"Dad said we needed to sift the dirt to take out the rocks. It looked like a lot of fun."
"He tried to show me how the sifter works, but I told him that I already knew because I just saw Mom grating cheese."
"Okay, so it's not exactly like grating cheese."
She began by scoping out the perfect spot - a place where she could be the most helpful.
Situated near the raspberries, Teagan was happy to help eat them just as fast as Mom and Dad could pick them.
"It's fun to help out in the garden."
We first sighted the purple monster in our backyard near the garage. 
Up close the creature appeared to have a purple protective suit, much like the apparatus Captain Nemo wore when exploring the bottom of the sea. 
The purple monster's temperament was yet to be determined, but the creature moved towards the swing with purpose.
Once on the swing, the small purple monster seemed to be frustrated at the lack of movement.
I cautiously put the swing in motion and the creature revealed a faint smile of contentment.
When the moment passed, the monster jumped down and set out to explore the great white winter wonderland.
So why the look at the end of the video? She had just reached the blue line, only to discover 12 more steps to climb.
Grandpa knew that she would be tuckered out, so he had some grub ready for her when she arrived.
Teagan was much obliged, but she hadn't heard of 'rocky mountain oysters' before now.
"Um, Grandpa, we're a long ways away from the sea, aren't we? So where did these oysters come from?"
Teagan didn't feel so much obliged any more.
As Teagan's first birthday drew near, she knew that she had to toughen up her baby image. This right of passage called for some drastic measures, "I mean, those 'terrible twos' will be here before I know it and I'll need to be ready."
With firm resolution, Teagan journeyed out west to Cody, Wyoming - the land of Buffalo Bill.
She soon discovered, however, that the wild west was a bit more wild than she had anticipated.
First she tried to make friends with the skunk who reminded her of her cats at home...
...but that did not turn out so well.
Then there was that monkey who kept starring her down.
He quickly climbed on her back and wouldn't let her go. She knew her moment had arrived.
Casting aside her fears, she faced that monkey and poked him in the eye.
Unfortunately, there was another animal waiting for her and his eye was much too big for her poke with that small finger of hers.
With some leverage from Mom, Teagan tamed the wild beast by twisting one of his horns.
Oh yeah, she was going to be ready for those terrible twos.
Teagan sat patiently with her Mom, who happened to be near the cake. Meanwhile her Dad searched for matches, the birthday choir rehearsed in the background, and cheerful onlookers snapped photos. "I don't suppose anyone is going to miss a little bit of frosting from the edge of this cake. Hmm... just how much is a little bit?"
"Hey Mom, is that candle-thing made of frosting too?"
"Mmm... Frosting is such bliss."
Yet this wasn't just any day or just any picnic -- it was Teagan's first birthday and her friends, Zoe and Nate, made sure it was a special birthday picnic. 
Sitting near the corner Teagan wasn't so sure about wearing this dunce-like cap, but her friends encouraged her to go along with the hat because she would be rewarded with a special treat.
With the arrival of the beer brats (made with Sam and Dan's home-brewed breakfast stout: Bottle of Brew), Teagan got down to the business of eating and soon forgot about that pointy hat.
Soon her food was consumed and so was her patience, "Where's my special treat?"
Teagan quickly removed her hat as the ice-cream was being served. Yet just as she was preparing to dig in, she noted with exasperation: "Come on, why is mine on fire?!"