Thomas the Train Watching

Daniel loves Thomas the Tank Engine and knows all of the engines by name. We watch a few episodes a week and he'll sit for about five minutes before becoming distracted by something else. However, no matter what else he is doing, when he hears the music they play between shows he'll stop, run to where he can see the TV, and shouts out the names of the characters being highlighted. So sweet!

Potty Training?

Sometime towards the middle of December, Daniel started telling me he wanted to sit on the potty. My parents had picked one up at a garage sale so I had to wait until after the New Year to allow this. However, as soon as we had some time together after the new year, he started to sit on the toilet to poop!!! (He was less than 20 months old at the time.) Unfortunately, he got really sick and couldn't do much other than cry "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy" for a week so thus ended that glorious time of pooping on the toilet. Hopefully when we have more time together we can work on it for real.

Bounce U

Mother's Recharged, a woman's group at church, has a play date once a month. This week they went to Bounce U for some bouncing, climbing fun. I thought Daniel might have a good time playing with friends but I didn't expect him to have as much fun as he did.
Unfortunately it is very difficult to take pictures while also carrying him around and sliding with him so I didn't get much on film. However. imagine a very little rag-doll of a boy skipping, jumping, and clapping while running from game to game. Every time we went down the big slide, he had a smile on his face so big that it made me want to cry. And when we got to the bottom, he would laugh and say "Do it again". We had a wonderful time!

First Day of Snow Play

We have been having a nasty winter this year. Most snows have ended with a layer of ice so we can't get out of the house much but one day we had a nice snow with temperatures that allowed us to get out for a little bit and try out the sled, new snow suit and boots. Daniel isn't a fan of touching the snow because it is cold and sticks to him but he likes to walk in it and tells us that he is "stomping in the snow". I don't know if he really had fun this first time out because it was a new experience for him but we had fun watching his beautiful face take it all in.

New Year's Marquiss Tradition

Every year the Marquiss family gathers at Grammy and Pappy's to celebrate the New Year and Pappy's birthday. The Virgina Marquisses have been unable to make it since the loss of Joe, husband and father, two years ago so we have been fewer in number but enjoy the time together very much. It is such a blessing to the family to still have both grand parents alive and well. G & P have even been able to enjoy five great grand children so far!

Swinging with Great Pappy Marquiss

Gardening with Pappy



Daniel had fun playing with his second cousin Jesse! I've never seen him wrestle like this but they had so much fun.

Second Christmas

Second Christmas took place over New Year's weekend at Kat's parent's house. Daniel took to delivering gifts as much as opening them. He also didn't disappoint -- as all babies do, he had more fun with the box!