A Solution

1) The game board shown is from Nine Men's Morris.
2) 1001 is how one writes 9 in binary.
3) The nine choirs of angels.
4) The nine planets.
5) Players whose jersey number of 9 has been retired by their teams, except for Dee Gordon, for whom we have great hopes.
6) The nine muses.
7) A cat-o'-nine-tails.
8) Beeker singing Ode to Joy from Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.
9) A cat has nine lives.

My sister, Catherine, said, "It has something to do with 9, but I can't tell what."  Well, . . .

1) Nine Men

2) The nine men come from two.

3) They seem angelic at first, but see number 7 below.

4) They seem to be in constant motion.

5) [I like baseball.]

6) They can be inspiring.

7) They can be a scourge.

8) They can bring joy.

9) Yes, this is about nine lives.

My brother, Chrysostom, said, "It has something to do with 9; you must be expecting again."

Due date: February 29, 2012.

The brief dialogue of the old Muppet geezers pretty much summarizes how Theresa and I react after the birth of each child.