When the contractor's away...

Dani will play!

We finally had the ancient, original door and side lights replaced, well technically it's still a work in progress. Having a new door and more insulation makes a huge difference in warmth in our downstairs. And, with an ancient house like ours, every little bit helps--especially when we spend so much time on the floor.

Dani has been enjoying her "drumsticks" and has been banging out solos since the project started!

9 months???

Dear Tori,
You're 9 months old today! Where did the time go? I blinked and you went from a screamy little newborn to a fiercely independent baby trying to keep up with your big sister.

You've surpassed Dani in some milestones, and you're certainly bigger than she was at 9 months, my little hoss. 27.5 inches seems to be the 9 month norm for you girls, but you weighed in today at 20 pounds 1 ounce, while Dani was a wee little 17 pounds, 9 ounces at this age. Keep growing, and smiling and keeping me on my toes!


Daddy said you didn't even flinch when you got your shots at the doctor today. Way to go! We love you little Tori!

Crushing defeat.

Dani and Tori dressed up for the Bears playoff game, but were so disappointed in the poor performance they had to find something else to do:

Stuff I did today, a Dani guest post.

Hi everybody, Dani here. Mommy told me that I could write to you tonight to tell you about some new things that I did today. The first one kinda makes me feel shy.

Today, I went potty on my froggy potty. I told mommy I had to go, and she put me on my potty and I just did it, like a big girl. It was a little scary at first, but mommy just told me to relax and take my time. Then, mommy gave me a lollipop and clapped for me. I love lollipops! I hope that I can remember to tell mommy when I have to go again, tomorrow. She said I could have a lollipop every time!

I also went over to my friend Mary's house today.

She had so many toys I never saw before. She had this stuff called Play Doh. It was squishy and you could make shapes with it. Mommy played with it too! It was really fun. I tried to eat some, but it tasted really salty and yucky. I asked mommy if I could get some Play Doh for our house. She said maybe we should wait until Tori is older. Sometimes I like to feed Tori. I promised mommy I wouldn't feed Tori Play Doh, but I still have to wait.

That Tori's really cramping my style. Babies can be such a pain. Tori did learn to do one fun thing though. She can screech really loud. We have this game. She screeches, and then I do it and then she does it and then I do it until mommy begs us to stop. It's really fun.

Did you know that we are going to have a new baby too? Mommy asked me if I wanted a brother or sister and I said sister. She asked me what I would like to name the new baby, and I've decided we should call her "New Baby". Every day I pat mommy's tummy and say, "Hi New Baby". I can't wait to meet her but mommy said it will be a really long time before New Baby comes. I'm excited--I will have two little siblings to boss around! Well, mommy says that I have to go now, bye bye! This post was brought to you by your big girl who pees on the potty, Dani.

When mommy isn't looking.

Mommy, what are you talking about? No, I don't have white stuff all over me. You're silly.

I've just been sitting here at my table coloring while you were feeding Tori. Really, I have.

Well it's not exactly my fault you left the baby powder on the changing table. In fact, it's your fault. You created like an attractive nuisance or something. That's what lawyers call stuff that people should know better than to leave just lying around because grown ups should know that kids will want to play with it. So really mommy, it's your fault. I was just giving in to my toddler impulsiveness. But I'm 2, you should expect that. You're 37--shouldn't you know better by now???

And, I only poured a little onto the changing table, anyway.Pleeeez, don't be mad mommy! Pretty please?
(Heh, heh, the cuteness wins every time!)

Dani's thoughts.

Hmmm, I'd really like to get that toy from Tori, but mommy yells at me when I grab stuff, and she's totally watching.

I guess I'll have to use my powers of distraction--babies are so easy to trick.

"Hey Tori, look up here!"

Got it. That was totally easy, and mommy didn't even seem to mind.

I am like, the smartest 2 year old, ever.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Last winter, Dani was too little, and I was too pregnant to really get outside in the snow. But this winter, she's been talking about snowmen and such. FINALLY, we got some snow! I got home Friday and there were just a few inches, but I bundled her up and went outside, in my work dress no less, just to catch the last bit of light so Dani could play.

Here she is trying to throw a snowball I made. She helped me shovel the walk, and did not want to do in. In fact, I had to fireman carry a kicking and screaming Dani inside. She would have played outside for hours if I'd let her.
I promised her that we'd go out this morning, and overnight a few more inches fell. I think we had about 6 inches total. I pulled her on the sled, she ran around, happily falling, eating snow and clapping her snow-filled hands so snow would fly everywhere.
It wasn't great packing snow so we couldn't make a snowman, so we took a sled ride down the street, and then a short walk.

I wised up when I wanted to go inside today. I mentioned that if we went inside she could have a lollipop.

Surprisingly, she was also willing to share the lollipop with Tori.
Here's a short video of Dani that ends abruptly when I realize she needs help getting out of the sled, and I didn't want the camera to get snowy.

I'm already looking forward to the next snow storm!

New Year's Resolutions, a Tori guest post.

Happy New Year's everyone! It's my first New Year! I've heard that you're supposed to make resolutions every year of stuff you want to do better in the upcoming year. I've already made pretty amazing progress for a baby.

I can stand up. And, I'm only 8 months old. Look at me!

I would like to learn how to walk, though. That can be my resolution. Sometimes when I stand up, I try to walk but my belly is all wobbly and I fall down. So, I am going to learn to walk.

I also resolve to keep working on my one handed push up. As you can see, I've almost perfected it. And the cat. I'm going to catch him one of these days. He always comes close, but then runs away before I can hug him. He and I are going to become good friends this year.

So, I think those are all my resolutions.

Mommy said I should add a few more. She says I should also resolve to sleep later in the morning, and not to cry in my sleep. I think she should just learn to get by on less sleep.