Happiest of Holidays :)

Well Lil Momma - the holidays have arrived; we've been fighting runny noses & coughing for nearly 2 months (you actually ran a fever and everything all Halloween weekend, & didn't wind up getting to go trick-or-treating this year but we had dressed up for several other occasions (including church!) and you had a great attitude about the whole thing b/c you're still a little too young to know what you're missing.

Anyways, we took it easy over Thanksgiving b/c the illness had finally caught up to mom (& I had to have a root canal too) and we're still not 100% but we just keep putting one foot in front of the other & enjoying the downtime time we've been spending home together. You were not good about taking medicine - we really couldn't get the antibiotics down you, then you got pink-eye and wouldn't really let us put the drops in. Mommy wound up with it too.

Enough with all that though; it is 11 days to Christmas; the tree is trimmed and you've sat in Santa's lap once, sang for him at Grand Illumination and also attended a breakfast with Santa with Grandmother and Maggie. We are trying to stress the meaning of the season and have Christmas and Nativity books under the tree rather than gifts. We're really looking forward to sharing the magic of Christmas with you this year and you are very excited about turning 3 soon (been practicing showing 3 fingers - you've got it).

Lately, you start a lot of sentences with "When I was a baby..." and you love to look at pictures and also check yourself out in the mirror when we're changing your shirt and your arms are still stuck in it. You can't wait to get into your Hello Kitty shirt every chance you get and are super picky about what you wear. You like to wear your hair "down like Brandi" and you still talk about her all the time.

You scold the dog and cat when they misbehave and tell Kelsey "listen to your sister." You've had some bad dreams lately worrying that you're going to the hospital (and possibly related to 'the baby show' we watch sometimes about the quintuplets). You point out things whenever we drive like mom's work and the nativity scene and where we went to watch Disney Princesses on Ice. Your favorite Christmas songs are Rudolph, Frosty, and Santa Claus is Coming to Town.

We took you sledding for the 1st time yesterday and other than not wanting to wear your mittens, you did awesome. You have the best attitude and just shine little star. You make us so happy and we love you so much!!!

Life Goes On

Well little Lovie - it's going to be a while longer before you get to be a big sister. Mommy lost the baby very early at around 7-8 weeks and you handled it very well & just keep reminding me that "we're gonna get another baby." I did not wind up having to have a d&c procedure which was a great relief to me that this just passed naturally. Having you in our lives helps in dealing with this on so many levels - you are my sunshine and a source of so much strength. We had a lot of wonderful support from friends, family and our small group and are healing well so far.

You have been very busy with your creative movement class lately. Miss Lindsay has you all performing at Grand Illumination so we have been rehearsing and getting prepared for that. You are just full of information and questions. You are loving Kelsey dog and also the tire swing that is down the street. Your favorite way to enter a room if it's just us at home and it's bathtime or something is leading with your naked hiny! We have laughed about it so you know it is funny and love to get us going. You always ask who's keeping you in the morning and if we're going to work and comment on if we're wearing "work shirts" etc.

Big Sis

Dear Little Big Boss,
It’s fall again already! We just got back from a trip to Puerto Rico with the Bustamante’s and had a wonderful time. I’ll tell you all about it, but 1st, other items: you are enjoying your new classroom still and got to go on your 1st field trip on the big school bus last Friday. Grandmother went with you to the cornmaze and you seemed to really enjoy that. Mom & Dad are playing soccer and you just play during the games. I bought you 9 costumes for $16 at the Harless’s thrift shop and you’ve been dressing as a princess a lot then decided you want to be Jesse from Toy Story after seeing that movie. Friday night we played Wizard of Oz for you and you spent the rest of the weekend in your Dorothy costume from last year. We went to Festival of Jack O Lanterns at CNC this weekend and saw many friends. You rode a full-sized horse for the 1st time. You have really enjoyed getting into the spirit of Halloween, helping me decorate and pointing out witches and ghosts.

So, PR was fabulous and you did great traveling as always despite your biggest meltdown ever going through security in the Atlanta airport. Won’t forget that! You loved all the creatures in the islands and enjoyed swimming and playing in the surf with Deacon and Amelia so much. You got to watch some new movies; you were so concerned about the orphans on Annie but loved the music. When Daddy asked if you knew who Fred Flinstone was & was trying to explain the cartoon, you go: “He makes fruity pebbles though right?” You especially enjoyed watching the birds in cages at el conquistador resort and following the hen and her chics around Palomino Island. In the rainforest, you sang the entire hike in – it was lovely… Then we found out that I have a baby in my belly during our time there and that was just the icing on the cake. You are going to be a big sister! You keep insisting it better be a little sister and almost go into tears when we talk about a brother being possible. You got to wear a shirt that said “I’m the Big Sister” to tell grandmother about it. So fun and exciting! We don’t have a due date or anything yet but think sometime in June. You are going to be the best Big Sis!

Summer's End

Hadlena - you singing pop songs is such a trip. lately, besides bulletproof and "my 1st kiss went a little like this - & twist - & twist" you also ask for '3 little birds' by Bob Marley and then recognized the applebottom jeans song on the radio as the one that we danced to at clay and tiffany's - this is interesting b/c I watched Ellen on maternity leave a lot & this was her fave song during that period. weird! You are funny when you talk about "the Betsy's" and the "other Anna" (hughie). You like your new class quite well, but I worry about you & Isabelle ganging up on other kids & the love/hate thing between you. You came to mom & dad's 1st crossfit event in August but it was too hot for you to watch much.

We just got back from camping at Nantahala and Enyce too. You didn’t miss a beat despite the culture shock of going from a trailer park on the river in Bryson City, NC to the Waldorf Astoria on Park Avenue! On our camping trip you were the 1st and youngest (not to mention cutest) act at the Hillbilly talent show (s/b on Youtube). You sang Old McDonald and were oh-so-precious. That reminds me – often when we’re on the road, you tell Daddy and I that your belly hurts and you need to go potty at Old McDonalds (b/c you love their soft-serve Miss Smartie!).

So, something super funny which happened camping was that you dropped your pants to “camper” in front of everyone out of nowhere. We laughed hard! You also fell into the pool & were pretty upset even though the big girls all had you out within moments. You enjoyed playing with all the kids and Baby Will and Baby Logan too.

In NYC, we sang Chattanooga Choo Choo a lot while riding the subway. You took your 1st ferris wheel ride and also hugged Hello Kitty which may be the 1st time you’ve warmed up to a character like that. You are way into her right now – loving your pj’s, hello kitty thermos and socks. We got you another shirt (I love NY – hello kitty), some panties, and some HK socks you picked out. We visited FAO (glitter tattoo, cool barbie place, got Darcy new clothes), Toys R Us (dinosaur, spidey), and American Girl. You are also really loving the Disney princess stories and minis at the moment. On our trip we had a great morning in Central Park playing at the Boat Pond the 1st morning. We visited the Children’s Museum of Manhattan as well and also took you to a Fashion Week event at Dylan’s Candy Bar – you ate your entire candy necklace and were super-wired that night. We picnicked in the room and you loved that and had fun just running the halls and riding the elevators – always reminding us to be very careful not to push the firehat buttons (since there’s no emergency) and not to fall in the traintracks. One day, we were trying to get you down for a nap and you cracked us up tiptoeing around the room and nonchalantly whistling while we were pretending to sleep.

Love you so much – you make the whole world shine!!!

Summer 2010

Sorry it's been so long baby - summer has been super busy and fun!
Songs you Love: Bulletproof; the wa-hoo song (sweet escape by Gwen Stefani) which incidentally you heard live when you were just a peanut in my belly! and my 1st kiss went a little like this - and twist - and twist
New favorite color is purple. You're pretty into the princesses these days. You are super picky about what you wear - panties, shoes, how your hair is fixed. You clearly like to be in charge and have your own sense of fashion - you know what you like (like your momma). You love shrimp.

When we're on the road, you know where we're heading and always extremely observant about your surroundings. You'll ask where my work is, point out anytime we're near your school - and you're always congizant of the mountains. You'll say - is that Signal, where Nat & Mags live? And half the time you're right. The other day you asked me which one was Racoon and I nearly fell out of my chair.

This summer you have been tubing a few times now on the lake behind our motorboat. You call CERA the "camphouse" and you're doing so great in the water! Your favorite teacher was Gina. You pretend to call her on the phone all the time - she and Brandi Curlin which just cracks us up. You still hate brushing your teeth and are doing well with potty training. One of your tubes fell out of your ear after about 19 months in June. We went to see the Lookouts game and you remembered the Bell's dog "frank" which surprised all of us; you also knew that we had met teh Finlay's for dinner at Taco Mamacita which we all found pretty remarkable.

You and I give each other lots of "face love" - we will just push cheeks, eyes, noses together and snuggle. It is so sweet it just melts me.

Amelia's 4th B-Day

May Day

Macy's 2nd Birthday Party

Spring Break!

hey Dudette
So much has happened - it is already May! We went on a fantastic ski trip out to Colorado and we celebrated Easter and also spent a weekend at Cumberland Mtn. State Park. Summer is almost here and we are looking forward to the Beach and also to enjoying our new boat and "camphouse" out at Cera.

You are big on saying that "I am Darcy's Mama" and last night you told me to hang your coat up when you took it off. You seem to understand pretty much everything and always ask the right questions too. We have been able to reason with you about why we have to do certain things and such. You sometimes pout and give us lip, but usually come around and see the positive in everything. You tell us "I want you" and told your daddy you liked his sweater and asked him if he liked yours.

You love to play doctor and "heal" us with bracelets and jewelry - you always say "It's gonna hurt 'k." You told daddy not to talk with his mouth full and you call your new blue shoes your "tap" shoes and say you wear them to tap class (b/c Duncan & Crystal go). We name a lot of your shoes now - Gigi gave you your cupcake ones and Daddy bought you some plaid ones at a consignment sale in Nashville. This past weekend we were walking through an antiquie place and we passed a rough looking fellow and you said "he looks like a goat" which he did - boy that gave us a laugh! You love to chew gum, turn on mu-sic on the radios, do somersaults, getting our goombas (under the arms - picked it up from Douglas Finlay). You tell everyone "i pooted" and also tell on anyone who does.

You wanted to follow Wills when we ran into him at greenlife last week. You are wanting to check out mommy's new gym b/c you know that we moved when we pass our old gym you always point it out. You also know roads, rivers, turns, you seem to know your left from right and you also recognized the trumpet on the radio as the horn that Natalie plays. You are just unbelievable bright child. You still just love blue and you love Diego (better than Dora). You can whistle and you love to spin and get dizzy and go on tire swings. You rode a pony at Mom's Spring Fling and at the Unum Egg Hunt you rode a donkey. We took you to Aspen, but you weren't too interested in skiing - still had a great time. When you get tired, you sometimes shake your head and say handstand, hopscotch, headstand. You make mommy sing loud in the car too. We have the best time. You are a rock star angel baby!! You always tell me "I'm not a baby, I'm a big girl." and you are, but you'll always be our Baby!!!

Hey Doll Baby - here are some notes I needed to get out before too much more time goes by; boy, it flies!

Shrugging shoulders; what-the-what?; monsters are coming; love to hide and say find me – just put your head behind the pillow; told me you and Claudia were going to NYC; like to talk about getting cupcakes on your b-day; been saying you want a little brother and a little sister (before you didn’t and you wanted a dog); walk around like you’re tip-toeing and like to dance; tell me to “turn it up” in the car all the time. Everybody’s a bird: naked bird, dirty bird, silly bird. I’m not a dirty bird, you’re a dirty bird! Like mommy to sing the sandman song, lollipop, bingo (using all our names). When playing on daddy’s iphone you say “the As are on.” You say ‘hippie kai aye’ when we ask you about Grand Sam.

You are such a sweet, happy girl - took another airplane trip (daddy brought you solo down to Naples to meet up with me). The vacation was a bit of a bust (cold and daddy had to work) but we had some QT together which is good no matter where we are.

You really don't like bathing lately and sometimes run to your bed in tears and just rest there when you are "sad." You tell us you're "sorry" when you've done something you know is wrong, but I know it is frustrating being 2 and not understanding why you can't have everything like you want it all the time.

We love you little bear! Mommy

"Silly Haddie"

Sweet Precious - You are such a big girl now! We are blown away every day at the things you do and say, and you've become quite the daddy's girl too. This week when daddy dropped us and left for the store you got so upset and cried for him off and on until he got home and when you were telling him why you were "sad," you said "my heart beat."

Last night you talked about how you were going to email Crystal and G-parents on your iPhone and you kept saying "cheese" while you took pictures. You like to "check" us like the dr. and still ask me "what happened to bluey" all the time.

We had to run down to Shreveport to visit Mamaw last weekend, so you have been talking about "my cousin"s Brandi, Payton, and Branson. You have been concerned about Mamaw "she's sick" and were sweet to her at the hospital and made everyone laugh playing with your blue "pone." (You also sing "pee pie pin-geo"). The funniest moment in Shreveport was when you got a hold of Payton's Karaoke machine and did some singing for us (on film). It was also really cute when you and Payton got into makeup.

We started attending a small group and you were excited to see Caroline Clark at church this morning since we've been to her house twice now. You seem to have picked up on my limited yoga moves and know downward dog, cobra, and plank it seems - you do your floor routine when you get sleepy. You are talking a lot about how you are Addy (new doll from G-parents) and Darcy's mommy and they're your babies. You love to carry your diaper bag, creditcard, phone, etc and know just what to do with everything.

We love you so much little sweetpea :) xoxo, Mama

Welcome to the Next Decade - and Age Two!!

H - so much to report on and so little time; I'll just have to do this in sentence fragments and explain later!

We had a wonderful Christmas and NYE and then celebrated your 2nd birthday all last week. Things have been going great and I'll just spend a little time telling you about some of our most recent anecdotes and 'moments.'

For Christmas, the Griffith's and Morrison's came to stay and we had a big dinner with Bustamante's Christmas Eve & read stories, then Santa brought you a pink tricycle and a Raggedy Anne doll homemade by the elves. You especially loved getting Cat in the Hat from your cousins and made a big deal hugging the cat and saying; "my favowrite!" as we all gathered around the dining room table to watch (dad got this all on video for you).

We spent NYE at our place with a crew, including Nat, Maggie, G-Sam, G-muh, Alex, Karin, Drew, Anna, Bustamante's, etc. You had a big time and we were so excited to ring in the new year as a family.

Your birthday was a 3-day affair since we took you to Good Dog just the 3 of us for hot dogs and cupcakes on Frazier, then brought cupcakes to your school the next day, then had your official party with 30 adults and 15 kids on Saturday that week. Your favorite presents seem to be the vacuum cleaner from Grandparents and the cookies from Macy. You also loved wearing the new cupcake shirt and shoes from G-parents and the blue minnie gown Amoco brought you to save mommy from having to do laundry every night. And Daddy got you a new pet, Andy fish, who you named your self and always want to feed.

You LOVE blue and prefer cereal in a blue bowl with a blue spoon; liking your blue paci too and then there's your ice cream shirt and pants and I have a long-sleeve T shirt that is blue you like me to wear.

You like to help mommy with the laundry. You have been very concerned about "pretend fox" ever since seeing him at CNC when we went for storytelling, roasting chestnuts, and caroling. A lot of times you like to hang out in the car and rest in your carseat after school.

You love to sing "who goes to school today" and your hair is getting so long. You like to talk about Santa but still don't want to sit with him (and never did). You start singing "O Christmas Tree" randomly. You asked me to sing the "booty song" the other day which was hysterical since I didn't know it had a name, but your favorite is still Mary Had a Little Lamb.

Lately, you sometimes will complain about your back or shoulders and doing burpees - you are imitating mom and dad who are working out really hard lately. You can't stand for mommy to do her burpees and demand that I stop whenever I try. You like hummus and tell us so and you also tell Daddy "I like to suck my binkies."

You put Darcy in time out the other day and said that she had hurt you so she had to go to your bed. You are the best mama to your babies and have started learning relationships between all your family, like that Gigi is Eric's mom and Grand-muh is mine. It just amazes us the things you pick up on. You like to say "I gotta go get my diaper bag real quick" or tell us to "wait just a minute." Your favorite cartoons are Dora and Martha Speaks. You love to give and get zu-berts too.

I'll write more soon - but just needed to get a little caught up before this got away from me. We stay so super busy!! Love you little sweetpea :) Mommy