Little Miss Independent

I think Kateri is trying to tell me that she is no longer a baby. She has eschewed her safe, but boring, high chair in favor of the bench at our kitchen table, where she has a much better chance of falling and cracking her head on the tile. She will only eat food that can be chomped and crunched and possibly choked on: mushy food is for babies!! (Not that she ever ate mushy food, but she has been very eager to try out her recently completed set of molars and eyeteeth on any choking hazard within reach.) Furthermore, she has completely shunned any form of sippy cup in favor of regular, big kid cups and water bottles. She loves taking off and putting on the cap.

Taking a swig whilst staring defiantly at me...

So proud of herself. Please ignore the water she dribbled all down the front of her shirt. After all, she is a big kid now... at least for the next five minutes until she decides it is time for her umpteenth nursing of the day.

How to help with chores, Kateri-style

Step 1: Scrub enthusiastically, if ineffectually, at the horridly smudged mirrors with a dry paper towel.

Step 2: Decide that shredding the paper towel is much more fun and makes a much bigger mess.

Step 3: Become distracted from the shredding by how gorgeous you look with your post-bath crazy hair.

Step 4: Decide that you actually are irresistible even to yourself, and give the mirror a few parting smudges via some drooly baby kisses.

A visit with Uncle Justin

Uncle Justin spent some quality time with the girls on Sunday, and fearlessly embarked on a solo bike ride to the park with all three of them. Needless to say they had a great time. I joined them on the playground after a while and Kateri actually pushed me away and gave Justin a head hug. I guess it was her way of saying thanks for the great day!

I know, I know, these bottom two pictures are not exactly the best I've ever taken, but you get the idea.

Our Virtual Babysitter

Kateri loves talking to my parents on the webcam, especially when Nanny is on singing her songs. When Papa is on he usually growls and pretends to attack Nanny, which the kids think is hilarious but my mom, not so much. Kateri loves following along with all of the Nanny classics: Row Row Row, Open, Shut Them, and all the others gleaned from years spent in the trenches at the local preschool.

Last week I imprisoned Kateri in her highchair and left her with her virtual Nanny while I swept and mopped all of our tile floors...thanks again Nanny...I think you should make some DVDs!!!

Kateri

Kateri's been rocking herself to sleep alot lately.

A recital by Audrey

Here is Audrey's rendition of "There Once Was a Puffin," by Florence Page Jaques. It's a family favorite, and I think my mom taught it to Lili when she was 4, too. Here's the text.

Snuggling Sisters

After a late night at the VDM dinner, I had Lili hold her sleeping sister while I got ready for bed, since Luke was still out, and she fell asleep too...I had to break out the camera, which is how I discovered the photos in the next post.