Good Bye Warm Weather

A lot has been going on around the Hornbuckle House! What you say...keep reading and you will find out!
I know that you have all been at the edge of your seats waiting to see me in my cute Chef outfit next to my kitchen...well, here it is! I am so proud of it! I can make the BEST "IEAid" (lemonade) in the whole world. I have been also playing with my Tea Set that Aunt Betsy gave me and I know how to set it up all by myself. I also went to see Dr Stacey and was 36.25 inches and 29 pounds. I am on track to be 5'11'' if I keep this up!
George officially has two bottom teeth and he loves to show them off. He is such a smiley baby! I know that they call me Smiley but I think that it should be him name instead! You have to be careful with the two new additions though because he will give you a little love nibble if you are not watching!

That weekend, Mr Brian came by for a visit! Friday, he stopped by just for a few minutes and then Saturday, he came over to watch the game with Miss Paget. I showed her my kitchen! I am warming up to Brian more because now I will talk while he is in the room! George loves him! He wanted to sit next to him on the floor and they played with our toys. Gretchen tried to get in the action too! She does not like being left out. Look how little he is next to Brian!
Miss Beth gave me some new slippers that I just adore. Since it is cold now, I love the way they keep my feet warm on the tile. Gretchen came in from outside and her little paws were freezing so I shared them with her. I am such a good sharer!

She got so warm and cozy that she fell asleep! Now that is the life. She is such a snuggler!

Saturday, I got ready for the game by playing a little basketball and pushing my grocery cart around the back porch. I had to wear my sunglasses though so that nobody would recognize me. Being such a blog star with so many followers is tough work you know! That morning, we went to the zoo. We have a membership now so we might as well use it. I got to see the zebras this time. I also got to go inside the bird sanctuary and have them fly all around me, which was fun! George had fun just riding around in the stroller. The seals scared me when they barked at each other!

That afternoon, we set up the TV on the back porch and play stations for George and me and enjoyed a semi-warm day. It was really hard keep George on the blanket though. He was more interested in the leaves than the toys. In fact, he started throwing-up that afternoon and we thought he had a virus and then finally, he threw up a leaf! I guess he snuck one past us! I tried to help Mama and Daddy with keeping him in line though! We finally decided that it was a better idea to put him in the exersaucer. He loves it and I love to show him how all the toys work. He just loves being outside so he was happy.
It was just a fun day all together. I snacked all day, which is one of my favorite things to do! I love days where I get to spend the entire day with my whole family outside!

The next morning, we got all dressed up for church in matching outfits! Mama loves it when we look the same. I am actually wearing a dress that Nana made for Mama when she was my age. I have lots of dresses that I wear from when she was a little girl.

After church, I showed George around my kitchen. I am working on letting him play with the food. I do not like it very much but I love my brother so I am learning to share. He likes to cook too so I am teaching him everything I know. I like to watch Mama cook and I can tell you that the meat is cooked when it turns brown. I love to taste everything when she is cooking. Gretchen sits underneath us while we are at my kitchen waiting on the pretend food to fall.

That afternoon, GJ and Miss Heather came over to play. GJ stayed for dinner and we loved to eat with each other. We had fun playing in my room and outside. We think that it is funny to be in my room alone because we feel like such big girls! When Mama and Daddy went to get George up from bed the next weekend, this is how they found him! Guess what they did that day...lowered his crib! It was a really hard thing for Mama because he is growing up so fast! Congrats George on your newest milestone met!

The same weekend, I did something really smart. Mama and I were watching Elmo on TV and they were talking about the letter K. He asked, "Do you know what starts with the letter K?" and I said "KITE!" Then I recognized a pattern and told Mama the next color in the pattern. I amaze them every day with everything I am learning.

We then went to Lights Up at The Summit was so much fun. We started off at Tavern on the Summit. It is not really kid friendly and they actually brought me water in a wine glass! I thought it was funny to be drinking out of a Mama glass!

We went with Miss Mary Beyer, Mr Paul, Bitsy and Sullivan! I had so much fun until the fireworks started. I learned that night that I am not a big fan of fireworks. I clung to Mama and Daddy so tight. George thought that they were pretty. I loved the parade though and I saw Santa in real life for the first time! Very exciting!

Saturday night, George, Mama and I went over to GJ's while Daddy was refereeing Basketball for Mountain Brook Athletics. Her whole family was in town because James was getting baptised. When had fun playing in her room, running around the yard, eating dinner and then we topped it off with a Popsicle! What a great couple of weeks!

Happy 2nd Birthday to ME!

It is that time again and one of my favorite times of the year...MY BIRTHDAY! I use this time each year to reminisce about the years past and look at all that I have accomplished.
It seems like only yesterday to everyone that I had just entered the world at 8 pounds 1 ounce and 21.5 inches long. I was so alert and mesmerized by all of the new sights and sounds around me. Even then, I was busy and always looking for something to focus on. My family was so lucky to have me join them and they became the happiest people alive!

At one year, I was about to walk and finally getting some teeth! I was talking some and was really good at sign language. I continued to stay busy and loved to learn. I had made some wonderful friends and loved school. My family thought I was so beautiful and sweet and I was still the only apple in their eye (besides Gretchen) because George was still growing under Mama's heart and had not officially joined us.
Now, I am TWO and can really say anything that you want me to say as long as I feel like cooperating! I have become a little parrot so everyone needs to be careful around me because you never know what I might pick up! I can jump with both feet off the ground. I can say my ABCs and count to ten. I know all of my animals and sounds and love to read books aloud. My family thinks that I am even more beautiful than ever and love my curly hair! I am a big sister and am quite possibly the sweetest one ever! I love my brother, family, school and just life in general. It does not mean that I am not still sassy but at least I am cute while I am doing it.

My birthday week was the best because Uncle Robert, Aunt Betsy, Rob and Matthew all came in town just for me! We thought that it was fun to sit by the window and look at books. We also took all of the paper off of the crayons and made a mess!

I brought my chairs from home and Matthew like sitting in it. He felt like such a big boy. He is all over the place now and we think that he will be walking soon.

Saturday, was the Alabama LSU game and so we went out to campus and saw some of Mama and Daddy's friends. George and I got all dressed up in our Alabama gear in support and had a blast! I saw Big Al and stopped for a picture. I love to say Roll Tide and I say it with such compassion! Alabama Won! Roll Tide!!Sunday was my Birthday and so we had my Birthday Party that morning. We had it at Nana and Papa's house since everyone was going to be in town for the game. Everyone came over for brunch and to celebrate with me. My friend, Lily came since she was in Tuscaloosa which made it so much more fun! We had fun running all over the back yard!

Rob and I had fun running all over the backyard too! We also watched Gretchen dig a crater in the ground! I love my cousin Rob! Mama really likes this picture because we look so little next to those big trees! We set up a play area in the back yard for the babies. Matthew could not come outside during the party because he got really sick the night before from all of his allergies. Lily had fun playing with George and Mimi did a great job supervising and making sure that George did not eat any leaves!

Tante, Lee and Weldon all came over. They would not miss my birthday party for the world! I do not remember a time when I did not know them! I am glad that they were there for my special day.

I got a basketball goal from Nana and Papa and George thought that it would be a great time to get acquainted. Daddy gladly helped him. It is hard to believe that he fits in the goal now but one day will be as big a Daddy! I was a good sharer.
Nana did a great job making sure that everything was perfect for my day. Between her, Mimi and Sha Sha, we had some really great food that everyone really enjoyed!
This is my birthday cake. This year, I had a My Little Pony Cake. Like last year, Mama chose a fun toy that she used to play with and now it is becoming popular again. I love horses and this one came with a kaleidoscope.I do not know if you can tell but I spent some time with the icing before it was time to really eat it. Once I saw it, it was really hard for anyone to pull me away. I wanted to sit right by it so Mimi sat in there with me to help me make sure that nobody touched it.

Rob and Lily sat next to me during my special time. Everyone gathered in the living room and began to sing to me. As you can tell, I love being the center of attention!
At first I was just happy that it was finally my turn to have the Happy Birthday song sang to me. I have watched my friends all get their special day at school and mine was finally here!

Then I looked around at amazement and got the silly grin on my face. Rob got a little excited and blew out my candles for me at first so we just re-lit them and then it was Harmie's turn. I had been practicing for months so I was totally prepared to preform for everyone!Then it was time to open all of my presents! Everyone really went overboard this year! I got some really great toys and clothes! When I saw my new dog and carrying case, I almost did not open anything else. Mimi and Grandpa gave me a kitchen for my birthday, which you will see in the next blog, and so I got lots of accessories to go with my kitchen. I got some food, an apron and chef hat and a towel that says Bama Girl Kitchen! It is hanging at the top of my kitchen so that everyone knows who I am cheering for!I got a few cute outfits, a New Orleans Saints T-shirt and a shirt from Maggie that has Maggie on it. I guess she wants to make sure that I think about her even when I am not with her!
After cake, Tante took me outside to play for a little while until she had to go back to New Orleans. I took my french fries outside to my water table to make sure that they were cooked good for me to serve.

Tante was willing to give my gourmet a try and was very impressed with my cooking skills. Who could pass up my fries served on a shovel?!
Then it was time for her and Uncle Freddy to leave. I am always sad when she has to go home. We are going to try to get her signed up to Skype so that we can start talking on the computer. She is the best Godmother in the whole world and loves me so very much! I can't wait until I have a Godsister one day! :-)

Mama had a test the next day so I left with Mimi and Grandpa and went back to their house to spend the night so that she could study. She had a really hard time letting me go but knew that it was for the best. Her and Daddy love me so much and are so proud of all that I have accomplished and the little person that I have become. They love to watch me grow and think and learn. They say that I am one of the best things that they have ever done (George is the other, if you were wondering!)
That afternoon, I had fun playing with my basketball goal. I have great skills. I do not throw the ball to shoot yet but I am really good at dunking, or at least that is what I call it! It was a great ending to a wonderful day! Thank you to everyone who has made my last year of life such a wonderful one! Until next time...

Nana and Papa's and Happy Halloween!

Last weekend, we went to Tuscaloosa for the Tennessee Game. Mama, George and I went on Thursday night to help Nana and Papa around the house. George wore his football pjs in honor of the weekend!

George has warmed up to Papa now and loves giving him lots of smiles! It warms his heart! I know that everyone calls me Smiley but I think that they should call George Smiley since he smiles all of the time!

Then it was my turn with Papa. We read lots of books and I turned the pages! I was very bossy this weekend. I told everyone where I wanted them to sit and surprisingly, they followed my command! I have everyone wrapped!

George is really into doing the raspberries. He does them all day long and then laughs. I guess that it tickles his tongue. Another thing George can do...CRAWL and PULL UP! Oh yes, that is right! He did it on Wednesday and we just could not believe it! Our little boy is growing up so fast!

The next day, Daddy came in town after work and we were so glad to see him. If your can't tell, I am not really into pictures right now so when the camera came out, I tried to run! By the way, the sam day that George crawled, I counted to 5 correctly! Mama gave me the biggest hug but got teary! Too much in one day, she said!

After bath, I had Papa move to the couch so that I could read him a few books! I can read Go Dog Go and Mr Brown Can Moo from start to finish all by myself using my words. Mama and Daddy and amazed every day with all that I can do. My favorite thing to do on my way to school is point out landmarks. I even know where Daddy's office is!

Saturday was game day and time to party! I dressed in my cute Alabama outfit and played outside for a while! George donned his Alabama John John. We are a pretty cute pair!

Then it was time for our Annual Bama Game Family Photo. George was not here last year for it. I like that he is here this year. It makes life much more interesting with him here! Roll Tide!

Nana and Papa wanted to have their turn. Nana actually went to the game with the girls and had so much fun. If you can't tell by the look on George's face, he is constantly teething! Mama and Daddy have to give him Tylenol and Teething Tablets and pretend to give me Tylenol and Teething Tablets. I think that everything he gets, I should get too!

Then it was time for George's first Big Boy Bath! I wanted to take it with him. As you can tell, he was not very amused and cried the entire time. Actually, screamed the entire time! I was very sweet though that I tried to comfort him. I patted him on the back and said "It's okay Georgie!" We will try it again some other time!

Although George is growing so big and strong every day, Mama loves this picture because you see just how little he really is! He may be sitting, crawling and pulling up but he is still a baby!

His favorite thing to do in the world in Bounce and Bounce! The way that the door frames are at their house, Johnny jump-up will not work very well. He was really missing his jumping so Papa and Daddy went to the store and got him a floor bouncer! He LOVES it and can bounce as much as he wants now!

Like I have said, George has been working with a sippy cup at school and is really getting good at it! He is also feeding himself finger foods. He has a little trouble getting the puffs to his mouth but is working on it!

Since George had a sippy cup, I wanted one too! Only, I got to each a few chips! George is too little for chips!

Friday was our Halloween Parties at school. George came to my class for a little while until Daddy could get here. He sat at our table next to my best friend, Owen. He thought he was hot stuff sitting at the big kids table!

I sat on the other side of the table next to Charlie and Lexie! We had lots of great food and it was nice to have our families all be there!

This is Miss Ruthia! She is the one that takes care of George all day! She is so sweet and loving to George and it warms Mama's heart that someone else can give him snuggles in her absence. Next to her is one of the twins, Andrew. He is in George's group and the funny thing is that most people think that they he and George are twins instead of Andrew and Will!

After snack time, it was play time and I wanted show off the fort in my room! Next thing I know, everyone joins me and we ended up with all 11 of us in the fort! Mass chaos but so much fun!

When we got home, we took a few Halloween pictures next to our pumpkins. I thought that it needed a hug! Mama and I did an art project and painted this pumpkin only she did not get a picture of just the two of us.

George sat next to the pumpkin that I made at Rob's house! He poses for pictures great! He must have gone to the Skinner School of Smiling for pictures! (meaning Rob and Matthew)

The nex day was actual Halloween! I was Snow Shite and George was a monkey! Wasn't I just the most beautiful Snow White that you have ever seen! You can see my pumpkin now! I am such an artiste! George's costume was almost too small but we still got it on him! As you can see, the little thumb sucker has his thumb ready!

We went to the parade in Crestline and it was a lot bigger deal than we initially thought! We met Mimi and Grandpa, The Stuckey's and the Haver's there. Georgia Jayne was an Elephant and thrilled because she had her juice box! James was there too but spent most of his time with Curt out of the crowd!

Mimi could not get over how cute we were! She had to steal some of George's sugar! He was the cutest little money that she had ever seen!
Grandpa was smitten with me and so was Daddy, if you can't tell! I loved being the center of attention! I wonder where I got that from?!

The parade was so exciting! They threw candy, moon pies, Mardi Gras beads, cups, t-shirts, and toys! I really liked seeing the fire truck! I could not quit pointing to everything!

Sunday, we joined the zoo! It is going to be great investment since I love animals so much! I have been here once before but I was so little that I really did not appreciate it! I got to see all of the animals that I see on TV in real life and loved it!

My favorite animal is a giraffe and I was just beside myself when I saw them so up and close! I saw one drinking water and thought that was funny. I started to stick my tongue out too!

George just liked being outside and being with me. He kept trying to hold my hand though. I humored him for a little bit but then told him that he had to stay on his side of the stroller! I have gotten really fond of saying "No George!" I like to make him laugh though!

Boo at the Zoo was the night before and they still had everything set up. Here I am as Annie Oakley. That is what they call Mama because she is such a good shot! I can't wait to go hunting for my first time!

George was Jessie James! Be careful, don't let that sweet face fool you! Anyway, Halloween was super fun this year! I can't wait for next year when I get to go Trick or Treating!