Teresa & the Puddling of my Heart

I am not sure if it is something all fathers experience, but I know that my girls have been successfully melting my heart since they were born. Teresa though is honing her technique finely and is becoming exceedingly effective at it. Her new thing now is randomly telling me "I love you too" (even if I haven't said it first) and asking for cuddles at bed time. Tonight she stroked my head like I have stroked her head... She is awesome.

Teresa is getting more and more independent too. I don't recall Cara mentioning it, but she now can do up buttons, put on most of her clothing (and sometimes correctly!), and she will get herself up in the middle of the night to go to the washroom... She just keeps getting bigger and amazing me in new ways. She is starting to know her letter sounds and can count ordered objects fairly well (sometimes she forgets to stop).

Here are a few pictures I have recently taken that I don't think Cara has posted that I quite like.

She is a darling... And yes, she is now normally out of focus

Yes Frances is upset, but this is how the two girls seem to play with each other. Teresa really likes helping out now, primarily by telling Frances 'no' to things we have already deemed not allowed, and then carrying her away if need be...

That is my girl who pulled herself up onto my leg. She now uses her easel, car & walker to push around the house and walk.

Outtakes

I think it is worth mentioning that I now have to use the sports function on our camera when I take pictures of Frances. Even so.....

9 Months

Frances, you are 9 months old, and what a 9 months it's been. You are crawling so fast, pulling yourself up on the couch and scooting along.  It also seems as if you used up all your crankiness in the first 3 months of life. Now you are a delight and a joy, always smiling (unless Teresa tries to put a hat on you, or sits on you). You have caused many a heart palpation with your obsession with putting potential death traps in your mouth. You are eating three meals of solids a day, and man can you pack it away. I don't know where you put it all, considering you are a petit 16 pounds. You love the colour red, toys that flash and play music and your favourite part of the day is when Mommy sings to you (poor muffin, to have been born into a family who is tone deaf, but you don't seem to mind.) You go crazy when you see Bob the Tomato (I think it's the red) and dance to Veggie Tales. My days with you are filled with joy and laughter, and with Christmas coming up, I can't wait to see what you will destroy.

Note - Photo shoot outtakes to follow soon! 

Things That Make Me Laugh

Here are some moments I captured over the past few days that made me laugh, and that in turn stopped my decent into madness. Well, okay, it didn't stop it, but it certainly slowed it down a touch.

Teresa at breakfast

So, if I don't tell you Ken took this picture he will pout. Ken took this picture. Those of you that have known me a long time will recognize the look on Teresa's face. My friend Rachel calls it the "Friesen Stare".....God help us all.

Oh Rowdy. He stayed like this for a good 10 minutes.

Please note the two magnetic pens hanging from her shirt. That was a discovery she make all on her own. She called it a bow.

Eeeewwwww, Frances!