poor worms. Imagine my surprise when I discovered them conducting experiments on the coffee table.

I was a tad worried about dissection scarring my badly beaten living room furniture, but they assured me all would be okay. In fact, these were not the kind of experiments I had been expecting.

Now why was I expecting worms being sawed in half like a magician's model? (I do recall being overly helpful as a child and when my father told me how helpful worms were to his garden, I ended up later being found cutting worms in half all in the name of assistance, thinking I was doing a great favor. I really had believed I was helping.) But that was me, and not Bailey. No, my little Einstein was following these careful directions and I was impressed by their actual experiments.

The worms were tested to see what they thought about apples and soap. Shockingly, they preferred the apple juices over the soap residue. So odd. Once the worms were finished with their taste test and were caught escaping, back they went into my never-will-be-used-again-as-long-as-I-shall-live container. I'm assuming they took them back outside afterwards. (These were different worms, and not worm-farm occupants.)

Monster Mayhem

I think we've known for quite some time that we've had a little actress on our hands (whether we wanted one or not). But now you can see the drama for yourselves too!

I'd like to point out that each and every time she'd walk around, examine each creature carefully then stand behind it and make the appropriate face. We did not ask her to take these photos, nor to pose for them. She chose this all on her own.