O Holy Night

Who knew that Christmas lasted so long! This was another slam packed weekend full of Christmas fun. This time, I was the the only center of attention and did not have to share the spotlight with anyone...except Gretchen. I was surrounded by Mama, Dada, Nana, Papa, Mimi and Grandpa and who could ask for anything more?!

To begin, this Holiday Season, I have had the cutest wardrobe thanks to Nana, Pops, Mimi and Grandpa! I was not so cooperative with the Christmas photos for the Christmas cards so by the time that Mama got a good one, it was too late to send them. I hope that this blog can somewhat take it's place. She still had some printed but things are crazy around the house so they were not sent. So here is an official Happy Holiday's from The Hornbuckles! Also, on another note...if you can tell, I LOVE to brush my teeth now! I brush them all by myself twice a day and do such a great job! I am learning great habits for good oral hygiene that I will hopefully carry with me as I grow! I have the two original teeth on the bottom, two top middle teeth and now the two front side teeth are starting to cut. We knew that they would all come in at once since I am now 13 1/2 months and just getting them!

Tuesday night, I spent the night with Mimi and Grandpa so that Mama and Dada could get some things done around the house. That is always so much fun! Wednesday was wear your pajamas to school day so Mimi put me in my Christmas Pajamas and slippers that she bought for me so that I could look cute at school. Before we went, we stopped by New Beacon Hospice to say hello to everyone. I love to visit Mimi's work!

That night I helped Dada wrap presents. I get the feeling that I got in the way a little but I enjoyed helping! As soon as we finished wrapping everything, I wanted to unwrap everything. I like getting to tear up all of the paper!
Thursday was Christmas morning and I woke up to Mama, Dada, Nana, Papa, Mimi and Grandpa all at my house! It was so exciting because they told me that Santa came to see me! They got me all dressed in an outfit that Dada bought for me and I walked around the corner and saw it! It was so exciting!

Santa brought me a mailbox, farm, piggy bank, bath toys, knob puzzles, boots, shape bucket and Fridge Phonics!
It did not take long for me to get to work trying to figure everything out! Of course, everything is on video. Everyone enjoyed my reactions and I love dancing to all of the music. I sway my hips back and forth when I dance.

For breakfast, we had cheese grits, pancakes, bacon and eggs. I loved the pancakes! Then it was time for a little love time so I climbed up in between Papa and Grandpa where I thought that I might get some attention. They were happy to give me all that I needed.
My new favorite thing is to try on other's shoes so I thought that I would give Mimi's slippers a try. I think that they are just my size! I had a little trouble walking in them but really liked them. Gretchen tried to chase them though! After breakfast, Mimi and Grandpa left and Nana and Papa stayed until I took my nap. I was glad that they all came for Christmas morning and I hope we can do that every year. It makes it so much more fun.
After my nap it was time to go have our third Christmas with Mimi and Grandpa at their house. I had fun playing in the Radio Flyer wagon that they gave me. I gave Mr Mistletoe the boot and took over.

Everyone had fun helping me open presents. Mimi helped me open my new purse from Miss Amy. I was so prissy walking around with it! I got so many presents and I got to leave some of the at their house so that I can look forward to playing with them when I visit. Thank you Mimi and Grandpa!
Then it was dinner time! Even though I do not have that many teeth, I can certainly put away some food! My favorite food is actually broccoli and so I loved the broccoli casserole that Mimi made for Mama. We also had a rib roast, brown rice and mashed potatoes. It was yummy. I will only eat if I can feed myself now. I do not like to be helped anymore. I am very independent you know.

The day after Christmas was a day of adjustment! It was a hard transition after Christmas because of everything going on! I was a little high maintenance for Mama and Dada. Mama let me eat my snack in the den and I also got to play with my water bottle. That it one of my new favorite toys! Mama uses it to spray my hair in the morning to bring back my curls! I also tried on George's Camp McDowell shirt that he got for Christmas! I can't wait until I am big enough to go to Mama's favorite place on earth!

Saturday, I was back to normal. Mama and Dada got up early and we went shopping for George's room. While we were out, I also picked out my princess chair and they bought it for me. It is really my favorite gift! I do everything on it and it pulls out into a bed with a sleeping bag. I like to crawl in after I put on my Pajamas. That day, we purchased, Georges crib, bedding and fabric so that Mama could recover the headboard and chair in Seersucker. I liked helping pick out things for my brother. I am looking forward to him being here...I think!

I was given this bear by Miss Becky and Uncle Wayne for Christmas. I love to give him hugs and tackle him! Dada thinks that it is so funny when I do that. I let him share my new chair but that just means that he is special because there are not too many that I will allow to sit on it! That night, Miss Weldon came and stayed with us and she brought me new bath toys for Christmas. Now I do not have Janky bath toys! Thank you Miss Weldon!

Sunday after church, Mimi and Grandpa came over and gave me some new clothes and a warm coat. They hit some major sales at Mt Laural and I racked up! As you can see, I have the tag taped to my coat because when Mama took it off, I got upset so she had to tape it on. It matched perfectly with the dress that Miss Holly gave me which is underneath. They also got lots of cute clothes for George and me for next year. I should not run out of holiday clothes!

This Christmas was a blast and I can't wait for next year. I know that I will be sharing the spotlight with my brother but I do not mind sharing a little time. I think that everyone will have enough love to go around! Thank you everyone for such a special holiday!

Skinner Family Christmas

This weekend was our Skinner Family Christmas! It was so much fun and now that I am walking I am a part of a whole new world! Mama, Dada, Betsy, Robert, Rob and Matthew all went to Tuscaloosa on Thursday night to spend a long weekend with Nana and Papa! Gretchen had been their all week destroying their backyard and was very proud to show us the bunkers that she had been digging!
Friday, we woke up and it was not raining so we were able to go outside and play on the slide! I followed Rob around everywhere and just think that he is the greatest! He could slide down by himself but I needed a little help. By the end of the morning I was filthy and needed to change clothes but it was worth it because I got to blow off a lot of energy. I also got to go to Verner for the first time and visit Nana! I walked all over the school and visited all of her friends. Sha Sha showed me all of her toys that sing and dance in the office and Miss Beth gave me a green cookie. I wore my polka dot outfit and everyone thought I was so cute with my curly hair! It was neat to walk around in Mama's old stomping grounds!I also loved getting in the chairs that rock. I felt like such a big girl. Nana turned on the bubble blower and that was so much fun for Rob and me! We got bubbles all in our hair so we needed a bath afterwards!

Then it was Nana's turn to play with us on the slide after nap time. As you can tell, I did not let Rob out of my site most of the weekend. I like hanging out with the big kids. That night the adults opened all of their presents while we were asleep so that Saturday could be all about us. They had a wonderful Christmas filled with surprises! Thank you Nana and Papa!
Saturday, it was our turn and we opened all of our gifts. Rob and I had fun tearing up all of the paper and we play really well together. I really like Christmas time. This time last year I really did not know what was going on but this year makes me wish it was Christmas all of the time! Saturday night, Mama won the Christmas Pig for the second year in a row! Yea Mama!
Sunday, the Skinners left to go home to LaGrange and, lucky for me, had to leave Rob's new motorcycle because it would not fit in their car. I found it in the kitchen and decided to take it for a spin! Mama and Dada say that this is the closest thing I will ever get to riding on a motorcycle and for now I am happy with that!

This was just a wonderful weekend all around! Nana and Papa had so many great snacks for us and tons of presents! I loved playing in their backyard and getting lots of loving! I was glad to have Robert, Betsy, Rob and Matthew there to for some extra attention! Thank you for all of the gifts and such a great time!!! I can't wait until next year!

Still Proud!

Last weekend was the SEC Championship between Alabama and Florida. Our boys hung in there but in the end, Florida won. We are still proud of The Tide though. We had a wonderful season and now we are headed to the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans to play Utah. Roll Tide. We watched the Game at Georgia Jayne's house. It was a lot of fun because GJ shared all of her toys with me. Miss Heather had lots of yummy snacks for us during the game too. For some reason they did not want us to eat the Rotel Dip.
At the end of the game, it was bath time and so we took one together. It was GJ's first time and I think that she was a little confused about why someone else was in her bath. I had fun handing her toys. Bath time is so much better when you have someone to share it with!
Thursday morning, I said a tearful goodbye to Mama and Dada for the weekend. They headed to Tante and Uncle Freddy's wedding in New Orleans. Mama was her Matron of Honor. Mimi and Grandpa got to take care of me for a long weekend. Friday was my first ever Christmas Pageant. We sang Frosty the Snowman and danced. I think that I was the best in my class though.
I wore the dress that Miss Holly, one of Mama's friends from work, made for me. I also wore the bow that Aunt Betsy gave me last Christmas. I looked so precious. Thank you Miss Holly and Aunt Betsy!
They walked us out in a line and then we danced to the music. Mimi said that I did such a wonderful job. I saw them in the crowd but still did everything that I was supposed to do. I am a natural on stage.
After my debut, I sat in the audience and watched the rest of the acts. I loved watching all of children sing and dance. Mama thinks that I look like an angel in this picture!
When we got home, I got my bath and then it was play time. I loved the Christmas tree. They put it up just for me and it has lots of animals on it! They also have their big tree but I can play with this one! I wore my snowflake pajamas since it was so cold outside. Mama and Dada said that it snowed in NOLA for the first time in 60 years. Next, I played with the book that lights up and sings. It combines two of my very favorite things...song and books!
The next morning, Mimi dressed me up in my cute new outfit that she bought and we went to Publix. I, of course, was a hit! I loved saying hi to everyone! Here I am sitting next to Mr Mistletoe, one of Mimi's favorite toys when she was my age. (This is a replica.) Mimi also had a fun Craft project planned for us to do while Mama and Dada were gone. I made Christmas Ornaments for everyone that has my hand print on one side and a snowman on the other side. It was a little more difficult than she thought because I wanted to dig my fingers in the clay! It took several trys but we finally got it right! Crafts are so much fun and it was a fun gift to give Mama, Dada, Nana and Papa when I got home. They immediately hung it on their tree! All of that hard work made me hungry! I have quite the appetite so I talked Grandpa into sharing his cookie with me. Funny how I am able to do things like that! I have a hunch that he did not mind sharing with me though! I am cutting my two top teeth now and so I am able to nibble instead of just slobber!
Then it was time for more play! Miss Martha gave me a soft Nativity scene in a purse which was so entertaining! I love to take the people and animals out and then put them back in! Thank you Miss Martha!

Sunday, Mama and Dada got back into town and I was at our house waiting on them. They woke me up from my nap with Nana and Papa and I was thrilled to see them. I told them about my wonderful weekend away with Mimi and Grandpa and they told me all about their trip to the Big Easy. She said that it was one of the best weddings that she has ever been to and had so much fun! She had fun hanging out with all of her friends like Miss Weldon and Miss Lee! Also, it was a fun weekend away with Dada! What a great weekend for everyone!

Check out my new video on Youtube...Anne Harman is Walking! Yes, that's right, I am officially walking now and they caught me on tape...such a big girl! You can click the link to the right!

The Great Thanksgiving!

Wow! What a fun weekend! Mama, Dada, Gretchen and I spent Wednesday to Sunday in Tuscaloosa with Nana and Papa. When we arrived Wednesday, everything was ready for me, including a pound cake that only managed to make it 24 hours. It was a huge hit! I had never had pound cake before and now I know why Mama loves it so much! That night, after bath time, I thought that I would try on Dada's shoes. I don't know about you but I think that it is a little to big for me.

Thursday, Mimi and Grandpa came into town to eat Thanksgiving Dinner. I always love it when I have all of my favorite people in one house! It was the craziest Thanksgiving I have ever had (of course, I do not really remember last year since I was only 14 days old!) The broccoli casserole caught on fire in the oven, Nana burned the bread and her hand in the process and the smoke alarm kept going off. Since everything was so hectic we forgot to put some of the food on the table, like the cranberry sauce and the spiced peaches that we have every year! It is a good thing that I was able to relax with Grandpa and play a few tunes on the piano during all of the chaos!
That afternoon I found the bouncer that I used to use at their house and decided that I wanted to play in it again. I would get in and out over and over again. I giggled the entire time! Then it was nap time, Mimi and Grandpa went home and the rest of the house took a little post dinner nap! Then Aunt Betsy called and asked if she could come in town a day early. Jack had been sick all day and she wanted did not want Rob and Matthew to get sick! We were so excited to have them in town!

Friday morning, Rob and I took turns eating Cheerios from Nana! We were lazy bones that morning and stayed in our pajamas most of the morning. As you can see, Gretchen tried to join in as well! She likes Cheerios too! That day Betsy, Mama and Dada got out and did some shopping while we stayed home with Nana and Pops. The Auburn game was that afternoon and we won! I got to go over to Mr Billy and Miss Beth's house to play with my friend Lily after the game. Miss Beth had fun feeding us puffs! Mr Billy could not believe how much I look like Mama when I was little!

That night, it was pops turn to give us extra loving! We were given Away in a Manger books for bedtime reading! I wore my Tinkerbell pajamas from Miss Amy who works at New Beacon Hospice with Mimi! Thank you Miss Amy!

Aunt Betsy wanted her time too! We were happy to spread out love around! I had a lot of fun with her, Rob and Matthew this weekend. Matthew was only 6 weeks old and I showed a little interest in him. Mainly when Mama was holding him. I wanted to touch his face but Mama said I could only touch his toes. I was really interested in his car seat!

Then it was time to take pictures for Nana and Papa's Christmas cards. They bought us these really cute matching outfits. At first, Rob held Matthew but it was hard to keep everyone still so we tried him in my lap instead! When they put him in my lap, I was stunned! I had never held a baby before. I think that I am a natural. Matthew slept through the whole thing. He is such a good baby!

While I checked out the bouncer again, Rob played with all of the toys the play music and sing. I am just fascinated with Rob! I love to watch his every move! He was such a good sharer this weekend and I had so much fun with him! I showed him how I dance to the music. I sway my hips back and forth!

The weather had been pretty dreary during the weekend but Sunday, it cleared up enough for us to go play outside. I had fun while Mama pushed me around the back yard in my car. We chased Gretchen around. She showed me all of the holes that she dug...she was so proud! She always sleeps for days when she comes home for Nana and Papa's and now I know why!

Since it was cold, I thought that I would sport my new mittens from Mimi. I was not so sure about them at first but they certainly keep my hands warm and I look cute wearing them! Thank you Mimi!

As you can see, it was a busy weekend and Gretchen was not the only one that needed a nap. I zonked out for about 45 minutes with Papa! I am such a good snuggler. I like to hold the tag on my loveys when I sleep.

Just so that you know, I have taken my first steps this week. I have done it at school and for Mama and Dada but I was not ready to show anyone else. I will be walking all over the place before you know it though!