Holla from the T dot

We hadn't been to Toronto in ages, so it's especially nice to be here.
Violet's main agenda since we've arrived is to not let Nana! out of her sight and to watch as much tv as possible.
As soon as we arrived, she was running ornaments to Nana! to help trim the tree.
I started to get that Christmas feeling about then.
























I've been so distracted with the adjustment to working and planning our trip that I haven't really thought about the holiday. We are also trying out a 'gift free' holiday, so no malls or shopping. As a side note, the gift free concept only works if you remember to tell everybody, otherwise there are awkward moments where you are explaining this great no-gift concept with a present in your hands.

Right now, Violet is carrying her new pink shoes around and saying "shoes! no no no no no". Yesterday we went to the shoe store, where UV started a meltdown when she tried some shoes on that lasted the whole walk home in my arms. It was weird.
I think it stems back from when I took her to buy shoes a day after her immunizations, and the clerk holding her foot still to measure her sasquatch sized feet was too much like being held down for a needle. So, the result is that she loves her beautiful shoes, and carries them around, but will not wear them.

This week has been a big one in terms of new tricks. Some highlights:
-Counting to ten. She has a little trouble with 3 and 4, but otherwise it's perfect.
-Finding a bobo on my hand and kissing it better
-Singing the theme song to "Elmo's World" perfectly
-Saying "thank you, mama" as I changed her diaper
-Picking up a piece of pita in one hand, a spreading knife in the other and daintily smearing dip on the pita. She put the spreader back, took a bite, and said "hummus!". It was hummus.













She also spent some time with her Great-Babcia


















It's been just me and UV so far, as Jesse has to work until the end of day Friday. I'm glad for the time it's just Mama and UV, but we are both looking forward to seeing Daddy this evening. I've been missing this handsome man and his sassy hair.