Very Sweet

These were taken a couple weeks ago, just minutes before calling her grandma.
Just minutes after getting on the phone, she broke into spontaneous hysterics...welcome to the world of two-year olds, eh?

All American Cutie

As I was getting ready to put this one up, Jen's words were, "They are going to think we feed this child nothing but sugar." Eh... Think what you want. She's a cutie!

And this second photo also shows she can still say "cheese" with ice cream.

Up on the counter again

Boy, do we spoil her or what? This was taken a week or so ago. She was being especially clingy and, surprise - wanting mommy and not daddy. And specifically, she had to have her spot on the counter watching mommy make eggs for breakfast. But isn't she cute?

Hunchback Darling

Thought you would enjoy this - appropriate for the time of year. Jen was talking to her sister Diane the other night while Veronica harassed her daddy with new clothes Diane sent. She brought each article of clothing to daddy to tie around her shoulders like a multilayered cape. Ain't she cute?

I forget what she was in the middle of saying...could have been "cheeze!" or "scarey!" (A lot of things have suddenly become scarey, like camera flashes, scuba divers, screwdrivers, etc.) All you longtime parents out there will be happy to know she has also just started the "I don't like it" stage...regardless of whether she's tasted it yet or not. As long as she stays cute... ug.

We are getting excited about spending Halloween with her. Jen's embarked upon ambitious plans ... she actually found material to make a costume. If you are in the family and know of her costuming experience (something about a Tigger suit), you know this will be fun. It will be even more fun because she's not subjecting her little baby to the costume, she's subjecting her big baby to it. Daddy will be some kind of Frankenstein Sully from Monsters, Inc. ;) We have all the faith in the world that the father-daughter team will be beyond adorable.

Piggies

Mommy took Veronica in the outdoor waterfall steps...she kept crying for "my piggies, my piggies!" Until mommy relented and took her for a stroll down the steps. We are not sure, but we think it was a pretty neat representation of the Trail of Tears - we were a little too distracted to make sure Veronica didn't run off in the water or slip down the steps. Of course, the birthday boy was a bit too busy carting the stroller down the dry steps alongside the water steps and trying to set up for a shot at a decent picture. This one didn't turn out so bad...

It was a beautiful day in the really pretty, charming little city of Chattanooga. (We debated its city status, but with Nathan growing up in Vermont and his experience with Burlington as the state's largest city, it wasn't much of an argument to make Chattanooga a city.) Looks like a great place to visit at greater leisure with family.

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Let's see - Nathan almost forgot his own birthday this weekend. He turned 35...not much different than rolling over in bed, maybe just a bit more tired than on days past. We attempted dinner out at Nuevo Laredo - great food but boy was Veronica a pistol. We boxed up the dinner after a couple bites. :)

The real treat was on Sunday when we day tripped to Chattanooga for the acquarium. What a fun time. Here's Veronica in one of the aquariums - this one with some massive King Crabs. Is it wrong to get hungry for seafood at the aquarium?