Big News!

You finally said I love you back to us! It was so amazing to hear. You said it on Saturday. I will try to video tape it because it was so cute!

I'm so grateful

I can't believe you are almost 2 years old. You will be 21 months old on Dec. 4th! You are learning so many new things every day - it truly amazes me. I can barely keep up. I mean you pretty much know how to operate the DVD player already! I am so grateful for having you in my life. You have made everyday wonderful and challenging.
We had such a fun week together even though we were all sick. I don't remember getting sick so often, but with you and your day care germs I have already gotten really sick twice this fall. Both times around holidays - well- if you count Halloween as a holiday, which I do. And it is one of my favorites! ok -off the point - I was home with you for 8 wonderful days over the last 9 days! You were sick and then I got sick and then dad got sick. It is good when dad gets sick because then we get to see him more. He actually took off a lot of days this week. He was home Thursday for Thanksgiving and then for part of Friday, most of Saturday, and all day Sunday. Dad never stays home that much. He usually works 6 days a week and sometimes 7! So I think you enjoyed the time off immensely. We took naps everyday and watched movies. We watched the Lion King with Aunt Vicky on Saturday night. We also took the dogs for a long walk in Battlefield park. On Sunday, your dad and I took you to Maymont Park. It was the most beautiful day. You loved seeing the goats and feeding the roosters. You discovered very quickly that the roosters could take one grain out from between your two tiny little fingers without nipping you in the process. You are fearless with animals. We saw the bears, bobcat, and the two grey foxes. All of them were enjoying the beautiful day. I think you were most impressed with the big koy fish. They were about as big as you. We climbed up a lot of stairs, strolled down along the hills, and watched the sun set. It was an absolutely breathtaking day and I had the best company.

I pooped!

Ok - so much has happened with you over the last month. You are starting to say your words more clearly, you have fallen head over heals for Elmo, you stalk the cats more and try to sit on them (well - other peoples' cats - ours still won't let you mess with them for too long), you like us to kiss your boo boos and you kiss your own boo boos too, you sing to yourself sometimes (like Ashes Ashes Ring around the Rosy), we can bribe you with sweets or games, you like to tackle us and try to push us over, and you tell us when you have pooped your pants! So much has happened and I know I am not thinking of everything right now. You seem to understand the whole potty thing for the most part. Now we just need to figure out the timing of it all. I think we are on a good track though.
You just started to like watching TV and it is a little scary how quickly you become completely absorbed by it. We have now watched Elmo's World -Pets video about 10 times over the last three weeks. Hopefully we will get a few more video options for Christmas. When we get home from work and day care you ask for Elmo.
Oh - you have a major love of pistachios too. Kind of strange that both you and Dad love them so much! I'm not sure how Dad and I are molding your eating habits and what is just your nature. I am really weird about food and tend to eat a lot of the same stuff over and over again. One morning we were out of your blue berry waffles- oh sh** we are out now - ekk...well anyhow, you were pissed and I couldn't get you to eat much of anything else. I guess we will be recreating that moment tomorrow morning. Your fav foods right now are cheese, pistachios, cottage cheese, and your meats. Your fav drink is apple juice and you refer to every drink as apple juice. And of course, you love the sweets - anything you can get your little hands on.
Well, I am writing this all as you are watching Elmo. We are sitting on the couch and Sally is laying under my legs. Dad is not home yet, but hopefully will be any minute. It is time for me to get my snuggle time in. Hard to compete with Elmo but I will try!
Love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fun Weekend

We had such a good weekend together! On Saturday, we went to Toys R US! You were in heaven. So many toys, so many sounds and colors. You so badly wanted to get in every motorized car, but they had them displayed up so high. I guess for that very reason - so kids wouldn't get in them to test drive. You also loved the train set. Well, I didn't buy you any of that stuff. Mainly because we are broke and those toys were pricey! I was torn between buying you some sort of outdoor riding wheely thing and an art easel. Easy guess which one we got. The art easel of course! Ok so maybe I am pushing that on you already. Maybe you would have wanted the thing you could ride or push, but it is getting cold out and we need more indoor things to do. Plus you really do love to draw and that is an interest you developed all on your own. I am amazed at how long you do end up drawing when you are really in the mood. Plus, in my opinion you have a natural talent for it. Some of your work is quite brilliant. I know - I'm your mom. I think everything you do is brilliant but some of your work is so well balanced by shapes and colors. Some of my favorites though are the ones we do together!

Halloween

Whew!!!! It has been a crazy couple of weeks. You were sick for a couple days, we went to the fall festival at Tabernacle, we had a surprise/halloween party for your Dad, trick or treated, and then Dad and I got sick. Fun times! Luckily, none of us were sick for the party. I wish I had more pictures from the party. It was a lot of fun. Your Grandparents and Aunt Vickey outdid themselves as always. The house was covered in sweets. It was a bit overwhelming. There were cookies, tons of cupcakes, gobs, halloween candy, smores, pumpkin pie, twizzlers, gummy worms, chocolate pudding, ice cream cake, and bowls of M&Ms. So much! You really liked the candy corn - actually, you liked it all. You had a couple of tantrums when I wouldn't give you more candy.
So for Halloween you had three costumes. Why not - right! We couldn't decide. For the TCCC Fall Festival you were a fierce ninja with your bud Will. For the Halloween party you were Captain Kirk (Dad's home-made costume when he was your age), and for Halloween night you were the most adorable dinosaur.






Halloween night - you were a little skeptical at first. You weren't sure what to make of all the strange kids coming to the door. Then we set off into the dark- Dad, mom, you, and Pop Pop. By the third house you had it down. you went right up to the door with your pumpkin candy bag. You would go up to the door and say Knock Knock! but only air knock with your fist. So cute! You made out pretty good. We only went to about 6 or 7 houses. I wish I had better pictures. I wish I had a better camera!