It has been a spectacular 5 weeks since I last wrote. We are truly having the time of our lives, and I hardly know where to begin. Halloween & Thanksgiving have come and gone and were both pretty eventful. We had Wizard of Oz costumes to wear (Dorothy, Tin Lady, and Scarecrow) but you wound up coming down with H1N1 on Halloween morning - we were so fortunate that we caught the virus early, saw the Dr., got Tamiflu, and nipped it in the bud. You were fine by the next morning thank goodness! We stayed home and gave out candy and played in the yard just the 3 of us. Your fever never got over 101 degrees, and that barely slowed ou down. Luckily, we had taken you to Boo in the Zoo in costume the weekend before, so you did get to wear it a couple times since we trick-or-treated with you at school too.Actually, you are quite weary about people dressed up in costumes anyways - I don't know that you'll be willing to sit in Santa's lap this year. We have been to a couple of parades and you "don't like" the pretend cow or bunny with cart that we saw. You have been talking about them ever since we saw them and are constantly telling us how you feel about them.Ok - on to some funny stories of late:Your favorite phrase last week was "You like that? you like that mom? you like that??" It sounds so funny coming from you, but I know where you get it b/c I ask you stuff like that all the time.Yesterday, daddy told you he needed to talk to you and you started backing out of the room. You love to walk backwards, but this time you were being clever to get out of hearing something you didn't want to hear.You are a bit obsessed with your blue ice cream shirt which was given to you by Amelia and want to wear it all the time. You slept in it last night and I let you wear it to school today.You are still really into Pinkalicious and also enjoy Purplicious and Goldielicious now. You frequently recite the words to your books ("mommy said: 'let's make cupcakes..." and "wake up wake up sleepy bear..."). You love your dolls and are a "martha speaks," "sesame street," and "dora the explorer" fan.Before Thanksgiving, you, your dad, and I took a trip to Naples, Florida. We used Hilton points to enjoy a 5-night beach getaway and had a fantastic time. You just loved the water wings daddy bought for you and playing in the sand. You were a very pleasant dinner companion and tried plenty of fancy cuisine. We got to go to the Festival of Lights to watch dancers, a live nativity scene, and snow. The entire trip was such a blessing for our family to share - I hope we get to do it again!We came home Thanksgiving morning and were able to attend lunch at Aunt Jean's and stop by the Hawkins' as well. Saturday we got to spend time with G-Daddy, Gigi, Uncle Johnny, and Aunt Amber. We got our Christmas tree up and simply played at home together. It was such a nice visit!You have been learning lots more songs (including Jingle Bells that Gigi taught you) and love playing on the "puter." Lately, you tell us how you want to do things yourself & be a big girl. You seem to know how most stuff works and ask all the right questions. You always point out that lightbulbs are hot and are telling us things like to be "careful." You often point out the moon - even early in the morning when it's still out; very observant! You like to snuggle every morning and are extremely picky about what cup your milk comes in. When we drive, we talk about the traffic signals and you know "green is go" and to stop on red. You've been able to point out silver Honda trucks like your Dad's for months now (since Cali I know), bikes, and motorcycles.It is just remarkable what you are able to understand and remember! You squeeze love into us too and just give the best hugs. It's Heaven!!!Love Love Lovemom

Halloween, Turkey Day, and Advent... Oh My!

Little Miss H
It has been a spectacular 5 weeks since I last wrote. We are truly having the time of our lives, and I hardly know where to begin. Halloween & Thanksgiving have come and gone and were both pretty eventful. We had Wizard of Oz costumes to wear (Dorothy, Tin Lady, and Scarecrow) but you wound up coming down with H1N1 on Halloween morning - we were so fortunate that we caught the virus early, saw the Dr., got Tamiflu, and nipped it in the bud. You were fine by the next morning thank goodness! We stayed home and gave out candy and played in the yard just the 3 of us. Your fever never got over 101 degrees, and that barely slowed ou down. Luckily, we had taken you to Boo in the Zoo in costume the weekend before, so you did get to wear it a couple times since we trick-or-treated with you at school too.

Actually, you are quite weary about people dressed up in costumes anyways - I don't know that you'll be willing to sit in Santa's lap this year. We have been to a couple of parades and you "don't like" the pretend cow or bunny with cart that we saw. You have been talking about them ever since we saw them and are constantly telling us how you feel about them.

Ok - on to some funny stories of late:
Your favorite phrase last week was "You like that? you like that mom? you like that??" It sounds so funny coming from you, but I know where you get it b/c I ask you stuff like that all the time.

Yesterday, daddy told you he needed to talk to you and you started backing out of the room. You love to walk backwards, but this time you were being clever to get out of hearing something you didn't want to hear.

You are a bit obsessed with your blue ice cream shirt which was given to you by Amelia and want to wear it all the time. You slept in it last night and I let you wear it to school today.

You are still really into Pinkalicious and also enjoy Purplicious and Goldielicious now. You frequently recite the words to your books ("mommy said: 'let's make cupcakes..." and "wake up wake up sleepy bear..."). You love your dolls and are a "martha speaks," "sesame street," and "dora the explorer" fan.

Before Thanksgiving, you, your dad, and I took a trip to Naples, Florida. We used Hilton points to enjoy a 5-night beach getaway and had a fantastic time. You just loved the water wings daddy bought for you and playing in the sand. You were a very pleasant dinner companion and tried plenty of fancy cuisine. We got to go to the Festival of Lights to watch dancers, a live nativity scene, and snow. The entire trip was such a blessing for our family to share - I hope we get to do it again!

We came home Thanksgiving morning and were able to attend lunch at Aunt Jean's and stop by the Hawkins' as well. Saturday we got to spend time with G-Daddy, Gigi, Uncle Johnny, and Aunt Amber. We got our Christmas tree up and simply played at home together. It was such a nice visit!

You have been learning lots more songs (including Jingle Bells that Gigi taught you) and love playing on the "puter." Lately, you tell us how you want to do things yourself & be a big girl. You seem to know how most stuff works and ask all the right questions. You always point out that lightbulbs are hot and are telling us things like to be "careful." You often point out the moon - even early in the morning when it's still out; very observant! You like to snuggle every morning and are extremely picky about what cup your milk comes in. When we drive, we talk about the traffic signals and you know "green is go" and to stop on red. You've been able to point out silver Honda trucks like your Dad's for months now (since Cali I know), bikes, and motorcycles.

It is just remarkable what you are able to understand and remember! You squeeze love into us too and just give the best hugs. It's Heaven!!!

Love Love Love
mom

You're Two in Just About Every Way

Oh boy - we have entered into another battle of the willpower phase - you seem to be acting two early! You say "hurt" a lot when you want out of your carseat or to try to get out of wearing a diaper. You absolutely detest bathing and changing lately and are so clingy to me all the time; I know it is b/c we don't get enough time during the week together and you're always scared I'm leaving b/c I have to leave you 5 days a week - making up for it on the weekends and evenings is not enough for either of us. It is such a struggle - the economy is in really tough shape this last year, so I am in no position to try to make any kind of moves, but my ultimate dream is to work part-time, so I can have more time for you and your dad, church, volunteering in the community, and exercising (body and mind). I will always regret not getting to be home with you more during this time but I work so that I can provide you with more options - it is a sacrifice I hope will pay off when you are pursuing your dreams someday.

You never cease to amaze me with the things you pick up on: this morning you asked me to roll up your sleeves. You talked a lot about your fingernails after Gigi had taken you to the salon and apparently told everyone at school about it. We went to the Festival of Jack O Lanterns at CNC on Sunday and you told me "don't like it" about the hayride. You wanted to climb the stairs and jump in the inflatables and pet the goats. You saw a girl who looked a lot like Joann and started asking for Deacon. You took a real interest in Anderson Golden when we ate over there that night too - you like to swing him and he was trying to talk to you. You are starting to do great throwing ball and love it when dad and I "head" them. You like to read "Baby Face" the most lately and we talked about Corduroy when we rode the elevator at the mall in Nashville this weekend. You pitched a fit until G-Daddy agreed to come shopping with us and you had a big time playing with doll stuff at Pottery Barn Kids. You also made Miko smell your feet and just love going up and down the stairs. It was a wet cold and you told us it was snowing - you are too sharp baby! You also like to shake your head back and forth and bounce in my arms when I hold you. Jump Mommy Jump. Hold you. Favorite songs are ABC and Mary Lamb right now. Also sing ei-ei-oh a lot.

You are so smart baby and when we went to get your flu shot, I asked if you could get the mist b/c you're Two in almost every way - except chronological age ;) We love you so much!!!

It's Fall Y'all!

Angel Baby :)
It is already fall and going to be the best one yet. You are doing so well at school. I had a parent/teacher conference with our neighbor Hayley on Friday and she had only nice things to say. They tell us how compassionate you are with your schoolmates, especially Michael, and that the brown babydoll is your favorite. You like to push Michael outside and bring him toys and books. You are great at putting toys away and putting your cup away and washing your hands - we need to take more advantage of this at home.

This past weekend we went to a cabin at Cumberland Mtn. State Park and had a great time with Paty's, Hawkins, and Thal's. You have had a terrible cough for several weeks now and it caused you to projectile on me the 1st night we got there but you were fine the rest of the trip. We hiked and played trivial pursuit and swang and chased your cousins around. Everyone is enamored with you - especially when you started singing your ABCs and Mary/Lamb and Twinkle Twinkle. You surprised us on the trail with songs! Daddy took you to fly a kite while mommy played tennis. You like to say "mommy un tennis" and "mommy un laundry" and you know that Benny goes with Betsy and Dee with Mickey, etc. It is always so wonderful spending time together!

You did talk about home a lot and were so happy to see your dolls and books and play in your kitchen when we got home last night. You wanted to take care of Murray too. You love to rock in my old rocking chair and can do somersaults too. You say Daddy's face is scratchy and you like to sit in the middle of my legs and call it a boatride - or sit on top of our shins or on our backs to ride the pony. This week I hope your Gigi can take you for your 1st haircut. I think you are the most amazing little thing ever and hope you will always know how much we love you!
Mamia

Summer Travel Bug

So much to catch up on little Lovebug! You have now been to Cali and NYC and are a wonderful travel buddy; we are all happy as long as we're together and have had the luxury of doing some super fun trips this summer. I kept a list of things I wanted to be sure I told you about which includes: Burpees, rhinos, baby giraffes, zoo babies, them cookies are gawn, touble (shovel), shouting at us when we turn you which direction to take, lemonade high, tasting beer, benadryl, oreos, puzzles, new kitchen, "my man"..........As you can see, you really are a barrel of fun and the rate at which you are learning just amazes us each day. You are a copycat and a parrot and we get so tickled at you growing up into such a big girl. Our trip to San Diego was so nice - we spent 4 nights at the HIlton at Mission Bay and were disappointed to learn that you couldn't play in the big pool b/c of your swimmie diaper, but it didn't ruin our fun - we played at the baby pool, chased ducks, dug in the sand, and spent a lot of time at the beautiful park there. Next we checked into our beach cottage rental in La Jolla where we spent a whole week. We rode bikes, watched dad surf, snorkeled, cooked, and hit the zoo (twice) and the wild animal park. We did a lot of laughing and snuggling and also let you watch a touch of sesame street and taste some new things like beer and lemonade (which gave you such a sugar high). The flights were an adventure and we worked non-stop on the 4-hour flights to keep you entertained; books, doodlepads, puzzles, and puppets were essentials ;) For Labor Day, 45 of us attended the annual campout at Nantahala and you had your 1st babysitters (Natalie and her friend Katelynn). Daddy and I paddled and biked and can't wait to teach you how! This week we brought you up to NYC where you got to ride the Gray Line, see the Museum of Natural History (dinasaurs, oh my!), shop FAO Schwartz, hang out at Central Park, and walking. It was a blast too and I'm relieved we can start coming up here together now. Your favorite books lately have been Pinkalicious and Curious George. You love Elmo and Dora even though you hardly watch tv and bubblegum, ice cream, and babydolls are among your other favorite things. Crystal Joyner recently started keeping you since Grand Sam went back to work and you started your new classroom at school with Miss Hayley. A couple weeks ago you surprised us all by going poo poo on the potty and you've done it once at home and 2 or 3 times at school. At 19 months, you're clearly quite advanced. We love you so much Angel! Mommy

Whistle While You Play

Hi Little Lovebug!
I forgot to mention one of your most amazing feats yet: THE WHISTLE! Yes, that's right, at 18 months, you can whistle with the best of us - it is truly incredible and such a sight. We'll try to get it on video - I suspect it has something to do with your Grand Sam keeping you 2 days a week for the last 3 months ;) Let's see - also your sentence construction has come a long way - from "Mommy, sit down" all the way to "Draw a Circle, Mommy." You say "I love you" and this week we've been playing with sidewalk chalk, your new watering can, and the broom - you love helping sweep and water! We also visited the neighbors this week and you got very upset when mommy held 1-month old Baby Anderson, Hadley E's little brother. Today, I am hoping your play kitchen and desk will be delivered and can't wait. Now you'll have a better workspace for cooking and coloring. You enjoy reading 10 tiny babies and pinkalicoius this week. We are getting really excited about 11 days in San Diego together and just hoping the flight isn't too hard on you. You have started showing an interest in going in the potty and will sometimes sit on it in the mornings. You still like your binky an awful lot. You show us every day lots of new things you know - from colors to animals to body parts. It is such an adventure to learn with you and experience things for your 1st time as your parent - what a Blessing you are!
Mom

My Little One-&-a-Half Year Old!

Bunny Bear~
You are 1 1/2 years old this week and growing up so fast - we are enjoying every minute of it and just wish we could spend it all together, but you really enjoy school and your time with Grand Sammy too. These days you're in a great routine of sleeping from 8pm-7am; breakfast is yogurt, oatmeal, cheerios, or cereal bar and fruit; you play hard all morning and enjoy coloring, running in circles, puzzles, "cooking," playing in the bathtub or any kind of water, pushing strollers, swinging, walking, etc. You typically nap at around noon and sleep for 80 minutes at school and closer to 3 hours on Tu/Th when you stay home. You wake up to play until mom & dad get you and we try to have a family dinner (fish or chicken, pasta, veggies) before more play, bath/story/bedtime. In the mornings, you often tell us "home" because you love being at home together like we do!

Life is just dandy this summer - we go to the pool at least once a week, to Coolidge to play in the fountain, ride bikes around town and sometimes home from school. You have started telling Daddy "i love you" back. You are an excellent communicator and super sweet and fun. At school they tell me you are a compassionate little person often sitting with some of your special needs friends to help them with touch and feel books or comfort them (especially Barrett and Hudson). This makes us so proud! You have really taken a shine to your Unca Yani and Mer (Aunt Amoco) this summer and love playiing with them when they visit. Your hair is quite long - I pull it back out of your eyes in the morning. You like to tell us all our body parts and are really good at it. You can count with us to about 4 and also try to sing ABCs a little. The things you remember amaze me! You have learned all the objects in your alphabet book and know that S is for Snake. You also really like "nuthin" our friend Jonathan and we spent time with our Little Jonathan this past weekend and cheered for Uncle Jakey at his triathlon - you helped me say "Go Racers Go!" and got lots of attention on your super cool iBert seat. You're SO hip! We also saw Cousin Willa at Nick's wedding reception and you girls danced and hugged & kissed and tried hula hooping and playing with beach balls - fun! This weekend we are going to Nashville to stay with G-Parents and meeting Willa at the zoo, then next we are off to San Diego for 11 uninterrupted days of family togetherness on the West Coast! Oh, we also spent the 4th of July on the lake, but you weren't too sure about the boat - we got to play with Cousins Daniel and Alyssa then and get lots of attention from Drew, Anna, Caroline, Ellie & Gang - you ate Grandmother's b-day cake well too! You associate Ice cream with Mommy and call Grandmother "Uma."
You are so loved!!!

Summer Days

Hi Bunny Baby!
Below are some posts I have been meaning to add, and then I'll update you on current status this June:

April 28 - "sleep training" - 1st NIght: 20 minutes of unbearable sreaming including hollaring for "dad-day!!", night 2: 2 minutes, 3rd night: 20 seconds before you laid down and went to sleep. You're a quick learner Baby, and you got "ferberized!"

Today is May 27 and your dad and I are on a plane to Palm Beach for my work conference for 3 nights, then we'll be meeting you, your grandparents, and your cousins for Beach Week in St. Augustine. I especially can't wait b/c this is my 3rd week of traveling without you (3 nights each). I am taking you to NYC next time for sure! You are a complete toddler now and have grown lots of teeth recently, including molars.

Currently your favorite book is Where the Wild Things Are and you make monster noises when we read it or you want to hear it. You request Curious George by saying signs for Hat and Monkey. You call Ayla, the dog next door, and just love animals and dolls so much. You are very nurturing with your babies and ask us to help you change and stroll them. Your daddy hung a swing on the porch for you and we got you the coolest seat so you can ride on the front of mom's bike - you cheer for me when I peddle up hills and say "wheee" and "honk, beep" and like to ring the bell. You like to read about trains at grandmother's and say "toot toot." You mimic everything and your Gigi came to stay with you while we are gone and almost fell out of her chair when you started panting like Miko. At dinner, you repeated a 4-letter word we said cracking us up again. You know what boats are since Daddy has had his kayak out and I finally figured out that you were using the "boat" sign for deers and antelopes when you saw a goat and called it a boat with your hands - brilliant! It is so fun knowing more about what's on that sweet mind of yours.

You were very good for Traci when she kept you so mom & dad could see a concert (Jane's Addiction, Nine Inch Nails) - she called you a rockstar, and we had a great Mother's Day playing at the zoo with the Levan's. You enjoy going to Coolidge Park to play in the fountain and rode the carousel for the 1st time this month. You are totally content playing in the yard, digging in the mulch, and splashing in the birdbath, and puddles. It is happiness - you are!

You also love for Grand Sam to keep you and going to their house to jump on the trampoline. We can't walk by Hadley Golden's without you begging to stop. You wave at absolutely everyone and know which cars are mom and dad's. You still loathe getting dressed and we usually have to chase you. Blueberries and oatmeal are your new favorite food lately and you eat a lot of fish and crushed ice too. I miss you already and feel like my arm is cut off and I must get back to it when we're apart - sounds weird, but true. We would do anything for you little sweetpea! Mommy and Daddy miss you so much already but will be together again super soon. Kisses, Mommy

June 15, 2009
H - my goodness we love you! It was hard being apart a lot in May but we got to make up for lost time with a whole week as a family in St. Augustine. Na-na and Mae-mae stayed with us and you loved the beach and pool and strolling with Willa and Kate. You were not into sharing though and constantly upset your friends yelling "Nooooo!!!" at them when they wanted to play or mommy played with them, but we could never be mad at you. You are pretty vocal these days and took a shine to Ben - you use 2 southern syllables to say his name which is super cute - Beee--eon. You call Betsy 'Bess.'

Your hair is getting so long and we pull it back a lot of the time. You still love playing in the yard and are repeating more words and bigger words more frequently. Too bad the mosquitos love you like they love me. Yesterday at the toy store you went after the dolls (of course) and enjoyed bouncing on a donkey - one of your favorite animals. You are a big helper and I have to get you your own broom and watering can soon. When you're old enough, we'll get a puppy too - mommy and daddy can't wait for that.

You are doing great at school and will start your next class this fall which will be more scheduled, structured activities I think you're ready for. You're still in a baby room right now which also has special needs children you are super sweet with. I think you've outgrown the room and need to be a little more challenged b/c you are very advanced ;) Can't wait to pick you up from school today and shower you with kisses and tickle you (you tickle back) and have some playtime together. We love you so terribly much little munchkin, our sunshine! You are such a glorious little blessing.
xoxo Ma-ma

Easter in Shreveport

Hi Lil' Mama - Spending 4 full days with you was wonderful! You were such a trooper flying and entertained the entire airport with your cuteness. We were stuck in Atlanta airport until after midnight Friday but didn't mind since we had each other. You squealed and ran and played at the gate, making friends with your baby doll eyes and pretending to fly with your arms up behind you - and waving at everyone and telling them "hi-e".

The silliness continued during our stay in Shreveport - you love making people laugh and delight in getting our reactions. You learned several new words, including: blue, cheese, and Murray and also how to point out blemishes (thanks for that GiGi) which you call ba-bas. I love when you see your own reflection or photograph and say "Had-die." You love to mimic mom by putting a purse or bag on your shoulder and waving while you say "bye bye." You are a grazer and say "Mo' " all the time referring to snacks and treats. You did have an MD in the parking lot kicking & screaming when I had to put you in your stroller - you really like to be in total control which is why you fuss about changing diapers and clothes. Overall though, you were your angelic self. Another trick of late is your ability to sing "row, row, row." We get so tickled at you and are just amazed at what a sweet and beautiful little genius you are.

During our trip, you attended a crawfish boil, blew so many bubbles, saw many farm animals, and played with your cousins, especially Payton and Branson. You pushed a stroller around and also rode a springy horsey they still had which I am dying to get for you. Easter was really nice and Mamaw so enjoyed you - she just loves your mouth! Gigi enjoyed getting to share time with you and her fam as well - it was a wonderful trip.

This weekend we are going to Cumberland with the Edge's for the day - the weather is quintessential spring and I am excited to get 2 more full days together. I love you little monkey! Mommy

April Fool's

Hadley Boo,
Today we met with Uncle Alan to talk about estate planning in the event that your Dad and I could not be around to care for you. It is uncomfortable to think about but important that we plan for these things so that you would be in the best possible position in this event. We have chosen Uncle Jake and Aunt Jenny to be your guardians if something were to happen and trust that they would honor our wishes about raising you. I will write a letter about this soon because it is such an important thing and cannot be taken lightly. That said, I want nothing more than to live to be a great-grandmother to your grandchildren and grow old enough to watch you raise your own family someday!

Enough of the serious stuff, let's get down to YOU! So much personality little Miss Pris! You are extremely willful child and love attention. They call you the DJ at school b/c you play music and dance often. You love to swing and also think it is really funny whenever I get startled about something. This past weekend we had 60 people over to celebrate your Grand Sam's 60th birthday, and it was quite the event. You do really well in crowds and are very social. You like to put a bag or purse on your arm and parade around waving. When you have friends over you take toys from them, but they find something new; then the opposite happens at others' houses, so I guess that is just the nature of a one-year old.

It kills me not getting to spend every day with you, but I try to make the most out of our time together. We don't turn the tv on when you are awake and weekend plans usually are designed with you in mind. We are doing all that we can to provide you a loving, stable home and I can see by the way that you treat others that you are already adopting our philosophy and know how to express LOVE.

We have some trips coming up this next couple months which should be interesting - I'll try to get some pics up here soon!
All our love,
Mom & Dad

1st Day of Spring (Your 2nd Spring)

Little Bunny Bear~
You are 14 months old and cracking us up every day. One of your new tricks is rolling your eyes around like your baby dolls (which you adore; there's Josie, Darcy, Penelope, Claire, and DrewAnna). You think it's funny to get dizzy and recently learned to play Grand Sam's harmonica and blow bubbles (& say it) with Dara who is keeping you 2 days a week this semester. You like to climb stairs, push your dollies in their stroller, read, eat, give kisses, swing, and play in the yard. You do not like getting changed or dressed and let us know as soon as you're "over" something by hollaring and flexing yourself in frustration.

The signing has been a blast - it gives us a little window into your psyche and you have picked up on lots of new ones. You know tree, bunny, and surprised me last night with spider too (which someone else must have taught you). You have quite a vocabulary also and like to say words like: hot, hat, duck, mama, daddy, and bubbles. You try to say your friends' names too like Amelia, Caroline, and Hadley.

In February, we took you to Banner Elk, NC, but the 3 of us passed around a tummy bug. ooh. You got to see Aunt Betsy and Uncle Benny again then too. With nicer weather this month, we've been able to get out to the zoo, nature center, and parks more and tomorrow we will have a full day of egg hunting and b-day partying with friends. It is so much fun to dress you and show you off everyday - you make me so very proud.

Your eyes could still be changing - they are a beautiful hazel color currently, so you'll be lucky either way! I put you in pigtails the other day which is quite adorable and you're still wearing a size 3 shoe and 12-18month clothes. Mommy's been shopping consignment for you and scored tons of great stuff plus new toys and books you are loving!

Nothing brings us more joy than loving you, watching you play and grow, and providing for all your needs. You are so loving and so much fun!

The 1st Year

Dear Hadley,
You just turned One and you are our everything!

In 2008, I worked each month in your baby book to document your milestones and some of the memories we made last year and will try to post more of that later, but it is there for you. For now, I just wanted to get this blog started for you to have a central place to someday look back on and learn more about yourself - your grandmother documented lots of stuff about me and it has been especially fun looking back on that and pictures of your Dad and I as babies as we watch you grow.

We've had a tough week b/c Aunt Jenny has to take a break from keeping you on Tuesdays and Thursdays b/c of her busy school and internship this semester. We had to fire the 1st nanny we hired before she really got started and so, Crystal Joyner and Nicole Trammell kept you last week. This week we are sharing Hadley Golden's nanny and going to see how that goes. She has a little brother due this summer! We have been so fortunate to have the best care possible for you.

We also took you to Atlanta to visit the Levan's and then to your Aunt Amber's in Columbus over the weekend, so you have had quite a busy week - especially given that the week before we held 2 birthday parties for you. Your progress walking has been miraculous - you took some 1st steps around Christmas and then made it truly official at your birthday. I suspect you'll be running soon! You must have 15 or 20 signs now too: fish is the most recent one you picked up on when we were looking at an aquarium at a sushi restaurant Sunday night. You know: dog, change, milk, more, ball, babydoll, light, no, bath, fish, eat, gigi. You love to play on the piano and get chased after. Last night I taught you to pop your mouth too - you are a very quick study and get really proud of yourself when you know you've got it. Nothing cuter!

We love you so much and it is such a privelage taking care of you and watching you grow. You are our angel baby and always will be!

Love,
Mom