Two Statements, One Minute

I NEVER thought I'd say these two things to my daughter in the same minute at the kitchen table, but alas, I did.

"Rory, don't put your hand in your crack."

"Rory, don't put grapes in your eyes."

Welcome to the world of toddlers.

It's the Great Pumpkin, Rory Liv

Mommy, Daddy, Mimi, Poppy and Rory were joined by the Joneses for a trip to Rombach's Pumpkin Farm this weekend.

YOU WRITE THE CAPTION

For those of you who don't know, the VP debate is tomorrow here on the Washington University campus, basically across the street from my office. You never know who you might see on campus the next couple of days! Post a comment below and lets see who comes up with the best caption. Don't forget to check back and see what other people wrote!

 

Hooray for Homelessness

As of two weeks ago, we are officially no longer homeowners and we are ecstatic!! A couple with a new baby bought our house in Pearland (we understand that she actually went into labor while visiting our house, a clear sign they are supposed to be there). Especially now that Hurricane Ike hit this weekend, we are glad that we no longer had property down there to be worried about.

Hello Everybody in Dubuque!

14 seconds

Uncle Jeff visited us here in St. Louis. Over some strawberry crepes, Rory wanted to pass on a hello to everyone else in Dubuque.

My New Favorite Picture

This is my new favorite picture of Jason and Rory. He was tickling her while getting in the car on her way to her first day at preschool. I LOVE seeing them like this!

Hopscotch

29 seconds

Rory's Tea Party

At Rory's school, when it's time for a celebration of some sort (birthday, whatever), they have a tea party.  To celebrate Rory's last days at Hope's toddler program before heading off to preschool, they had a tea party and we were invited.  Rory and her friends Hannah and Audrey helped set the table, and Rory brought blueberry muffins for everyone.  She even got to wear her fancy party dress.  Check it out!

"I'm Frustrated!"

For the past two nights, when we put Rory to sleep, we've then heard through the monitor, "I'm frustrated. I'm frustrated. I'm frustrated! I'm Frustrated! I'M FRUSTRATED!" Until now, we've never heard her use this word.

Last night when I went in to ask what was wrong, she said, "I'm frustrated, Mommy."

"Why are you frustrated, Rory?"

"I want you to come in here and you aren't coming."

Well, what can you say to that? "I can see that would be frustrating, Rory. Right now, though, it isn't time for Mommy to be in here with you. It's time for you to be going to sleep."

Sometimes she is too smart for her own good. I'm not sure how much longer we will be able to keep up.

Fountains at Tower Grove Park

Mike and Melissa invited us to hang out with them and take Rory to the fountains at Tower Grove Park. Here are a few pictures of the girl in action. A couple are fuzzy. She's fast.

Special Girl

Today, Rory's school was having an outdoor fun day. The kids all brought their scooters or tricycles so they could wash them, they had a huge ball/sprinkler thing outside this morning, there were bubble stations, pools, just about everything. They even had a watermelon-eating contest. They say a 15-month old typically wins, as it's an age where they love watermelon, but we joked when we heard that: "They have no idea who they are up against."

Here is the email I received an hour ago from Rory's teacher, Casey:

"Jill,

Your girl did it, she won the watermelon eating contest. She ate 18 pieces, they were pretty small but she did eat 18 to win it. Take home your trophy tonight if you want it. She had so much fun and did so many things, keeping herself very busy. She decided to use me as her napkin when she was done with the watermelon and thought that it was so funny.

You really have yourself an amazing child. Enjoy every minute... I do!

Sincerely,
Casey"

OB LA DI OB LA DA

Visit from Lynn and girls

My friend Lynn came to visit from Indianapolis with her wonderful girlies, Becca and Anna. It was the first time our kids met each other, and Rory was ready to be friends before they even got out of the car. We went to the zoo (way too hot) and to the Botanical Gardens to feed the koi fish. Rory's favorite part was having friends in the house.

"Hey guys? Want to play downstairs? Hey guys? Want to dance? Hey guys? Want to take a bath with me?"

Bye Ice Cream

Rory finishing off ice cream recently. She doesn't really care what it is, as long as it has sprinkles!

Heading to Preschool!

Yesterday when we dropped off Rory at school the director, David, stopped us and wanted to talk to us about Rory. Apparently he and Rory's teacher, Lupe, had met and think that Rory is going to be ready for preschool early. The plan was to send her in January (right before she turned 3), maybe even November. Now, the plan is SEPTEMBER! She will have just turned 2 1/2 in August, which is their absolute minimum age to start at the preschool. Her school includes an infant/toddler community, which is what she's in now, and a preschool, which is a separate building down the block, run by David's wife, Suzie. I think we've ironed out which class she'll go into and who her teacher will be, and from what we know, we are excited about this class.

The markers for being ready include: being able to recognize primary and secondary colors; being able to express yourself verbally; being able to follow 3-step sets of directions. I forget the rest of it right now. Anyway, Big Girl is going to preschool this fall!!

Botanical Garden

Rory's new favorite place in the world is the Missouri Botanical Gardens. She went for a school field trip when we first got here, and we've taken her twice since. She asks EVERY nice day if we can go. Her favorite thing... riding the "sheep". Here are some pics from the various trips. And she loves to finish the trip with a giant apple on the way home (how happy can one kid look??).

Tea Party

For those who have never actually seen a little girl having a tea party, it is a sight to behold.  Rory starts her tea parties with this little song, which they sing before meals at school.  After she sings this with her friends, that's the last time she sits down the whole time.  After that she is constantly running back and forth between the table and her "kitchen" getting people another utensil, cup, or more lasagna or soup, which are her favorite things to serve at tea parties.

A Long Hiatus

Wow, we've taken a long hiatus. On the day of the last post, I got a job offer from Washington University in St. Louis. After that, the days got crazy as we planned a move, met with a real estate agent, I changed jobs, we found a new school for Rory, and we moved. We've now been here a month. So, now we'll start catching up on what we're doing.

First Haircut

After over two years, Rory was finally due for her first haircut. The whole family gathered up for a trip to a crazy-colored kids haircut place. She LOVED it and of course the trip was followed by ice cream!!

Moving to STL

Here are photos from our move. If you click on the photo, it will show you a slideshow. You'll have to be sure to go to the beginning. Captions are included!

Last days in the Big Tub

One thing Rory will miss from our house in Houston is the "Big Tub". We say, "Rory, it's Friday. What does that mean?" and she screams, "Bath in the BIG TUB!!" Our master bath has a giant garden tub and Rory believes she gets to swim in it on Friday nights.

Go Texans!

It's Go Texans Day, so here is Rory all decked out for school.

Cool Wheels

OK, here are her new cool wheels. Thanks, Mimi and Poppy, for the new bike. Thanks, Daddy, for putting it together. And Mommy is patting herself on the back for picking this bad boy out!!

And thanks to Ella for the new "suitcase", as RoRo calls it!

Warning: Do Not Try This at Home

My Birthday Cupcake

Birthday trip to the zoo

Jason and I both took the day off work to spend with Rory on her birthday. We went to the Houston Zoo, where Rory fell in love with a baboon! She wanted to spend the whole day with her new friend. After the zoo, she and Daddy took a long trip to the park by our house to play. In the afternoon we made cupcakes to take to school, then after dinner we went to Sesame Street Live, which opened on her birthday. Though she doesn't know that we left at bedtime (she was getting tired), I think she was about to cry she was so excited to see Big Bird and Elmo walk out on that stage!

Rory's Birthday

 
 

Rory is TWO! The first picture is her favorite dress, with her favorite hair, in her favorite chair, watching her favorite show, "Signing Time"!

Spanish Dancing

The woman who cleans our house leaves every radio tuned to the Spanish stations, and Rory has decided it is her favorite dancing music. Turn up the volume on your computer a bit so you can enjoy the party along with Rory!

"I'm wearing UNDERWEAR!"

Last week, Rory officially began her journey to becoming a big girl. She declared that she was ready to wear underwear to school, so the plan rolled into action. Daddy talked with Miss Mary to find out what she had to wear/pack, etc. Mommy went to the store to buy loads of new undies. Daddy bought extra easy-up, easy-down pants for her.

The next day, Rory walked into her classroom with Mommy. All three teachers stopped and looked at her. Mommy nudged her to share her big news, so she yelled, "I'm wearing UNDERWEAR!!"

She's done a great job thus far, with accidents becoming fewer and far between. The biggest accomplishment has been getting her to stop wiping her face with the tissue when she's done.

Christmas in Dubuque 2007

Below are pictures from our trip to Dubuque. It's a slideshow, so click on the picture in the middle and you can view them all as a slideshow and see the captions.