STRAWS

ARE

FUN

Another picture from the beach, compliments of Aunt Christa. This is the technically advanced, beach-ready Roximobile. Granddaddy and Uncle Tyler built this masterpiece: an old carseat bolted to a boogie board, embellished with a life jacket, swim noodle and Tarheel flag. You couldn't ask for a better ride.

This Is What I Think of Your Stinking Carrot

In a continuing effort to introduce some vegetables into Roxi's diet, I gave her a piece of cooked carrot to munch on earlier this week. She studied it, squished it between her fingers and then put it on the floor ... where she proceeded to stomp on it.

Seven!

It's been a sleepless week at the Tusselwupper household. And a little feverish. Not to mention a snot factory. Two teeth in one week. Holy smokes.

We are pleased to introduce Roxi's second left incisor, which now gives her four teeth on top (plus three on the bottom). Chomp-tastic!

Six!

Hello and welcome to the world, right second incisor (between the right front tooth and future canine). You join the proud ranks of Roxi's other five teeth, who like nothing more than chomping down on hot dog pieces, cheese-filled pasta and grapes.

Lovin' the beach.

Lovin' the sand.

Yum.

Lovin' the ocean.

From the Mouth of Babe

Roxi's vocabulary is increasing exponentially. I'm talking new words every day, people. It's wild stuff.

Granted, you have to listen somewhat creatively and be paying attention, since "ba ba" could mean bottle, baby, belly button or sheep (as in what a sheep says). "Wa" means either water or watch. "Ba" generally means ball or bath, but could also mean any number of things (it's the new guk). Her repertory now includes the aforementioned as well as cracker (still a favorite), Daddy, Mama, quack (for ducks), roar (for lions), hiss (for snakes), meow (for kitties), woof (for dogs), kitty, hippo, dinosaur, cookie, pasta, hot, brrrrr (for cold), Teton (our big black cat), more, moon, car, hat, window, teeth, nose, whiskers, eye and probably a lot of other things I'm forgetting.

Plus she'll attempt to mimic just about anything you say.

My favorite pronunciation right now is banana, which comes out "ber-BLEH-ler" with a generous tongue flick. A close second are fan and fish, both pronounced "fuh-fuh-fuh" because I was trying to teach her how to make an F sound and she's not interested in bothering with the rest of the word after that. Sharing third place are "toh-toh", which means tortilla, and "doh-doh", which means dirty.

North Carolina Is Fun Because ...

An essay by Roxi

• I can get just about anyone on an airplane to stick their tongue out if I flirt enough.
• Aunt Christa and Uncle Ray have bubbles and kitties at their house.
• My parents are suckers for Tarheel merchandise.
• Eating out all the time means I get a lot of grilled cheese sandwiches.
• Popsickles are yummy.
• Granddaddy, Mimi, Uncle Lee and Uncle Tyler know how to have a good time.
• The ocean is just like my swimming pool ... except a million billion times better.
• Sand tastes really good and adds a satisfying crunch to any appetizer or entree.
• My diaper can hold a remarkable amount of sand. Really. Even more than you'd think.
• Nanna and Great Aunt Pat make very convincing animal noises.
• The halls in Gigi and Poppop's building were clearly built for my running pleasure.
• Sometimes you bump into a grown man dressed like a gorilla when you least expect it.
• I have lots of family, and they're all deliciously crazy just like me.