The Big "One"

Happy Birthday to Me!!!

I'm not to sure what all the fuss was about, but whatever. Everyone is so excited and smiling. They keep telling me Happy Birthday.

Mommy made a bunch of cupcakes since we were expecting close to 30 people...

Look how different I look.

This is my friend Terran. Her Grandma Nancy calls us T N T.
I'm not sure who did it, but it wasn't pleasant smelling. That's for sure...
Look at all these balls I have to play with!


Everyone said they had a good time.
I was more interested in my old toys. Mommy had to open up my presents for me. I wasn't even interested in the wrapping or tissue paper.

My neighbor friend Gracie was giving Steve a "thumbs-down" with his fashion sense. But I think Gracie decorated him...

Where's Tori? If you look closely, you might see me!

GO Bears!!! Aren't I the cutest little girl Urlacher you've ever seen? Too bad I fell asleep before the first quarter of the Bears/Colts game was over.

Daddy/ Daughter bonding. GRRRR.

Eleven Months and Counting

Many firsts this month. This picture is of me deciding to crawl up the stairs for the first time about a week and a half ago. This is fun!!! Now mommy keeps putting this gate up in front of the stairs.



I love to eat. Mommy is giving me new foods to try. At the top of the list are pierogis. Num, num!

T O R I Hey, that spells my name!

Some picks of me at the park.

Oh I dropped my lamb. I guess I better go get him.

I sleep on my knees at times.

Now that was a good nap. STRETCH.

I don't know what this is, but I like it. I like to shake my head no when my parents or sitter tell me no. But it doesn't really help. I still do what I'm not supposed to be doing. I've also been carrying this lamb around that MaryLou gave me for Easter and my Baptism. It says God Bless on its tummy. My mommy thinks its appropriate for me to carry it around so that I have a blessing wherever I go. As I become more mobile, she says I need all the blessings I can get!

I like the heighth of this window. My tippy toes get used a lot these days.

This next pic is of my boy herom at my sitter Shannon's house. Up to recently, I've been the only girl. You are usually able to spot me pretty easily in my pink but today I'm wearing blues. Mommy and Shannon said it was so cute a few months back when the boys would give me toys to play with before I could crawl. They made sure I was entertained.

This is my sitter Shannon and I. She takes really good care of me. She has been watching me since March and mommy is thankful for her.

I have a tooth! It's about time and boy is it sharp. Mommy is also thrilled that I am learning how to squirm out of her and daddy's arms when I want down. They are primitive movements but I am learning how to pull my arms straight up and attempt to twist out of their arms as I start to wimper. I'll keep practicing. :)

I have a first birthday coming up. Hope to see you all there!!!

4th of July Weekend

We went up to Angola, IN to spend the 4th of July Weekend at Grandma Sharon and Grandpa Bill's house. I was pretty good in the car for mommy on the three hour drive. Maybe next year I will stay up past 8:00pm and be able to see some fireworks. I kind of like this wagon. My puppy can go with me. Keep moving, Grandma!

If you couldn't tell, I like this toy.

Daddy and me on my first boat ride.

Grandpa, don't go to fast. Here, let me drive.

I sure wish I had some teeth but I'm going to go for it anyway. Maybe no one will notice...

What?

I just need a little nap...

It's kind of hard to splash in grandma's sink instead of the tub, but I'll do my best...

Uncle Craig helped dry me off and dress me.

I was happy once we got home and I was able to get out of my car seat. I smiled at my toys and dolls.


This is my neighbor Gracie that likes to come over play and take care of me. Someday I'll be a big girl too.

I like to pick at the cotton padding of my carseat when I get bored. I pull it away from the seat down by my legs. Papa put tape on it but that can't stop me. I'm strong! But cute...

Mommy doesn't like it when she's driving and I put some of the cotton in my mouth and she has to pull over. She said I sound like a cat coughing up a hair ball. I wonder what a hair ball is.

Look at these! I'm wearing sandals. Let's see how long it takes me to figure out how to take them off.

10 Months Old

I went to see Dr. I for my nine month check-up on the day that I turned 10 months. I weight 18 pounds one ounce (20%), my length is 28 in. (40%), and my head circumference is 17 1/4 in. (40%). Dr. I has never used preemie growth charts with me. He must have known how quickly I would catch up. Mommy always says to me, "Who was six weeks early?" I loved playing with the paper on the table and the other fun toys that Dr. I used to look in my ears and etc. But, I got my first poke. They drew my blood to make sure I'm not anemic or have lead poisoning. No shots this time around. Here is a pic of my bandaged arm from the poke.

They gave me red guaze to match my outfit. Daddy dressed me in my Kasey Kahne outfit today. Vroom, vroom!

Daddy asked the doctor if I could have a little bit of ice cream and he said Yes! Yeah! But, I would have been liked to have been warned that it is cold...

What's that mama doing now? She says she is vaccuming. I think she is making a lot of noise.

I'm surprised mommy and daddy bought me another bath tub for outside. But whatever... I'm happy to splash inside or outside!

June 23rd I took my first functional crawling movements. My butt and hips all worked together. Sometimes forward, sometimes backward but regardless, mommy says the end is here! I got a treat. Mommy let me have some of a doughnut. It was sooooo good. Of course I made a BIG mess. This is Grandma Sharon and Grandpa Bill's Anniversary.

Mommy's Week Off With Me

My mommy's vacation started off with the air going out on a hot, humid June night. We ended up going to Grandma and Papa Wusik's house earlier than expected. I was cranky and crabby and would not let my mom get anything done at home. I didn't even let her pack without crying. So she asked our neighbor, Karen, to watch me while she packed.

We first had a wedding celebration to attend. My mom's cousin Katie was married. We had a great time. Katie looked beautiful. Best of luck to Katie and Will. I was a little cranky and was happy when it was nap time. Thanks Uncle Marty!

Grandma and Great-Grandma put together my outfit with beautiful tatting pieces. (Daddy isn't too fond of this picture so just focus on me like I knew you were going to do anyway :)

I met three of my cousins for the first time and my Aunt Stephanie. I'm the only girl on BOTH sides!!! I'm not spoiled...

Monday

I rode on a swing at the park for the first time. That is fun!!! Cameron helped push me.

Tuesday

I visited Aunty Sarah. Mom and her decided that I needed my own blog.

I also like the air jump toy that Aunt Stephanie bought us to play on at Grandma's house.

Wednesday

I visited with my great-grandparents Redecker at a picnic dinner.

Thursday

I went to two parks, and a garage sale. I visited with Danette, a friend of the family, and met some other friends from when my mom and aunt were in high school. I spent the rest of the day playing with my cousins. Brandon is playing with me and my dollhouse.

Friday

Grandma and Papa took us to the Brookfield Zoo. Lions, Tigers, and Bears. Oh my!!!

I liked feeding mommy my crackers.

I was so tired that I needed a twenty minute nap before the dolphin show...

Saturday

We rested and I got to see my daddy!!!

Sunday

I gave my daddy a Father's Day card. If you don't know by now, I'm a daddy's girl. I've got him right where I want him. Here's a blast from the past.

We also celebrated my cousin Aaron's Baptism today. His godparents are my mommy and daddy.

Some of my most recent milestones are:
-clapping my hands together
-sitting-up on my own from a crawling position
-lunging/crawling towards an object I want
-wanting my mommy if someone else is holding me and I'm tired

I had a great week off with my mommy visiting family in Crown Point. Mommy says she will miss me when she goes back to work tomorrow morning. I will miss her too!