It's definitely been too long since my last post. It might have something to do with the fact that I've started working at both places of employment now, so there is definitely less free time. Both jobs are going well, and I must admit that it's nice to see the pay cheques start appearing again :>

Keira continues to be an adorable little girl :> We celebrated her first birthday on August 17th, and gave her her own chocolate cake to destroy. We were hoping that we could get identical pictures to Josh's first birthday cake (covered from head to toe in chocolate icing), but Keira decided that she was much too lady like for such shenanigans, and decided to eat her cake with a fork!! It's quite amazing that the same girl who loves to eat handfuls of sand/dirt/stones/bark, wouldn't indulge her parents for one quick photo....Oh well, we definitely got some cute shots anyway :> Keira now has 14 teeth (and I think that her final two canine teeth will appear within the next couple of weeks). Hopefully we'll now have a few months before her 2 year molars emerge. I'd have to double check, but I'm pretty sure that she's still a few weeks ahead of Josh in the teething race....and we thought that Josh was quick! Keira is now up to 20+words that she uses on a daily basis. Amongst her favourites is "mine". Ahh the joys of having a two year old brother! Keira also has dealt with her first illness more serious than the "sniffles". Late in August we dealt with Roseola (attached are a few pictures). Poor little monkey looked terrible, but she handled it like a trouper! And finally.....we have a walker! Keira took her first steps today (okay, she took one for dad yesterday - but she did five in a row this morning!!) Hopefully we'll get it on video soon.

Josh has also been a little trouper this month. We're just getting over a pretty severe case of the croup. For awhile there the pediatrician was trying to decide whether to hospitalize him or not. He's definitely on the mend now, although his cough is still pretty scary when he gets himself all worked up (or lays down at bedtime or naptime - poor little guy :<) Josh's new favourite sport is badminton. For a few days he wouldn't go anywhere without the racket and a birdie. He seems to have forgotten about it the last few days though, so we'll see what his new favourite thing to do - once he's back to his old self. He's still quite the devious little character. He definitely knows the difference between what's acceptable and what's not, because he continutes to keep an eye out for you when he knows he's doing something that he's not supposed to. His newest one (this week), is kicking Keira when he thinks that no one is watching :< I think that this might have something to do with the fact that Keira is receiving a lot of extra attention in the last little while due in part to the fact that she's been on the verge of taking a step for a little while. Josh has also been busy the last few weeks! At the end of August he went to the Ex with Nana and Papa Paddy. He also got to go to the "Blue and White" game (Leafs practice) with Papa Krotowski. He also has been a busy little beaver at Grandma and Papa Graham's house - helping his dad and uncles chop down the 25+ year old evergreens in the front yard!

Hope that you enjoy the photos (click on the slide show below to see a larger version of the pictures) and movie.....For all the grandparents (and who ever else) out there, if you want and actual copy of any of the photos in the slideshow, just email which ones and I'll send them out to you.

See you all soon,
(JK)2

Keira talking today