Valentine's Day

I have to get in writing a few things on my mind. Whitney's birthday party was wonderful. It was a bit different from Nathan's enormous 1st bday party as it was summer and many were on the guest list since we didn't have to fit them all inside. Hopefully, the two of them never compare gift lists from their 1st birthdays.:)
Whitney turned one and is suddenly talking up a storm. She will give an honest effort to repeat just about anything. Her newest words: "happy, up, meow, papa (for Grandpa), more and please -among many others I can't think of right now in my tired state-. She is also signing more and more: splash, book, eat, all done, more, please, & thank you. We actually start a sign language class with her tomorrow and I'm sure she'll take it and run.
She is close to walking, took 3 steps today, it won't be long. She had her first birthday pictures taken yesterday. As usual, that experience is never how I have pictured it in my mind to be. She was being quite the pill, but we did get some pretty cute ones. She would have to try much harder than that to not be cute. Funny story: I called Hoo Motors to ask my mom a question but my dad said she wasn't there and that I should just ask him the question. So, I said "should Whitney have one pony or two for her pictures?" With all honesty, he had an answer, "I think it's best with one like you had it the other day". That just cracked me up. I actually went with two though per Matt and Tammi's advice. Sorry dad, but thank you for your vote.
Nathan cracks me up all the time. He said he almost threw up after seeing Whitney's dirty diaper. He might be a littly gaggy like daddy. He had his first school Valentine party today and thought that was pretty neat. He is loving the 'Magic Tree House' series of books by Mary Pope Osborne. I bought 1-4 but we've finished them so we got #5 at the library today. It's the first 'series' of chapter books we've ever read to him. Pictures are only every few pages but I love watching him anticipate what's ahead. What a great series, introducing him to so many wonderful places and times. He has been pretending to be the character Jack walking around with his backpack everywhere and taking 'notes' with his paper and pencil. He is growing up so fast.
Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. We will try to go out to an early dinner all together but not much else planned. (Matt and I got our alone time at the 1st Pres marriage retreat last weekend). I decorated everyone's doors tonight so they have a surprise when they wake up. It was fun, this might have to be the beginning of a tradition.