Being a Kid

Boy, was this last week ever exciting! It started with Auntie Mo coming to stay the weekend with us! I had SO much fun playing with her! She even helped me build a gingerbread house! Christmas Eve, we went to Grandma and Grandpa's house, where we had an excellent pot luck dinner. We also opened presents, played, and listened to Aunt Mo read The Night Before Christmas. Christmas Day, was spent at our house. We opened presents and played ALL day long! Mommy cooked an awesome salmon dinner, that we shared with Aunt Lele, who ended up not being able to make it, because she was sick (I hope you're feeling better, Aunt Lele!) The day after Christmas, I attended a playgroup with Mommy. My friends and I shared all of our new toys, so it was fun. I helped P. Daddy pick Nana and Papa up from the airport on Friday. I was SOOOO happy to see them! Miss Pat even sent them home with some stuffed animals for Ansley and me! (Thanks, Miss Pat!!) Saturday Mommy, P. Daddy, and Nana were going to take me ice skating at the mall, but it was WAY too crowded! We drive around for 30 minutes, just trying to find a parking spot. When we did not succeed, we compromised with a trip to Chuck E. Cheese! That's me (in the picture), riding a helicopter ride at Chuck E. Cheese. I am a very brave girl, and am not afraid of anything (well, expect for going to a dance class by myself!) After Chuck E.'s we went to the new Cheesecake Factory. Did I mention that I LOVE cheesecake? Sunday Grandma, Grandpa, and Aunt Mo came over, and we played around and watched football. I was SO glad I got to spend somre more time with Auntie Mo before she leaves for the lakehouse and Padre!

Merry Christmas!

This is me, opening presents on Christmas morning! I had SO much fun! Thank you, everyone, for all of the wonderful gifts I received! I am very thankful that I have such wonderful family and friends!

Story Time

Listening to The Night Before Christmas with Auntie Mo!

Family Time

This is our family photo at Grandma and Grandpa's house Christmas Eve.

Piper

I am getting pretty good at piping icing, seeing as this is my 2nd gingerbread house this year! Thanks for helping, Mommy, P. Daddy, and Auntie Mo!

Holiday Festivities

Well, Christmas preparations are in full effect around our house! I have been SOOOO busy helping Mommy shop and wrap presents! Last week we went to the library (where I checked out some books and played on the computer), made some more ornaments in art class, attended a playgroup, helped Mommy bake some sugar cookies, visited P. Daddy's office, saw Grandma and Grandpa's new condo, visited with Auntie MoMo, saw the festival of lights, completed some projects, went for a few walks, saw Nana and Papa off to the airport, and drove through the neighborhood looking at more Christmas lights. I also got a new pair of shoes (thank you, Papa!) They have Dora on them, and light up. I wear them beginning every morning as soon as I wake up! I really enjoyed seeing Grandma and Grandpa's new condo. The view is breathtaking! And, you should see it in the dark! The airplanes look like they're flying right over the house! Truly amazing! Auntie MoMo is in town for a few weeks! I am very happy to see her too, because she plays with me, sings and dances with me, and I like it when she reads to me too. She is spending the next few nights at our house, and I'm letting her sleep in my bed! Tonight, she is taking our family out for dinner. Oh, I also want to let everyone know that my little sister is starting her OWN blog, so please, everyone, check it out. She'll be posting different pictures, and different goings on- pertaining to HER interests! You can read about her at www.littleshmunchkin.blogspot.com You may think that is a weird nickname....but I gave it to her!! Mommy was always calling her "little munchkin", and I thought she was saying "little schmunchin" and so it stuck!

Festival of Lights

Here I am hanging out on P. Daddy's shoulders during the festival of lights! It was SOOO much fun! I got to see over 3 million lights, ride a carousel, eat funnel cake, play with my friend Josh, and ride on a spinning around ride! Wooooo hoooooo!!

That's Talent

Those of you who know me well, know that I LOVE working on projects! A few weeks ago, while on a hike in the woods with Nana and Mommy, I found this big rock. I wanted to keep it, so Mommy suggested I take it home and paint it. Here I am, turning a plain ordinary rock, into a unique piece or art! I think I'll put it in my bedroom once it dries!

Baking

Here I am helping Mommy bake some sugar cookies for the nice people at P. Daddy's office. In all, we rolled out, cut, baked, and decorated over 60 cookies!! We made a HUGE mess, and had GREAT fun! Mommy put on some Christmas music to set the mood, and she even let me taste some of the dough! Yummy!

Park

Last week, we made it to the park before the weather turned cold! I had a lot of fun playing with my friends (both imaginary and real)! I also rode a see saw for he first time! We went to the library, made a mask in art class, went out to lunch with some friends, ate cheesecake at the new Cheesecake Factory, attended a LLL meeting, hung out with Nana, Papa, and Leelee, gave the dog a naked bath, and watched football!

Updates

It's been a while since I have updated....so here's the scoop. Ansley is about a month old now. She is smiling quite a bit, but still not deliberately. We are all anxiously awaiting that first "real" smile! She is growing like a weed! Already, she weighs 8 pounds 13 1/2 ounces and is 20 3/4 inches long! She is able to hold her head up for short periods of time, while on her tummy. She is starting to weight bear. She really enjoys being held, eating, sleeping, car rides, bathing, being read to, and being sung to.

I am 28 months now, and getting bigger too! I probably weigh about 25 pounds. I am learning SO many new things! Spanish in particular. I know all of my colors, and numbers up to 10 (in Spanish). In addition, I am learning lots of action words, like swim, climb, run, etc. I probably know about 50 Spanish words total, and I can now put short sentences together. Mommy is also reteaching me sign language, because I want to be able to teach Ansley when she is ready. I am learning simple Math (basic addition and subtraction). I am also learning phonics. Mommy is hoping to be able to start teaching me how to read soon. I am also learning how to tell time (I still get some of my numbers mixed up with letters- like 9 and p- though, so this is somewhat challenging for me). I recently got a new bike (with training wheels) and am learning how to pedal it all by myself. I still really enjoy playing games like hide n seek, chase (tag), Candyland, Chutes and Ladders, etc. I have become quite the story teller. I enjoy using my imagination to make up stories, and sometimes I even act them out. I enjoy pretend play as well. I like to pretend that I am the cat (Frisco) or that Mommy is the baby and I am her mommy. I also have developed really good dexterity, and can manouver the computer mouse to play games all by myself!!! Oh, and I know my right from my left. Of course, I also enjoy spending time with my baby sister, however I look forward to the day when she grows and becomes a little more "interesting"!

Let the Festivities Begin!

The highlight of my week was going to a holiday festival this weekend with Mommy and P. Daddy. We also met some friends there, which was nice. Santa was there, taking pictures with the kids, and sharing breakfast. There were also crafts, and entertainment (kids dancing and singing Christmas carols). The BEST part, was actually seeing a real live reindeer!! I thought it was Rudolph at first, but when we got closer, I realized that he did not have a red nose! It must have been Donner or Blitzen or one of the others. Anyhow, I learned that they like to eat raisins! I was going to be really brave and feed the reindeer from my hand, until it got really close; then I threw the raisins at P. Daddy and screamed, "Here, YOU do it!" I also got to ride on the train, which is what is happening in the picture. Mommy and I have been reading books and talking about Christmas, and I cannot wait! We have already started our Christmas shopping.

Mezmerizing

Here I am on P. Daddy's shoulders watching the dancers at the festival this weekend. Initially, I told Mommy I wanted to start taking dance classes, but this morning, when we were getting ready to go, I confessed that I was too scared, because Mommy would have to leave me there by myself. Mommy said there was no pressure, and that maybe I would be ready next year!