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.

A Christmas surprise.

We had a wonderful Christmas. The weekend began when I was getting out of the shower on Friday and the doorbell rang. It was my parents, who had flown in from North Carolina to surprise us. They wanted to see their grandbabies for Christmas, so just booked a quickie weekend flight. The kids went nuts! Dani had just layed down for a nap, and heard the doorbell, stood up in her pack and play and saw them. There was no hope of a nap after that.

Grandma and Grandpa had a blast. It was just so nice to have my mom and dad here for Christmas. And it's so fun that the kids are old enough to really enjoy them.

With Skype, we're able to have a live video chat a few times per week, so that really helps Dani and Tori stay close.

Dani opened nearly every present on Christmas morning. She was so cute. She was opening Tori's gifts and giving them to her. She had quite a few packages of clothes that people had sent, and by the third gift that was clothing, she started to rip it open, and said, "More clothes." and promptly dropped it to open something more interesting.
Tori looked absolutely adorable as a mini-Santa.

It was a weekend filled with lots of laughs and hugs, exactly what a holiday should be.

Thanks Mom and Dad; you really made our Christmas wonderful.

Santa came early.

Santa came early. Santa, this year was one of my bestest buddies from college, Chang. Last night we came home to this huge box, delivered from Sears. Unfortunately, it came without the second page of the pack slip, and we had no idea who it was from. I called Sears, and believe it or not, they couldn't track the order by recipient, so they were just like, yup, someone sent you a huge gift, but you will never know who it is because we are incompetent schmos. So, Big Man and I brainstormed, and decided it was either Chang or one of our other pals, who has also sent some huge kid gifts in the past. I called Chang and emailed the other guy (who probably now thinks I was shamelessly fishing for toys for my kids) and Chang fessed up. Stupid Sears. Funny thing is that today, we got something from Best Buy with gift cards in it, with NO gift note either. So I had to call Best Buy and say, someone just sent me a crapload of giftcards, but I have no idea who. They were able to look it up, and so I learned it was Chang again!

I am now trying to convince Big Man that we should name baby 3 Chang. At least for the middle name. Don't you think that Tommy Chang would be a kick ass baby name? I do. Big Man just shakes his head.

Anyway, because we are the coolest parents in the world, we decided that we could have an indoor playground for the winter, so Dani woke up to this: It was a big hit. Tonight, she was even letting her stuffed animals have rides down the slide.

She's just getting so big. I told her that we were going to have another baby, and she kissed my tummy and said "hi baby". We also drove around to see holiday lights tonight, and she really enjoyed it, shouting out colors and saying "Santa", "snowman" and everything else she saw.
Oh, and lest I forget, the other one...Tori. She has decided that at less than 8 months old, she can do this:

Yes, that would be pull herself up to standing without help. She's trying so hard to catch up to Dani. Every minute the two of them are together is laughing, squealing, screeching and just chasing each other around. It's adorable, even if it does induce mommy-headaches.

And, while I'm still bitching about mass retailers and their holiday failings. A big thumbs down to amazon.com . I ordered a super cool gift for Big Man, and they sent it today with a window envelope that displayed exactly what was in the box. So the rare Dr. Who video, is no longer a surprise. Thanks amazon, for nothing.

PARTY!

Last night we had Dani's second birthday party! We had a house full of folks. And, Dani had a blast! Tori did too--here's she's getting some snuggles from Aunt Renny.

The party had a Mickey Mouse theme. Dani's obessed with Mickey Mouse. Here she's rockin' the Minnie dress.
Dani's Mickey cake, made by a high school friend of mine. (If anyone needs her contact info, let me know, she makes an awesome custom cake!)

Dani had lots of gifts to open.

Miss Ruth gave Dani a guitar. Guitars were a popular gift, Dani got three different ones. We rocked out with them today.

In other news, Tori popped her second tooth, and is trying desperately to walk. I also found out that I'm pregnant again. Yep, prego with number 3. Really hope it's a boy. Due in August. So we'll have 3 under 3. Nice! I told Dani, and she kisses my belly and says "hi baby". She told me it's a sister....keeping my fingers crossed that she's wrong, because there will be no 4th try!

It's what big girls do.

Dani had her 2 year check up today. Big Man didn't really get all the stats because he was using every known trick to keep Dani from flipping out. Apparently she starts to cry when they pull in to the parking lot, every time. Kind of like a puppy at the vet. He did recall she's 27 pounds and in the 95th percentile for height but only the 15th for weight.

She is, officially, our big girl. And, did you know, big girls sit on the potty? They don't always (or ever in our case) do anything on said potty, but they try.
Big girls share their toys with little girls. Sometimes, at least.

Big girls talk in sentences, and find creative ways to say no!

Big Man says that during the day Dani and Tori are inseparable, like a little wolf pack.

Oh, and Tori, my little not even 8 months old Tori, crawled up to me tonight and pulled herself up to standing. She did it over and over. She is trying so hard to catch up to her big sis!

In case of emergency, a Tori guest post.

Hi everybody, Tori here. I thought that, since the holiday season was upon us, I should give you all a gift. I'm going to teach you how to do CPR. You know, with all the egg nog, and cookies and prime rib dinners this time of year, you never know when somebody's just going to keel over from all the fatty grub. So, I'm going to tell you exactly what to do if it happens to you. Well, if it happens to you, just hope someone you know read my blog so they know how to help you! But this should help you help someone else.

Now, the new school of thought with CPR is that you don't have to do the rescue breathing, just chest compressions. Start by putting your hands on the victim's chest. Lean over the victim, and press 100 times per minute. If you remember the Bee Gees, you can sing the Stayin' Alive song in your head for the tempo. (I don't know who the Bee Gees are, but mommy likes them.)

You probably want to have someone call 911. Keep pumping and pumping at that pace until the paramedics arrive.

Good work. If you need to borrow my puppies so you can practice, just let me know. I'm good at sharing.

Birthday Girl.

We semi-celebrated Dani's birthday. Big Man was out of town most of the week due to the death of his brother. So, Dani will have multiple birthday celebrations, as it was just us girls on the 9th.

She did get her "yellow Mickey Mouse shoes".
We had cupcakes!

There were tears. Overtired babies were at the sitter's for three days with minimal naps. All in all, Dani had a good birthday. They were over the moon yesterday when Daddy got home.

Tori was really bummed when he was gone. I know it sounds crazy, but even the sitter said there was something off. She just didnt' smile, but she wasn't sick or anything. The minute daddy came home, she was a different baby--just happy and smiley.

Oh yeah--and she can sit up by herself too!

To Dani, on the eve of your second birthday.

It seems to me that there is no better measure of the passage of time than a child. Two years ago tonight, I was packing to go to the hospital. You were literally trying to kick your way out of my belly. There was a wicked snowstorm.

We left the house at 4:30 am to get to the hospital for check-in. You were the first scheduled baby delivery of the day. Your daddy got to put on scrubs and was in the operating room the whole time. He got to see you first, and hold you first, too. You were a little red screamy thing all wrapped up in a blanket. When I got to the recovery room, and the nurse brought you to me, the first thing I said to daddy was, "she's so pale". I didn't really know what babies looked like when they were first born, but I thought you'd be browner. I'm sure you understand why.

You had a little personality from the start. And a little temper. You spent the day with daddy and me, but we sent you to the nursery that night. In the morning, the nurse told us, "that one's got a temper on her". You were quite the little screamer.

We figured it out, eventually. What you needed when you fussed. What your different cries meant. What made you laugh and what you didn't like.

What I never expected was how much you would change me. I'm a different person than I was before I had you, in a million ways I could never explain. Just better, I hope. With each day, I just grow more fascinated and more in love with you, little Dani.

I just can't seem to figure out when my little baby girl, turned into a kid. Really. You climb stairs by yourself. You sing songs. You know your numbers and letters and colors. You even know Kornheiser and Wilbon by voice, and love Chicago Bears Football. I never knew a little kid could laugh so much, or make me laugh so much.

You've been asking for "yellow Mickey Mouse shoes". They should be here tomorrow. You're a tad obsessed with Mickey Mouse, but at least you don't know who Justin Bieber is.

Know Dani, that you are loved. Not just by daddy and me, but by your whole family. By the many friends that we have that ask about you and read about you on this blog and see your pictures on facebook. Mommy's clients all know who you are and ask about you. You're just a bright little light that shines on all of us.

So, as you enter your second year, I don't know what you'll do. You've already hit almost every milestone our pediatric book says you should hit at the end of your second year. We're going to work on the potty thing, and then maybe algebra? Just kidding, we'll wait until you're three for algebra.

So, my little snuggle pup, happy birthday. Happy 2.
We're going to have a great year!

Bully in the making.

Little Tori is developing quite the little personality. Quite the tough guy personality. Maybe a sense of fearlessness just develops in the second kid because they are trying to catch up to the first kid.

Dani was always a cautious baby. She crawled and walked safe, short distances and if it looked risky, she'd crawl. Until one day, she walked and never really crawled again. No nasty falls, or boo boos, she just waited until she could do it well and then did. She began to crawl typically too--on her elbows like a little soldier.

Not so, our Tori. She was pushing herself up on all fours at 5 months--like she was trying to do military pushups. She never bothered with the elbow crawling, just straight arms, and lots of face plants until she got it. Last night, she tried to pull herself up on one of Dani's toys. The kid has no fear--with anything. You may recall that Dani had a love-hate relationship with talking toys when she was a baby.

Tori stares them down.

She also likes to crawl after the cat.

And Tigger? Remember Dani's fear of Tigger? And then the love/curiosity of Tigger which would always end in crying? We put Tori to the Tigger test, and she just owned Tigger. She didn't even flinch when Tigger started talking and moving.
Pretty soon, I think she's going to be taking Dani's toys and telling her who's boss! Here's a video of the kids with Tigger. Dani has a growing booty obsession. (sorry FB friends--you actually have to go to my blog to see this because the videos don't import)

Time to get working on photos for the Christmas card...stay tuned.

Turkey Day!

We piled into the minivan and headed up the hill to my cousin Dave's for Thanksgiving. For the first time in years, I didn't have to cook a single thing. We were assigned to make sweet potatoes, and since Big Man actually likes them, he made them. He also made a to-die-for chocolate pecan pie.

We have much to be thankful for. Each other. Beautiful, healthy kids. Family.
Uncle John spent some time with Tori before dinner:

As usual, Dani loved looking at the fishies:
Tori, now able to crawl, wants to play with everything Dani has. In this case, Dani was playing with "Murray Guitar" (every guitar is Murray's to my Wiggles-obsessed kid):
Gail showing Dani the wine opener. That got a lot of use!

And Dani, snacking on some pre-dinner mashed potatoes with Aunt Renny.
It was a good day. And, today, the Bears won, upsetting the Eagles, which rounded out our list of things we are thankful for.

Dani's turning two in less than two weeks. She is singing happy birthday to herself and asking when the kids are coming over. We're having a Mickey Mouse themed party, and she's going to have a blast!

Pssst.

Psssst, down here. It's me, Tori. I'm supposed to be taking a nap, but I'm hiding behind the couch.
I just wanted to tell everyone Happy Thanksgiving. It's my very first one. Mommy said she would take a lot of pictures. I hope she lets me eat some turkey! Mommy says Thanksgiving is about being thankful for things you have. I'm thankful for warm bottles, banana baby food, and my big sister Dani.

Slow day.

Did you know that pants can double as bunny ears? Yep.

And, someone is getting pretty good a sitting up. She still tumbles over, but can hold herself up for a bit on her own.

Big Man got some great video today of crazy baby laughs; promised him I'd put it on FB so his peeps could see it too.