And here's what fiona was up to...

Thanks John and Vicki for Taking care of Fiona and thanks for the Diary, good to see where our time goes.
Love
Louise

Hi Mommy and Daddy,

SATURDAY

Fiona woke a little before 7, happy. Grammy, Grampy, Pio. (no Mummy, Mummy, Mummy -- whew.) She expected Mommy & Daddy to be here, however. I said, they went in a boat, and she cheerfully waved to all the boats. Scrambled eggs & toast, blueberries and apricot, milk for breakfast.

We all (inc. Luna) went with the bob to Lovers Pt. beach. Hot. Climbed on the new replica of the Swan Boat. Waded in the ocean and played in sand. Had water and small snack (dried blueberries & fish crackers).

[I remember going in an original glass-bottom Swan Boat in 1949. I was 6, first visit to PG.]

Home by 11, F had milk, not hungry, easy nap by 11:10! Not cranky but rubbing eyes and took her own pillow to the bed.Woke 1:25. Had lunch: cheese & crackers, apricot. Meanwhile, lightning & thunder & rain. Luna barked. Fiona liked the thunder, but i’m not sure she really picked up the sound because she kept announcing, “I hear thunder again” all afternoon (probably traffic). She is really onto complete sentences now, major progress! Still mixed on “me” and “you.”

In the afternoon, hung out and then went to Costco, where we saw a pigeon inside, “shopping” -- she enjoyed the joke. F spotted a big package of macaroni & cheese, so that’s what she ate for dinner (two bowls) plus fresh blueberries and grapes -- at about 7 o’clock (gulp), hopelessly off schedule, I know, but she was remarkably patient, tho obviously tired & hungry on the drive home.

After a quick bath and requested “big playtime,” which included reading, drawing, and the above “writing all by myself,” she was clearly on the edge and we had to override protests, hear requests for Mommy and Daddy, and give repeated reassurances that her parents were fine and she would see them soon. We both got big cuddles. Asleep the instant her head hit the pillow, about 8:30.

Woke briefly at 11 pm. Mommy and Daddy? Consoled, slept.

A good day overall.

SUNDAY

F woke about 7:30. Breakfast of milk, blueberries, half of my egg, bran muffin, banana -- out of several that got peeled. Hung out: reading, writing, drawing, chasing. Early lunch of macaroni & cheese, muffin, blueberries and grapes, milk. Nap at 11.

Independent potty work yesterday and today. Did truck puzzle easily. Sense of responsibility also developing, as errors cause distress and calls for Mommy: spotting scope knocked over (no damage), small wooden chicken taken and lost (J found it again). Brief attempt at distraction meanwhile: F led me to live chickens, but appeared to know they weren’t really the issue...

Up at 1:30. A little lunch, not really hungry. Packed day stuff, took the bob, and caught the 3 pm Trolley in front of the Aquarium. [Now how did that take up 1.5 h? See that’s where your time goes. ] Nice ride to downtown Monterey, walk to El Estero. Opted for 1/2 h paddleboat, luckily: within 10 min, F was talking about the park; paddleboat may have exhausted its novelty, despite enthusiasm expressed. Lots of birds; the gulls were all bathing. The park proved more durable; also had a light picnic dinner there. Then walked back to transit center, to catch Trolley back to the Aquarium, walked home, bath, etc. Full afternoon.

Then we heard your voice message and called. Great pix from your boating adventure!