The Offspring

I, like any proud Mom, pretty much think my kids are the coolest, funnest little people I know. I feel like both my kids are bubbling over with personality and wanted to remember some of the great contributions they've made recently.

Tori and I recently started a co-op with our best buds next door. It's just twice a week with a weekly "field trip." Our first class was this past week and Tori was extremely intimidated by the idea of going next door without Mom. I decided to stick around at our place so she could check in on me every 10 minutes or so. She ended up checking in only once to tell me, "Mom, I having FUN!" Her self-confidence seemed to blossom in a matter of a few hours. She was very proud of how brave she was, and Deborah and I have both been shocked by how smart both the kids are. Turns out I'm actually going to have to teach them something because they both seem to salivate over knowledge. We are SO excited to be doing it, especially considering pre-school here costs about the same as one year of college out-of-state tuition. Outside of that fun accomplishment, Tori is still my sassy, animated, bundle of randomness. Here's some of my favorite candids as of late:

Very into dressing herself, pictures of herself, posing, you know girly things.

She walks in these shoes better than I do! 

This morning we wrote a letter to Santa, so Santa's helper can start watching for good deals. I didn't prompt her at all, just wrote and drew what she specified. I was shocked to discover recently that Tori can write part of her name, so that signature is totally authentic. The "R" needs work but I was floored!

Tori also surprises me on a daily basis with her witty comebacks. After asking her to be careful with something - "I know Mom, I'm not 2!"

She's very into Spiderman. We go see him once a week at FAO Shwarz, where she refuses to stand by him but will wave and blow kisses from a safe distance. She expressed interest in yoga, so when Mom remembers we do it in the morning and will hopefully get her in a class in January. In a nutshell, Tori is all sorts of awesome! She's truly one of a kind. 

As far as my adorable son goes...HOLY COW, boys have SO much energy, a fact I was intimidated by before I had him and am now feeling vindication. Tori is a lot of work emotionally, everything merits tears, but physically Brighton has been so much more work...into everything, destroying or eating everything, and he never seems to run out of juice. His boundless playfulness brings a smile to my face in moments like the following:

At a picnic with other ladies and babies in the ward, Brighton was the only babe that didn't want to socialize. He was busy chasing pigeons. He ate a couple sticks too...he's like my little puppy!

Half hour later or so....still gonna get that pigeon! 

Recently at a 4 hour wellness check, our doctor went ahead and referred us to a specialist because she felt that Brighton was not responding to her efforts to stand him up on his own. Of course, the fact that we had been sitting there for 3 hours prior didn't have anything to do with it. Who's that boy standing, what, what!

Brighton is nearly walking, crawling and scooting actively, constantly eating, has 7 teeth and is an avid climber. He's boy through and through, but thankfully still likes to snuggle! 

I love my babies so much!!