We've been Francie-Pants-ed

And couldn't be happier about it. Miss Frances, you have taken this family by storm, and we have all fallen for your goofy grin and contagious giggle. We have seen you develop from a bleary eyed infant to the determined toddler you are today. And yes, you are a toddler, although I would love to keep referring to you as my baby, the fact is, you are not. You are walking around the whole house at this point, you have begun to verbally express your wants and needs and, thank goodness, are sometimes feeding yourself. You have reached the point in your life where you are no longer, but will always be, my baby.

This year has also been a year of adventure for you. You have been to Ottawa twice, to Minneapolis, the zoo, many museums. You have touched a baby crocodile and a boa constrictor, and maybe some other strange animals, I know you are often up to no good when my back is turned. Each time we take you some place new, you want to get out there and experience it with your sister and any other big kids that happen to be around. I think that is why you were so determined to first roll over, then crawl, pull yourself up, climb stairs, climb any stationary object really, and finally walk. You accomplished all these tasks with practice and determination, and with very little concern for your own safety. You get so very frustrated when things don't go your way, but this seems to motivate you. You keep failing until you succeed, and you do not rest until things go your way.

One of the things I love most about you is that every day you go for the gusto, nothing is halfway with you, nothing a compromise. I hope a part of this trait stays with you, I pray that you continue to begin each day with that infectious grin, knowing that each day holds a new adventure, a new skill to hone. I pray that each day you go for the gusto, slowing down just enough to let your parents keep up with you.



This is a slideshow of Frances' first year. The song is "I Could be Nothing" by The Great Lake Swimmers.

Bonus Frances Eating Video

Here is a video from one Frances' first times eating cereal, and yes she does try to wear it like a hat!

Frances Eats Her Birthday Cake...

In response to Cara's rhetorical question if anything was cuter than a (implied) picture of a child eating cake, the answer is course: YES! A VIDEO OF A CHILD EATING CAKE!

Behold:

How To Eat Birthday Cake: Starring Frances Yost

Yesterday we celebrated Frances' first birthday, and it was wonderful. After Frances recovered from the shock of waking up to a house full of people she was a delight. Her favourite part was the cake of course. A valentine inspired concoction made by mommy. Here she is, eating chocolate cake like a pro.

 Is that for me??

 Forks are good, but are terribly inconvenient and slow me down.

 Ahhh, that's better!

 Mmmm, sugar. But this plate is restrictive.

My problem solving skills are impeccable today!

Is there anything cuter than a happy cake covered baby? If there is, I haven't seen it.

Frances (continues to) WALK!

Well, here is some video from a few days back.  As anyone who has had kids know at this point, Frances is getting better and better at her walking day to day...

Here is some video of Frances walking (re-watching this makes me realize how weak she was a few days ago), Teresa running around, Frances waving and Rowdy being oppressed.

We also have video of Frances attempting to eat cereal we will post soon.

The Finickiness of Toddles

Teresa used to eat anything, curry, beans, whatever we were eating, she would eat. The past year and a half however, has been a struggle. She likes one thing one week, then not the next. She actually went for months on end without eating anything green. The past couple months though, things have been improving. She has begun (reluctantly) to allow sauce on her pasta, eat foods that consist of multiple textures, requests green beans, and the number of meltdowns have decreased significantly. This is due to consistency, determination and unabashed bribery. Through trial and error we have discovered chocolate cupcakes are most effective, and save these for the greatest of need. A good example of this would be lasagna.

Teresa used to eat lasagna. If she had a choice now, it would never make it to the menu. Ken and I do not know what it is about this food, all we know is that in order for Teresa to consume it, I have to feed her. I am sure her Auntie Pearl dies a little inside hearing this, but do not fret Pearl, we're on it. It will be an uphill battle though, this is how she reacts when 'forced' to eat Satan's favourite meal.

Some more quasi-random slices of life...

So, without much new to say or report since the excitement that is Teresa skating, here are a few of my favorite pictures from the last few weeks.

For Christmas from Wally and Candray Frances got a bubble train.  It makes a choo-chooing sound that has been measured at 147 dB (which we have turned off), and spews bubbles in the air.  Here is Frances enthralled.

Teresa is dancing to the bubbles.  Surprisingly soap bubbles + linoleum floor + dancing has not yet equalled falling + crying.

At a recent birthday party, Teresa got a fake nose.  Here is Frances 12 seconds prior to meltdown.

Teresa has taken to hauling her entire bed out of her room and 'sleeping' randomly throughout the house.  Here she is in a Rubbermaid tub.  She also quite likes sleeping on the kitchen floor.

Skating Classes

Teresa has been doing skating classes for four weeks now and Cara came out this week so we have pictures and video!  As an added bonus she came out to see Teresa's breakout performance.  Her balance, ability to get up and move have increased exponentially, and she is now the fastest in her class.  Her favorite time of class though is when she goes 'fast', and by that I of course mean that I am going fast, pushing her on a cone or dangling her in the air...   I think she gets that from Cara.

Falling on her bum is an important skill.

Look at her getting up all on her own!

And what stellar balance!