Bed time and morning time.

We've had some changes to bedtime lately. Both kids get a big kick out of a pre-bedtime hug and kiss now. Previously, Mary Grace would force William to give her a goodnight hug and a kiss, but now William is a willing participant. It's so cute to watch them wrap their arms around each other and hug!

And for the morning time change, William is usually the first to wake up in the morning, at around 7:15 or 7:30, but he's content to lie in bed and do baby talk for a while. Mary Grace has always called out either "Mommy" or "Daddy", until we came and got her. Well, now she is able to climb out of her crib by herself and come get us! A few days ago, she climbed out and went to say good morning to William while he was in his baby talk mode.

While I believe that some day I'll regret saying this, I really look forward to my little girl waking me up in the morning by tugging on my pajamas or blankets, or climbing into bed with us during an overnight thunderstorm.

William's first sentence and Mary Grace's school tour.

William has been getting up early lately and you would swear that he tries to wake everyone in the house up because he's such a loud talker. I get up with him and we share a little time together over breakfast (if I can drag him away from his trains and cars).

This morning, we were both eating a bowl of cereal and I looked over at him and said "Hi William!" and he responded "Hi Da!".

Mary Grace's potty training is progressing nicely and she has a potty success story nearly every day. It's finally clicking, which is good. Those diapers are expensive!

Tomorrow, Mommy is taking my little girl for a pre-school tour. It's amazing to think that this time next year, going to school will be a normal thing for her.

Finally, the lack of recent photos is a result of one of our computers going down. They're all on the camera and will be uploaded soon, I promise!

January duldrums

Yes, it's the depth of winter in Rochester and although we've had some warm days, it still gets dark pretty early and it's been mostly cold enough outside to keep us mostly indoors.

Tonight, we were all coming back from Target and William was playing with his flashlight. Mary Grace alerted Anne and I that William was shining the flashlight in his eyes (as both kids have been repeatedly told not to do), then suggested that we don't let William play with it anymore by saying "Take It Away". Typing it doesn't do the matter-of-fact way she said it justice. As if it was a single word; TakeItAway!

William's beautiful smile continues to captivate everyone around him. He has the brightest little eyes when he's happy. But conversely, he's also learned to whine and fake cry just like his sister. Heaven help us.

William says Target!

On our way back from a very productive shopping experience, we were quizzing William with "can you say"s and when we asked "Can you say Target?", he did! Plain as day.

Expect more, pay less!

William's occasional words

William is nearly 20 months old and while he understands almost everything we say to him, he is still only saying a few words. So we welcome (and cherish) when we hear a new one from him.

This morning, he was eating a bowl of cereal and mommy asked him "how are you doing there William". To which he responded "Good!". First time we've ever heard him say that! Also when people say "Hi", he enthusiastically responds "Hi!". He'll get there eventually.

The other morning, Daddy left the garbage can out of the cabinets because it was full. When William got up in the morning, he discovered it and decided to take the melted remains of the previous night's ice cream out and paint with it on the floor. When Mommy came in the room she asked "William, who did this?". Looking the deflect the blame, William noticed the cat (Abby) sitting and eating, so he pointed to her and said "Aiiiiieee" (that's William-ese for Abby).