A whole lot of news and pictures are in the works, so be sure to come back soon.  For now, here’s a youtube video clip to give you your Eli fix.  As you can see, I may have be virtually silent for all these months, but I more than make up for it in person.

Nope, it’s not the incredible Mr. Limpet. I just threw a penny in the water.

Some people are easily amused.

My partner is Sam (as in Spade). I’m the brains, he’s the brawn, although we like to switch it around from time to time, just to keep our folks on their feet. Sam is a sucker for the ladies, but I never let a dame within 20 feet of me. Here’s a shot of Sam playing Edward G. Robinson to my Dan Duryea:

Together we’re a well-oiled machine. So long as Joan Bennett stays away from our window, that is. Trouble. That’s what dames are. Trouble. (Except our moms, of course, who keep us well fed with grilled cheese and strawberries.)

There’s something in the air, and its not just spring fever. Last week Mamie and Papy left town, fast. Grandma and Poppy skipped the country as well, and Mama and Papa have been shoving all our things in boxes. Something is about to change here on Melrose. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon. Real soon. Mama tells me we’re moving in a few weeks, but I know she’s playing me like a roulette table. My proof? I’m always moving… especially now that I can run really fast.

Case in point: the other day, I caught Mama taking photos of our washer and dryer — not exactly the most riveting subject matter (although I do like to play with the button that turns the dryer light on and off). Mama said the pictures were for some guy named Craig who keeps a list. I’ve never met this Craig character, but Marlowe always said never trust a guy interested in laundering. Bad taste in photos is a crime, and I fight crime. So I took it upon myself to make sure the pictures involved a much more captivating subject:

Craig is in for one big surprise, and I’m not looking forward to being around when he gets it…

[Fade to black]

Announcer’s voice: “Be sure to check out the next exciting installment of “Boy on the Balcony.”

Here’s Mamie showing me how to sneak a snack “a la Francais” in the grocery store:

” I am the very model of a modern Major-General…”

Mama took this great shot of me at our picnic on the docks (fashion tip: just a touch of red pepper juice on the chin can really set off an outfit):

And here’s Mamie, Grandma, Mama, Papy, Poppy, and Papa surrounding me with love (Yeah. I know. I may have it down, but they have trouble keeping it straight and they’re the ones who came up with the names!):

I know there have been no new posts since the Egg-fest here on Melrose. I’ve been perfecting my full-on toddler skills of frustrating any and all attempts to take my picture. Since I last posted, I’ve been to the Biodome with Papa for one last trip (our membership expired and we’re moving in but a few weeks), Sam’s house where I got to pretend to sleep in Sam’s real honest-to-goodness bed, and Isaac’s pad (he’s fresh back from Costa Rica, where he sampled the native coffee, cocoa, and caterpillars). Sam kindly posted a couple of pics of us lounging in our PJs — he lent me his smoking jacket for the evening and read me a Masterpiece Board Book, a la Alistair Cooke.

I make it through most of the ABCs (adding extra Ws wherever possible), can jump with two feet at once now, and have finally outgrown my red scooter from Belen (although I still try to ride it and even demand a helmet, since I’m such a safety nut). And Mama discovered that I will eat any and all fish as long as it is not breaded and has been instead doused with a healthy squeeze of lemon or lime juice. So I’ve been exploring the delicious world of salmon, smelts, and trout.

I’ve also been taking every opportunity to enjoy the last vestiges of winter. The snow may have been plentiful this year, but it’s melting fast. Mud is fun, I admit, but in no way compares to white, cold, glorious snow. But I guess winter has ended just in time — my parka is getting a tad snug these days. Guess I’m growing. I’m up to size 6 in shoes now, and thanks to a recent growth spurt, I have to try on at least 4 shirts on any given day just to get dressed! Mama tells me she’s definitely ready for the day when I can dress myself, especially since I like to make it as hard as possible for anyone to get clothes on me these days. Luckily, the weather is getting warmer and I can soon streak again.

That’s my update. For the more visually inclined among you, here’s an old-ish pic of me on my B-Day, enjoying PB & J on a rice cake. Plebeian, perhaps, but super yummy!

This weekend, I found out that Easter is a lot like my birthday — it means I get cards and presents! Okay, so Mama tells me Easter a Christian version of a pre-Christian springtime festival, celebrating the return of Spring, the vernal equinox, the gods of fertility, and so on. Frankly, looking out the window, it seems like Spring is still some ways off, but she is my Mama and she did give me life, so I’m trusting her on this one.

Sam, if it’s any consolation, I didn’t see one iota of candy either.

After finding a bunch of eggs left behind by a forgetful and mysterious bunny (Hm… a rabbit, eggs, fertility… Mama’s theory does seem plausible, I admit), I spent my day reading and rereading a card from Gabriel and his family (my mom went to grad school with his mom, who has obviously instilled her good taste in pictures in her son)…

…perfecting my waddle…

(An aside: Grandma and Poppy sent me this get-up from Massachusetts, but I wonder, in Canada, do the kids wear Canada Geese raincoats? And do they really call them Canada Geese here, or just Geese. I mean, I know they don’t call french fries or french toast by either of those names in France, so it just follows logic, right?)

…loading up a midnight train to Georgia…

…and worshiping the Pasha. Salaam Peto.

So, what did you do this weekend?

So here’s my shout-out list. Please let me know if I’ve missed anyone. I’m kinda new to the birthday thing, and have only really just gotten a handle on the “happy birthday song” (which I sing to my Aunt Katie whenever possible). So remembering other people’s birthdays is still a little bit of a challenge. Please be patient… I am only 2, you know. (Happy Birthday to me!)

Happy birthday to my rodeo-queen cousin Alexandra (March 11 — she stole my glory by being born on my due date! But I’m down with that.) Here we are, sharing the love with my Uncle Chris (that’s Daddy to you, Alex…):

Happy birthday to my uncle Franco (March 14 — how cool would it have been if I were born on this date too! And I know Mama would have appreciated 3 fewer days of being a hippopotamus.) Tonton Franco lives in the computer with Tata Delphine and Cousine Suzon.

Happy birthday to Peto! Okay, so we don’t actually know his real birthday date, but Mama designated March 18 as Peto Day long before I came into the picture. Peto got lots of kisses and pets from me, and he even got a bite of my banana that day! One disclaimer — I took this photo before I found out about autofocus. Deal with it.

Happy birthday to Bruce, my favorite musical choreographer! The big day is actually this weekend… I have no good photos of Bruce, who is a super hero. Understandably, he prefers to remain incognito and shuns photos. We did manage to take a few last time he was spotted in Montreal, but they came out all blurry. Perhaps that’s his superpower… So you’ll just have to imagine the nicest guy in the world, with glasses and a beard.

Happy birthday to Korben, my Brooklyn co-conspirator. He celebrated early this year, since his Mommy likes St. Patrick’s Day too. Korben and I met in utero when our Mama’s did yoga together. Korben’s mommy is a yoga teacher extraordinaire, and Korben has a totally cool older sister, Devon Jane. Namaste, Korben.

Oh, and did I say happy birthday to me? Happy birthday me!

Today marks my two-year point. Yup, its been that long since the cord was cut and I took my first breath of fresh, sweet Brooklyn air.

The official celebration will take place when my Mamie and Papy fly in from France next month. Still, in true toddler style, I’ve been practically demanding the presents and cards that have come in the mail during the past week (thank you!). I get to open them at dinner tonight over a mini cupcake.

An event as great as my birth needs to be acknowledged as often as possible. So we spent Sunday morning at the Angrignon Mall with Sam, Amy and Braden. Not only did Sam and I get to ride in my favorite jungle 4X4,

but we explored the amazing world of (fully and partly) domesticated animals at a jungle-themed pet store, which is home to a tail-less toucan that likes to wink at me, three honorable, salad-loving tortoises, an Iguana named George, and a Burmese Albino Python whose sheer enormity caused me to forget his name entirely. George and the python (Mike, perhaps?) cohabitate in the hull of a former off-road jeep.

Then we headed over to another animal extravaganza — a petting farm set up smack in the middle of the mall, where there were lots and lots of really pushy goats. Ever the concerned citizen, I pushed and pulled absolutely everyone within butting range away from horns and hooves. In fact, I was so busy ensuring public safety that I forgot to have Mama and Papa take pictures of me with any of the animals.

But here are some shots of me and my new family (I’m trading in my old one for a newer model) in the food court, where we dined on smoothies and multigrain bars. Yes, yes. Apparently Braden has yet to master silverware and needs to be hand-fed. But he’s quite sensitive about it, so please don’t let on that you noticed…

……..

Post script:

For my birthday, my parents gave me a sugar rush! So rad! So so so so rad!