Really, July? I haven't posted since July? I guess it would help if I knew how to post pictures and video of Will. I've got plenty of those to keep everyone entertained. Or I could post the cutest ultrasound picture of a little tiny foot. The head shots tend to look a little alien, but the little tiny foot looks just like a little tiny foot that will be kissed and tickled very soon in May.

How about I start off the new year with some resolutions?

I'm trying to get in bed by 11. If I do and Will sleeps until 7, that's eight hours folks!!! I can live with eight hours.

How about I blog more? Writing is a good mental exercise and maybe someone out there will find it halfway interesting.

And if I'm going to be writing, I do, really do, want to work on the book. Geez, it seems like we're going to be the last ones with a book or movie or CD if we don't start catching up with our much more talented friends.

By May, I'm going to have Will's baby book and photo albums all caught up. I need at least one baby book done before I start another.

Last, I'm going to bring into the world another wonderful little human being. That will throw all the other resolutions out the window and take up the rest of the year. Almost a "get out a resolutions" free card.

Feel free to tell me your resolutions. I won't nag you if you don't nag me.

Everyone else is doing it. Oh, the pressure to blog ...

But do you really want to read about the highs and lows of potty training? Because that's all I got for you. It's actually going very well. Definitely not an overnight thing but I do think we'll meet the goal of being trained by the time school starts.

Though, I don't suggest lollipops as a potty bribe. Two-year-olds can make one lollipop last for hours. This afternoon, he actually potty-ed, got his lollipop and then about thirty minutes later went back to the potty. Afterwards he said, "I need lollipop." Then looked at me, looked at his hand, looked back at me with a look of awe and said, "I've already got a lollipop!"

Another Will moment: The other day he spied my toes (naked in my favorite flops) and started "This Little Piggy" but instead of going to the market, my toes had a different to-do list. "This little piggy went to Wal-Mart. This little piggy went to grocery store."

The great thing about being around a 2-year-old is that you can't make this stuff up. It's just too good.

I am a writer damn it. But all I do is type and delete posts. I'll just attempt to keep it simple by describing today.

Today the computer gave us a scare and didn't want to cooperate for half the day. Man, that was tough. I think at this point in life I could easily go without TV but the Internet and e-mail would be sorely missed. Correction, I could go without TV but not go without TV for Will. Sure he doesn't need to watch too much but sometimes Thomas and Dora and Elmo are my friends walking down the road to sanity.

Had the computer fried, I would miss the second page of my novel. One page is not a novel but two pages, you've got something that's not nothing. Maybe I'll write another page by the end of the year ... when the whole house will be painted. I'm obsessing internally with painting. I want to paint so bad but when, when do I have the time?!!!! I'm going to make time because the back hall, kitchen, hallway and guest room will be painted by the end of the year plus another coat on the baseboards in nursery and bathroom plus all the doors. And the cabinets in the kitchen. I'm just going to go crazy with the paint brush.

Let's end with what Vivi really wants to read, cute kid stuff. Today Will impressed me by counting 2-3-4-5 and the newest number 6. And while I was singing the alphabet song I sort of forgot where I was (don't judge me, you try signing after a long day chasing a 2-year-old) and Will filled in the next letter, X. Could be coincidence or we have the smartest child ever. Yep, I'm calling MIT.

Thanks for reading Vivi. I hope you had a good day. Did H&M open yet? I'm saving my pennies.

Gold star to Vivi!

Enzo has decided that since it's been two years (!!!) since he last posted that he's going to let me write. Of course, he expects me to write about him ... which I will do every now and then. I just put this Web address up on my Facebook page so it will be curious to see who notices. I may forget to post regularly so everyone is free to nag me about it.

So it's almost time for something big to happen. What, I don't know. But Human #1 and #2, who call themselves Chris and Christina, are busy all around the house getting ready for it. All this wierd furniture keeps showing up too. What they call a crib looks too small to be comfortable, except maybe to the cats. I wonder if it's something to keep Fat Cat and Not-So-Mean-Anymore Cat contained? They need it some days! The humans are throwing phrases around like "Braxton-Hicks" and "little lamb." I know my dog food is made with lamb and comes from the store but we've got plenty in the house. I hope this mystery solves itself very soon. Until then, I'm going to go help the humans contain the cats.

Happy Valentine's Day to all my lovely ladies!

Annette, you've always had such unconditional love for me. You know I feel the same.

Vivi, I miss you. The way you let me sneak you a kiss when you visit, my tail wags just thinking about it.

Brooks, I wish you would visit me more often. You play one of the best tug-of-war games around. My toys are your toys.

But while I love you all, my heart really belongs to only one gal. She justs has to walk into the room, and my whole world lights up. And though I have to share her with Human #1, she knows who loves her best.

Happy Year of the Dog everyone!

From the Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco Web site:

"People born in the Year of the Dog (1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006) possess the best traits of human nature. They have a deep sense of loyalty, are honest, and inspire other people's confidence because they know how to keep secrets. But Dog People are somewhat selfish, terribly stubborn, and eccentric. They care little for wealth, yet somehow always seem to have money. Dog people make good leaders. They are compatible with those born in the Years of the Horse, Tiger, and Rabbit."

Even though I'm a D-O-G, I was born in the year of the Rat. Human #1 is a Boar and Human #2 is a Snake. I'd ask Fat Cat and Mean Cat but they would just say they're Tigers. The baby, hence to be called Human #3, will get to be Dog. Despite me being a Rat, I'm sure we'll be compatible.

So what your sign? Find out at
http://www.c-c-c.org/chineseculture/zodiac/zodiac.html