Tori's Toys

Tori has some new toys that she just can't get enough of.  One of them is a little wagon that she likes to push around.  It works best outside when it's not raining, and she'll push it up and down the sidewalk.  The other is a little couch that she just loves, because it's just her size!  She loves to make it into a bed and snuggle in with her stuffed animals.  Christmas is right around the corner, I know, but these ones couldn't wait!

Happy Halloween!

Yummmy.....

Halloween Pj's with Dad

Going through the loot

Our jack-o-lanterns!

What a cute puppy that Marian has!

Tori wanted to sit on the porch and sort through her candy

Tori wasn't so sure about the giant Frankenstein...

On route!

Right before we left for trick-or-treating

She loves her jack-o-lantern!

Mmmmm...pumpkin guts

Tori and her cousin Jett

This year Tori went Trick-or-Treating for the first time.  She was dressed as a puppy and the costume was perfect for the chilly (but not rainy, yay!) night we had.  After the first house she started to unload her treat bag, as that is one her most favorite games.  By the 5th house she had the hang of the grabbing candy out of the dish part.  We only went to maybe 10 houses- she didn't want to walk anymore and she's too heavy to carry for very long anymore.  So back to the house with the loot!  We let her eat some of her treats, and pass out candy to the neighborhood kids.  The tootsie pop was her favorite, although  she was very excited for the small bag of chips she got too; she recognized those as something Daddy eats, and she never gets!  After a bath and some milk, this little puppy was put to bed....and after brushing her teeth too.  It was a fun Halloween.  

First Trip to the Zoo

Tori eats watermelon like a big girl!

The turtles were fun to watch swimming in their tank.

Woah.  Now THAT'S a big fish!!!!

Lilly makes her funny cucumber face!

What a big smile you have, Miss Tori!

The Billy Goats Gruff.

Playing in the sandbox.

Watching the cheetah from the little tunnel window.

The girls discover the awesome water wall.

When we were in Portland a few weeks ago, we decided to go to the Portland Zoo.  It was just as magical as I remembered, and a lot of fun with Tori seeing all these animals for the first time.  Which ones were her favorite?  I think we may need more trips to the zoo to figure that one out.  She enjoyed the animals with lower windows in the exhibit, so she could walk right up and see the animal.  The cheetah was pretty neat, and she really liked watching the otter swim around.  She also enjoyed the sand box a great deal, and she and her new friend Lily loved the water that was on a wall for in one of the exhibits- they both stood there and touched the water for a very long time.  Overall, it was a nice morning, and followed up by a trip to Bridgeport Brew pub for some tasty food and beverage.  What a fun trip! 

Visiting the Pumpkin Patch

Yesterday we visited the Pumpkin Patch out at Seven Oaks Farm.  They had a lot of activities there besides just picking out a pumpkin.  Tori was really amazed at how many pumpkins were everywhere and liked to bang her hands on the outside, to find the perfect pumpkin.  Many of the pumpkins were bigger than her!  She was a little unsure in the pumpkin patch because she kept tripping on all the vines.  But she could see the goats across the way and wanted to go see what they were all about.  We fed them some corn.  The petting zoo also had some small ponies that we petted- maybe Tori will ride one next year.  Then we played in the play area, and bought some fresh produce from the Farm.  It was a fun afternoon, although Tori was rather reluctant to give the camera a smile.  Pumpkin selection is a serious thing:-)

2 cute sunflower girls:-)

Hmmm...which pumpkin should we choose?

Ah, this one sounds ripe!

The perfect pumpkin picture

Tori drives the tractor like a pro!

What a friendly pony!

Daddy and Tori look around for the good ones.

First Fall Walk

These were taken at the end of September, when the weather finally started to change.  I'd been waiting for a not so blazing day to dress Tori in this cute jumper, but alas, it is already too small.  So we wore it for the day and took some pictures.  She looks like she should be off to her first day of school!  Not quite yet- although I suppose that will come soon enough!

Mama-pick me up!  I'm done walking!

Tori announces it's time to go outside!

Video of Tori walking down the driveway and seeing her shadow.

Miracle Baby Reunion 2009

Last week was The Miracle Baby Reunion.  This is a party the NICU nurses and doctors throw every year, and they invite all the children who have "graduated" from the NICU.  It is nice for the parents to see other families they got to know during their stay, and I'm pretty sure the docs and nurses get a kick out of seeing all these healthy kids that they spent so much time with when they were small and sickly.  Without their assistance and expertise, Tori would not be here today, so I was grateful to have another chance to say "Thanks!" and of course show off how far Tori has come.  They all remember her, probably because she was there for so long!  This year, there was face painting and circus games and little prizes for the kids- Tori thought is was great.  And of course lots of cake to eat! We didn't stay the entire time because it was during her naptime and she started getting cranky, but we packed a lot of fun into an hour.  The transition from 2 naps to 1 hasn't been the smoothest, but we are getting the hang of it, I think!