We all went to visit Santa at the grocery store today.
They took some pictures for us, but we also took our camera and got our own! Grampy came along and video taped the entire experience!
The kids were EXCELLENT!

Here are the kids with Santa:
Kathryn loved sitting on Santa's knee. She loved the soft & furry cuffs on his coat:
But she REALLY loved his bells:
She probably would have sat there all day. She was having a great time - all smiles and happiness:
We got a family shot, too! I wish I'd bothered to put on a better top.

And we were going to get pics of the kids dressed up when we got home but Patrick refused. So we got a few of Kathryn with the kitty! This is my favourite one:
Merry Christmas!

CONGRATULATIONS KATHRYN

on getting TOOTH #8!

You now have a very balanced smile!

Photo shoot for K's 11 Month Birthday:

Ms. Modest:

Laughing:
Telling her brother to "get lost":
Sharing her teddy with Mom: Deciding to eat his ear instead - yum:
Ha Ha! Too funny! You really thought I was going to eat him, didn't you?
Pretty Posing Princess:
Playing with friends:

Sibs!

HAPPY 11 MONTH BIRTHDAY KATHRYN!!

(hoping to get some good pics today! Wish me luck!)

Here's a poem I want to share with you, about Loving Two. Its very true.

Loving Two

I walk along holding your 2-year-old hand, basking in the glow of our magical relationship. Suddenly I feel a kick from within, as if to remind me that our time alone is limited. And I wonder: how could I ever love another child as I love you?

Then she is born, and I watch you. I watch the pain you feel at having to share me as you’ve never shared me before.

I hear you telling me in your own way, “Please love only me”. And I hear myself telling you in mine, “I can’t”, knowing, in fact, that I never can again.

You cry. I cry with you. I almost see our new baby as an intruder on the precious relationship we once shared. A relationship we can never quite have again.

But then, barely noticing, I find myself attached to that new being, and feeling almost guilty. I’m afraid to let you see me enjoying her—as though I am betraying you.

But then I notice your resentment change, first to curiosity, then to protectiveness, finally to genuine affection.

More days pass, and we are settling into a new routine. The memory of days with just the two of us is fading fast.

But something else is replacing those wonderful times we shared, just we two. There are new times – only now, we are three. I watch the love between you grow, the way you look at each other, touch each other.

I watch how she adores you — as I have for so long. I see how excited you are by each of her new accomplishments. And I begin to realize that I haven’t taken something from you, I’ve given something to you. I notice that I am no longer afraid to share my love openly with both of you.

I find that my love for each of you is as different as you are, but equally strong. And my question is finally answered, to my amazement. Yes, I can love another child as much as I love you—only differently.

And although I realize that you may have to share my time, I now know you’ll never share my love. There’s enough of that for both of you – you each have your own supply.

I love you—-both. And I thank you both for blessing my life.
—Author Unknown

I have put the option to comment back on the blog - I've missed reading your comments!

Anyone can leave a comment, but they are sent to me first before they are posted. I encourage everyone to leave comments using the 'annonymous' option (but sign your name!)so your comment doesn't link back to your blog. I share this blog with many people, near and far, people I have met and have not met and it is also a public blog. If you decide to comment using your blogger login, I will be happy to read it, but I won't post it.

Happy commenting!
~Deb

Congrats Kathryn,

On getting your 7th tooth!

(second upper right)

Reading a winter story with Gramma:

I love that P's belly button is hanging out :)

We put the kiddos in their new jammies and tried to get some pictures. Taking pictures of the kids these days is getting harder and harder. K won't hold still, and P wants to see the image right after you take it, and he usually starts to move before the flash even goes off! So, these aren't bad all things considered!

Not to be outdone by her brother, Kathryn tried her hand at making a pretty Mural on the dining room wall under the window.

The picture doesn't show up too well - probably because it is orange crayon on yellow paint!

She got a hold of one of P's crayons when he left them unattended! Thankgoodness they're washable!

The actual "mural" is about 9 inches by 3 inches. I'm quite impressed she was able to do such nice long straight strokes!

Speaking of Kathryn, has started to cruise! She will walk along the couch, or the foot stool, or her playpen, and her crib.

She's also started to pull up on things (usually me) and let go and just stand. Its quite impressive! I am certain she will be walking by Christmas.

Kathryn has also recently discovered that books are more than chew toys. She loves them! She will actually crawl to the book bin, pick one, and bring it to me. Then she'll happily sit in my lap while I read it.

She's also started to point. She wants names and explanations for things. She also can express she wants something. A variation on "want that" its more like "a dat!" with an outstretched arm and finger. We were reading a book today and there was a kitty cat in it. She pointed to the cat in the book, then pointed to Ramses who was sleeping on the couch. She's a smart cookie, I tell ya. She recognized that both were kitties. Of course I praised her like crazy with hugs and kisses.

I've started her on stage 2&3 foods now, and she's starting to get into table fare. She likes pancakes! She also likes cooked rice. She'll play with just about anything I give her from my plate, but only a few things have made it inside her mouth. She still loves crackers, cherrios and gerber puffs.

Patrick has started to help me by getting himself undressed after we come indoors. He can get his shoes or boots off as well as his coat! Its wonderful!

He's also such a big helper with Kathryn. He'll play with her and they'll both giggle histerically. He'll get me a klenex so I can wipe his or her nose. He will happily help me clean up when we're done playing. He's such a happy kid most of the time! He loves to be hugged and kissed and will ask you to tickle him. He has a really infectious laugh. He also has a 'fake laugh' that he uses to get your attention. He's also starting to become affectionate with Kathryn and will give her hugs and kisses.

It really is heartwarming to see how much Patrick and Kathryn love eachother. They really are good friends - and I hope that lasts a very very long time.

A poopy kinda day.
My day started off well. I got up at 5:45 for a shower - a nice long hot one. Very nice. Patrick was awake when I got out, so we snuggled a bit, and he got changed and we came downstairs. Kathryn slept in till 7:15 and woke up very happy! Everyone had breakfast. Then the adventures in poop started. First Patrick, then Kathryn and then Patrick again. By 9 a.m. I'd changed 5 diapers - 2 overnight ones and 3 poopy ones. Fun times.

We went to get groceries and while I was loading them into the van I noticed that the front drivers tire was flattish. Since I needed gas anyway, I figured I'd check all the tires. I parked by the compressed air and got out and immediately was pelleted with what I thought was rain. I was annoyed that I was going to get wet, and then I was pleased because it seemed to be just brief. While I was kneeling down to put air in the last tire I noticed there was 'stuff' on my pants. I had no idea where it had come from. Then I noticed it was on my coat.

Then reality hit like a ton of bricks. It wasn't rain. Oh. My. GOD. IT WASN'T RAIN! It was BIRD CRAP! And I had it on my coat and pants and... oh gross oh gross oh gross ... IN MY HAIR!!! Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

But I was already here. The kids were dressed and loaded and ... surprisingly enough... happy! I decided to clean up as best I could with the wet-ones I keep in the van and keep going. I wiped the drips off my coat and pants as best I could, and using a hand-held mirror that was attached to the brush I just happen to keep in the van, I cleaned the stuff off my hair. oh gross oh gross oh gross!

I put gas in the van, wondering the whole time if I had bird stuff on my butt. I keep it towards the van. I checked my back out using the reflection in the tinted back window. I didn't see anything.

I pulled into a parking spot and grabbed a cart to load the kids into. On my way inside, I was hoping I'd see someone I knew so they could check my backside for me. No luck. Inside, I noticed the girl at courtasy was NOT busy!! I took a chance, told her my situation and asked her nicely if she would check to see if there was bird crap on my back. She said there was not. I decided to believe her.

We grabbed the groceries, headed home, and I unloaded while the kids played peek-a-boo together in the van. I brought them in, got all their warm stuff off and put them at the table for a snack so I could run upstairs and change my pants. I went to wash my hands and the soap dispenser decided to spit soap all over my shirt. Great. So now my pants have bird crap and my shirt has dish soap. Nice.

After throwing them a snack, I ran upstairs, changed, gathered the laundry and ran back downstairs. Everyone was fine. I tossed a load in the washer (including my coat!) and ran back upstaris. I rushed to get all the groceries away and the pork chops separated into 2's for the freezer. And then Patrick pooped again. Its a freekin' poop conspiracy. and I can't wait for Shaun to come home so I can have a shower. Ewwwww.

We went to the Santa Claus Parade. Port has theres at night which I think is more fun! The pictures don't do it justice, however.

We had a nice time and we walked over from Shaun's parents place after having a yummy dinner.

Waiting for the parade to start:
Ponies:

Shriners's car:
A float:
Bruce Telecom Mouse:Grampy and K:

Watching intently:
SANTA!!
New Christms Jammies from Grandma and Grampy as well as new winter books!

I was working on something at the computer and Patrick came to me with a crayon and asked me to colour. I said "1 sec honey" and finished up what I was doing.

When I got up to go over and help him, I found this lovely mural on the dining room wall under the window:


The pictures don't do it justice.

I was actually quite impressed with his artwork - big graceful lines completely uninhibited.

I did, however, have to tell him he was naughty and send him to time out. Thats when I took the pictures. After he apologized, I made him help me clean it off with windex and paper towel. It was then that I realized that only SOME of our crayons are washable. The rest of the crayon took me lots of scrubbing and an entire magic eraser sponge to get off.

We have since thrown out the non-washable crayons just incase Patrick gets the creative bug to do us another mural.

The kids decided to attack Shaun! I love that Kathryn is going after him with a plastic hammer - too funny!

Today was our 4th Anniversary and Auntie Boo came to visit with her camera! She got some great shots of us all:

Kathryn clapping:
Mommy and her kiddos (Boo had fun editing the background! This was actually taken in my living room):
Such a happy boy:
Playing piano together:
Our Family:

CONGRATULATIONS KATHRYN
on getting tooth #6 - second upper left.
now you have quite the lopsided smile! :)

Kathryn is 10 months old! And looking so grown up!
Patrick is 2.5 yrs old. Such a big boy!
and here is my little snuggle bunny in her pjs right before bed. She was sooo sleepy.

My Sister-in-law got a new camera, and when she visited us this past weekend she took some pictures of the kids. Here are just 2 of the beautiful shots she took and worked with!


Awesome!

HAPPY HALLOWE'EN!

The return of Eeyore - this time its Kathryn! She looks so super cute!!

Gotta love those pumpkin slippers!!


And Mr. Patrick is an Elephant! He didn't even mind the hood being up. YAY Patrick!As long as the weather holds up, Patrick will trick-or-treat at a few houses for some yummy candies! Last night I was teaching him to say "trick or treat" and it came out more like "kitty treats" *lol* so I changed it to "treats please" which is MUCH clearer.

Patrick had his 2.5 birthday yesterday!

Unfortunately he wasn't feeling too well so we didn't get any pictures of him. We did measure him, and are quite amazed how much he's grown since his birthday! He's almost as tall as I was when I was three and I can't wait to see how much he'll grow in the next 6 months.

Patrick is still not well today, so we're spending the day watching movies and relaxing. I can't remember the last day we just sat around and played! We may go out to run some errands later - as long as both kids are OK with that.

Kathryn's 10 month birthday is on Monday. Hopefully both kids will be in good spirits and I can snap some up-to-date photos to post.

Look out world!!

Kathryn has learned to crawl! She's actually quite speedy when she's after something (like the kitty - her favourite toy!).

YAY Kathryn!

Milestone updates: (updated because I missed some!)

Patrick
- Counts out loud up to 20 independently (sometimes forgets 16)
- Visually recognizes numbers 0-10 and some from 11-20.
- Knows all his letters, upper and lower case, in order and out of order
- Recognizes and names most animals
- Knows most of his colours
- Recognizes and names common shapes (circle, square, triangle, rectangle, diamond)
- Can draw a circle
- Is starting to put together sentences
- Joins in on songs he knows and can sing most of Twinkle Twinkle by himself
- Eats independently with a fork/spoon
- Can drink from a regular cup without spilling
- Can run & jump off the floor with both feet
- Says "please & thank you & sorry" - sometimes volluntairly!

Kathryn
- Is almost crawling and is motivated by toys, especially the kitty
- Stands alone for long periods of time, supported by a play surface
- Can stand alone without support for about 30 seconds
- Absolutely loves her jolly jumper
- Says "mommy / mama" and knows who I am
- Has also said "dada" and knows who he is
- Has also said "hi, bye, kitty, gramma & ball"
- Can wave, clap, and blow kisses
- Knows when to clap when I sing "if you're happy and you know it"
- Has mastered the pincor grasp and can neatly pick up things with her thumb and index finger.
- Eats 3 meals a day, plus snacks on puffs, cherrios, crackers and banana chunks.
- Is only up once a night to nurse!
- Reaches up to express she wants to be picked up - a personal favourite since Patrick never did this!

CONGRATULATIONS TO Ms. Kathryn

on getting her

5th TOOTH - second bottom right.

Hurrah!

Read this article about toddlers. Its quite insightful.

The Way of the Toddler

Patrick had his first night sleeping in his toddler bed yesterday. We were quite surprised how well he did!! He stayed in there ALL NIGHT and didn't fall out. This morning when he got up, he simply called for me!

Its hard to tell this picture was taken at 10 p.m. last night. We must have a really good flash on our camera.

Way to go Patrick! Mommy & Daddy are really proud of you!

Thanksgiving shots!

Auntie Sara and her favourite niece:

Mommy with her pretty princess:
Daddy with his princess:
Grandpa with Ayla and Kathryn:
Daddy and Prince Patrick:
We had a nice time, but with all such events, my kids were "off" their schedules and therefore a little cranky. I had a really nice time despite it though!

I took Kathryn (and my mom) to a friends wedding this past weekend. Shaun was a groomsman. Kathryn was EXCELLENT during the ceremony and played with her toys and my mom in an adjoining room. She was also a big hit after the ceremony - everyone loves our princess!

We stayed for a while and mingled with Shaun's parents and other guests and then I took Kathryn and my mom back home. I was able to come back after the kids went to bed and enjoy a couple more hours of the ceremony.