Magio Plaz

We have spent the last 4 of six days hanging out at the beach. Yes, we now have a beach in Bratislava! Every summer, they bring in tons of sand and set up a beach along the opposite side of the river from the main town where we live. It happens to be along the start of our running route, which makes for a very fun beginning/end to our run.

Magio Plaz, the beach, is super nice and has stuff for everyone - volleyball, handball, a cafe/bar, lounge chairs, and a climbing gym/play area for kids. Here's a aerial view: Magio Plaz

Chloe loves it! She's already learned to walk on the sand and explores everything. She plays with other children, and I will often find her taking handfuls of sand and putting them on her head, which she thinks is hilarious. And, it's also so nice for us mommies and daddies because it's hard to fall and get hurt in sand =). Whoever designed the beach must have kids because they located the play area right next to the cafe but self contained so the kids can't wander too far! It's also very shaded in the kids area, even when the sun is at full blast.

Burton has also joined us for these adventures. Although he's not allowed on the sand (thankfully, because that would probably be a disaster), he can be tied up right by it and see everything. So far, Burton has gotten quite a lot of attention and is very spoiled - people love to feed him! He's been fed kids' snacks (some fed from the hand and some even fed directly from the kid's mouth), and on Tuesday I look over and see a woman feeding him ice cream from her ice cream cone!

We officially have a toddler

As many of you know, Chloe is officially walking completely on her own and has been for a few weeks. She started walking back and forth between me and John right around her first birthday and probably around 13 months started taking off on her own. Then she finally figured out how to push herself up without have to pull up on whatever happened to be nearby. It was all over from there! She wants to walk all on her own now and pulls her hand away when we try to hold it. She's so cute bumbling about on her sort of steady feet, and John and I absolutely love it! I love that she can walk. It makes going to the park so much fun, and she can follow me around the apartment while I do chores. She knows where her toys are and will go there to play when I direct her.

Chloe has always been very verbal but now more and more we can actually understand what she is saying, and the great thing is that SHE even knows what she is saying! Probably the cutest thing she says is "Hi Dada" as she waves her arm back and forth. She also says "Tessa" (her cousin), "Mama", "Nana"(my mom), "Bubba" (John's dad), "Papa" (my dad), "Shoes", "Wawa" (for water or milk), "Cheese", "Please", and "This". Don't worry, Grammy, we are working on your name too! Her favorite word is "Shoes", and she loves running over her shoes (or mine or John's) picking them up and telling us what they are. On Tuesday, she learned to say "Marta", which is her babysitter, and also "Minu" which is her best friend here. It's pretty amazing to us how fast she is growing and learning.

Chloe has also entered that trying but often funny toddler stage of asserting her independence and thinking the world has ended when she doesn't get her way. We haven't had any all out on the floor wailing about tantrums yet, but flailing arms and screaming have become a household norm. She is also very into her books, wants to pick out the exact ones we read, and carries them around everywhere. She's also refusing to let me turn the pages when we "read" the books, preferring to turn the books over and over in her hands, which often has me reciting them from memory to keep our nap and bedtime routines consistent!

All in all, it really is a fun time in her life, and John and I are really enjoying watching her grow and change every day!