Our Little Climber

These days I have to wear my running shoes when going to the park with the little ones. Katie is all about climbing, and she is fast! One moment she is right beside me and the next she could be forty feet away, climbing one of the many ladders on the play structure.

She is a pretty good climber, I must admit, (thanks Gerry) though there are those few times when a foot slips and my heart almost stops.

Thankfully Peter is at an age where he gets it that he has to stick close by, just in case we have to go after Katie. He never complains. He knows she's a handful.

I love the time at the park where she just wants to be pushed in the swing. A little break for mommy. Here, our good friend, Finn, is pushing Peter and Katie. He's such a sweet boy.

Playing with My Big Brother

I am so in love with these two little ones. They are having so much fun together. They're actually talking to one another, sharing toys (most of the time) and constantly trying to see who can make the other laugh more.

Today I walked into the living room to find them playing "Ring Around the Rosies", collapsing into fits of laughter at the end of each revolution. In this photo Peter is giving Katie a horsey-back ride. What a great big brother he is.

The weekend was full of moments like that. Once I heard Peter ask Katie if she was okay. Another time, after Katie made Peter cry when she knocked over his building, she went over and rubbed his back and said she was sorry. It just melted my heart.

These moments may not last forever, so I'm going to cherish them now as much as I can...

Trouble

You would never guess, by looking at Katie, that there is so much mischief lurking behind those hazel eyes. She has enough energy for four toddlers and is constantly thinking up new ways to surprise me.

Just when I think she is quietly playing and I can get some housework done, I walk in to find her in the bathroom filling up her teacups with water from the toilet. Or I catch her pouring water from the sink into a drawer. Never a dull moment with this one.

As you can see, she is actually wearing pigtails. They lasted an entire five minutes. A record.

Friends Forever

As much as I get annoyed that Peter and Katie stay up so late laughing, I have to admit that I love how they manage to have so much fun together.

Since our home is a tiny 2/1, sharing a bedroom is mandatory. For the first year of Katie's life, I was so eager to add on another bedroom. Now I realize how sad those two would be to be separated. Tonight as they were playing before bed, I actually heard Peter say "Katie, I love you."

I still want to add on, but only so we can have a little extra storage for all of those darn toys I keep stepping on!

GOODNIGHT Katie!!!!

As I type this, Katie is full of energy, dancing around the room, singing the tune to Batman. When we placed her in her crib tonight, she cried and cried. Not her usual mad cry, but that cry where you know something's up. Ear infection? Plain stubborness? We'll soon find out when we put her back to bed.

For now, we are enjoying her silliness that we know won't last forever. She is making goofy faces to make us laugh and running around with her mittens on, playing peek-a-boo. I think she loves these moments when she is the center of attention, and she has us all to herself. Don't get me wrong, she loves her big brother, but right now she is the queen of comedy and she is loving the spotlight

Off to try bed again. Maybe she just wanted a few extra moments. Hoping that is all.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Christmas eve was quite festive at our home. Family and friends came for dinner and we had our annual white elephant gift exchange.

Katie was at her antagonistic best with her brother. She took his toys, stole his dinner and she basically did whatever she could to get him to have a melt down. She was very thorough. It didn't help that he was overly tired.

Katie received lots of girlie princess toys from Santa and Peter received lots of great boy stuff. Of course they only want to play with one another's toys. Figures.

I found this dress, 10 minutes before guests arrived, in the back of Katie's closet. Forgot we even had it. Thank goodness I found it because it fit perfectly.

Little Miss Sassy Pants

Hoo boy...if these past few weeks are any indication of how this year is going to go, then we are in for a wild ride.

Lately Katie's favorite words are "No, Mommy." She says it tentatively, like she's just trying it out, but trying it out she is. Today Katie covered her ears and told her brother to "be quiet!" Seriously, where does she get this?

And there is just no safe way to turn your back on this little girl. She is into everything. If she's not in sight, you can be sure to find her jumping on Mommy and Baba's bed, climbing onto the stairmaster, in the fridge getting some eggs for mommy, climbing on one of the gifts under the tree to get one of the breakable ornaments up high...you get the picture.

Katie's brother was never this naughty. We are completely unprepared for the likes of little Katie Lou and she knows it. So wish us luck this year, we are certainly going to need it.