This was such a wonderful Christmas!! The night before, Mama and Daddy told me that Santa was going to come and bring my toys but I was a little unsure about someone coming into my house until...when we awoke, this is what was down stairs! Santa had really come to visit George and me! Now I know what all of the fuss is about! We got lots of toys and books! 
He filled all of our stockings with lots of fun gifts and candy! He even came to see Gretchen! I guess that she was good all year too, well, most of the time!
Everyone came in my room to get me and I was overwhelmed with excitement! I understood a little more about what was going on this year!
I did not know which present to go to first! George followed right behind me to see all of the wonderful new things in our den.
Lots of pictures were taken and Gretchen wanted to be a part of the action. She did a good job herding George around. He was not really sure what to think about everything!
One of my favorite toys was My Little Pony! George kept taking the flags off of the top and I kept putting them back on. I had fun brushing their hair and setting it up for play. Funny...Mama had one just like this when she was a little girl! I wonder how Santa made it look so much like the one that she used to play with!
Mama taught Tante to braid My Little Pony and I hope that when I get a little bigger that she will teach me too. Until then, I'll enjoy brushing their hair. I think that they are due for a shampoo.
There was one gift after another and it was just the best morning. Since George is so little, I got to open his gifts too! My cast did not slow me down one bit!
George and Gretchen had a great time watching me open all of our presents. They are not really good at the opening part yet so I decided that I would be the official gift opener for the family this year. Next year, I will let George try out for my assistant.
We got this really neat book that is also a puzzle. I had fun putting it together and George had fun chewing on the foamy pieces. We also got a Sesame Street book that plays all of our favorite songs. I can put the CDs in all by myself!
We also got a Cookie Monster that laughs and rolls around and an Elmo that tells stories and talks to us! That is hours of entertainment for George and I like to make them move but then I keep my distance while they are doing their thing!
George was so happy all morning but who wouldn't be?!? It was really nice to see him all smiles since he and feeling so crummy all week! We are both still coughing a lot but all of the gifts kept our minds off it for a bit!
He got a really big Curious George Monkey that was one of the hits of the morning! It was one of the first things that I saw! Gretchen was not so sure about it though!
He was really sweet to let me play with it! I was a little unsure about it at first but after a little reassurance from Grandpa I was ready for it! I like to run and tackle it when I walk in the room!
Then George wanted it back so I let him and Daddy play with it for a while. George likes to rub his face on it's soft fur. It is 3 times the size of George this Christmas but it won't stay that way for long! 
All of that playing just wore George out! He took a little rest break on one of his favorite places, Daddy's chest. You can tell when he is tired because grabs hold of your shirt and starts sucking his thumb.
Then it was time for stockings and I opened all of them! I got a baby doll feeding set and George got toy cars. We both got candy but I got to eat his because he it "too leetle!"
Then it was time for Gretchen to open her stocking! She got Canine Carry Outs, Snausages and a bone shaped tin of treats! I made sure that she got her fair share of treats...it is Christmas after all! 
Mama and Daddy are so proud of our little family and love us both so very much. They cannot believe all that we are doing and had a blast watching us open all of our gifts and seeing the looks on our faces.
Do you think that they are proud Grandparents or what!?! We are so lucky to have all four grandparents that love us so much! Everyone took turns loving on us and we like being the center of their attention! Our teachers are going to have their hands full when we go back to school!
Then it was time for a little story time with Papa. I like to read the books TO you not the other way around. I tell you what pictures I see and do a lot of jabbering! You can also see my cast really well in this picture.
George has started eating Cheerios and I told him that they used to be one of my most favorite things in the world! He is really getting good at feeding himself. His hand-eye coordination is really progressing! We had grits casserole, potato casserole and fruit. George tried some of the potatoes and loved them.
That afternoon, we went to Mimi and Grandpa's to do our last Christmas gift opening! I like our Christmas tradition because Christmas lasts so long! I helped everyone open their gifts! Frankly, I do not know what they would have done without me!! 
Our big gift from them this year was a huge Radio Flyer Rocking Horse! It took me a little while to get used to it but then I was a rocking fool! We even let George give it a spin! It is really cool because it makes sounds when you ride it! 
Uncle David gave me a computer and George a Radio Flyer push wagon. They were two of our favorite gifts!! I always see Mama and Daddy typing on their laptop and now I have one of my own! George has been practicing walking behind his push toy and I must say that he is doing a really good job!!
Mimi found the cutest shirt for George that says "What happens at Mimi's, Stays at Mimi's!" George liked that idea so he went ahead and put on his shirt!
Again, I thought that all of the gifts were mine and that everyone needed my help with the opening process. Grandpa was happy for me to help!
Maggie was even gracious enough for me to help her with her gifts! Maggie loves me and my brother. We have to watch George though because he likes to grab all of our dogs hair and although we are quite sure that they won't do anything, it is better to be safe than sorry until he understands how to treat animals.
I would open a few gifts and then take a spin on my horse. I was a little apprehensive but then I just decided that it was so much fun! Mimi and Grandpa are currently looking for a stable to keep her in when we are not visiting.
George had more fun playing with the laundry baskets full of wrapping paper more than anything else! He really likes going to their house because he can crawl around the kitchen/den/dining room circle all that he wants!
David helped us out with George when he started to get fussy. He was not feeling his best and lets face it, it was a lot of stimulation for a child his age so he was exhausted! George enjoyed the down time!
After opening all of our gifts, George and I decided to have a pretend picnic behind the Christmas tree. We thought that we were doing something that we shouldn't have and so we look like we have been caught in the act! It was a great little hiding place back there though!
Dinner was wonderful! We had our annual rib roast, brown rice, mashed potatoes, jello feast! This year David made chocolate pecan pie and it was delicious! George ate cheerios so that he would not be left out. Mama gave him some of her jello and now he has decided that it one of his favorite things!
The next week, we were out of school because it was closed for teacher training and the holiday. Of course, George was going to be home anyway because of his pneumonia. Monday morning, we got up like we were going to go to school because Mimi and Grandpa were coming over to keep us for the day since Mama and Daddy had to go to work. We found the laundry basket and decided it was our new play toy!
Daddy was sure to stand behind us to make sure that we were safe and that we did not tumble out! He is the best Daddy in the world by far! Mimi had some pictures from this day but something happened to her camera and they were all erased. Sorry Mimi!
The next day, I went back to see Dr Doyle to have my cast taken off and to get the first look at my thumb. They had all kinds of toys in the waiting room and so I had to try them all out!
I really wanted Daddy to get in the playhouse with me and so he tried. The secretaries behind the desk all started running out and were laughing pretty hard...so was Mama! Oh, the things you do for the ones you love!
When they called me back, they asked me what I was having done today and I said "A A Harmie get her cast off, excited!" They all thought that I was just adorable and I put a really big smile on all of their faces. I have a really great gift of doing that for people! I cried a little after they took my cast off but the bandaid that they gave me made it all better.
After my appointment, we met Mimi and George on 280 so that I could go home with her for our second day out of school. When we got to their house, George spent some time helping Uncle David with some computer issues. He is so advanced.
This was our last visit with Uncle David and we were sad to see him go. We usually only get to see him once a year. We had a wonderful time with him and I think that he enjoyed it as well. Thank you Uncle David for everything and we look forward to seeing you next time!
As you can see, that day my finger did not bother me in the least. I get a skittle when I do my thumb exercises and I get to wear a dora bandaid! I am also riding our horse alone now...such a big girl!
After opening all of our gifts, George and I decided to have a pretend picnic behind the Christmas tree. We thought that we were doing something that we shouldn't have and so we look like we have been caught in the act! It was a great little hiding place back there though!
Dinner was wonderful! We had our annual rib roast, brown rice, mashed potatoes, jello feast! This year David made chocolate pecan pie and it was delicious! George ate cheerios so that he would not be left out. Mama gave him some of her jello and now he has decided that it one of his favorite things! The next week, we were out of school because it was closed for teacher training and the holiday. Of course, George was going to be home anyway because of his pneumonia. Monday morning, we got up like we were going to go to school because Mimi and Grandpa were coming over to keep us for the day since Mama and Daddy had to go to work. We found the laundry basket and decided it was our new play toy! Daddy was sure to stand behind us to make sure that we were safe and that we did not tumble out! He is the best Daddy in the world by far! Mimi had some pictures from this day but something happened to her camera and they were all erased. Sorry Mimi! The next day, I went back to see Dr Doyle to have my cast taken off and to get the first look at my thumb. They had all kinds of toys in the waiting room and so I had to try them all out! I really wanted Daddy to get in the playhouse with me and so he tried. The secretaries behind the desk all started running out and were laughing pretty hard...so was Mama! Oh, the things you do for the ones you love! When they called me back, they asked me what I was having done today and I said "A A Harmie get her cast off, excited!" They all thought that I was just adorable and I put a really big smile on all of their faces. I have a really great gift of doing that for people! I cried a little after they took my cast off but the bandaid that they gave me made it all better.
After my appointment, we met Mimi and George on 280 so that I could go home with her for our second day out of school. When we got to their house, George spent some time helping Uncle David with some computer issues. He is so advanced.
This was our last visit with Uncle David and we were sad to see him go. We usually only get to see him once a year. We had a wonderful time with him and I think that he enjoyed it as well. Thank you Uncle David for everything and we look forward to seeing you next time!
As you can see, that day my finger did not bother me in the least. I get a skittle when I do my thumb exercises and I get to wear a dora bandaid! I am also riding our horse alone now...such a big girl! Mama and Daddy say this Christmas was the best Christmas yet because we were all together and George was with us this year. Everyone really came together to make it all happen when we were not sure that it would and we all appreciate it more than you know! Thank you everyone for everything and George and I love you very much!
Then it was time for George! He rode in on a wagon with his best friends, the twins, Andrew and Will. They did not even try to climb out of it! We were so proud of George and how great he was in his first Christmas Program!
After it was over, I went over to congratulate him and stopped for a few pictures. In case some of you are wondering, for some reason this year, they wanted us to wear a white shirt with blue jeans instead of our cute Christmas clothes. I still looked cute though and George looked like a dream!
Friday night, we went to Tuscaloosa to spend the night with Nana and Papa. It was a fun weekend and it was nice for Mama to have some help since Daddy was refereeing basketball. Papa was actually hunting that weekend but made a special trip back because he could not stand to be away from us. When he walked in, it was like I was seeing a celebrity! That weekend, since he was not there, I decided that I should keep his chair warm. George tried to join me but I distracted him with a cookie!
Miss Amy gave me a really cute Roll Tide bag for Christmas and now I think that I am really cool! It is perfect with my whole Alabama ensemble! Thank you Miss Amy! 
George now has two front top teeth! He is really proud of them and likes to show them off to everyone! They are pretty big right now but we are sure that he will grow into them eventually! The two top side teeth are trying to cut through so his little gums have been really sore. Thank goodness for teething tablets. I like to take them too! 
The next weekend was Skinner Family Christmas weekend! It was so much fun playing with all of my family all weekend. It was really cold outside so we spent most of the weekend destroying Nana and Papa's house! Rob and I always have so much fun together!
The Skinner's came in town from Lagrange and we all got dressed in our matching pajamas. Nana and Papa always have so many fun things for us to eat and so Robert and Betsy were trying to figure out what everyone should have for dinner!
That night, the adults opened all of their gifts. Everyone had a wonderful Christmas this year and got some really great gifts! Matthew and Rob were still awake so they got to help. Rob opened the presents and Matthew played with the paper and boxes!
The next morning, everyone woke up and we played in the den for a while while everyone ate breakfast. George and Matthew had a great time together! They had fun taking toys from each other, wrestling around and pulling at each others hair and clothes. They are so much alike.
Then Aunt Betsy wanted a little quality time with George. George was pretty fussy all weekend because he did not feel very good. He went to the doctor the day before and the started him on a z-pack because they said that he had bronchitis.
Then it was time for our Christmas picture! Amazingly enough, they were able to get all of us to sit in front of the Christmas tree for about 3 minutes so that they could take lots of pictures. All of the boys have the same pjs and I have the girl version. Aren't we a cute group of babies!
I really have started to warm up to Uncle Robert, finally! He thinks that it is funny how girly I am. He is used to being around all of the boys so I am certainly a big change! I can hang with the boys pretty well though and that is why I am such a cool little girl! My best friend is a boy after all, Owen!
Aunt Betsy gave me the gift of the day! My princess shoes are one of my favorite gifts! I wore them all around the house and looked down at them the entire time! I look so adorable in them! Rob even wanted to try them on but I think that they are only meant for girls!
That afternoon, Papa spent some time playing with the little ones on the floor. They showed him how all of the toys work! You know, sometimes I do not know what everyone would do without us!
That night, after bath, George played in his diaper for a little bit. He does not like sitting still to have his diaper changed or get dressed! He is constantly trying to roll over and that makes it very difficult! Once again, does he not have the cutest legs!! It was a wonderful weekend and I think that I speak for everyone in our family when I say THANK YOU both sets of Skinners!
Sunday morning, we all got up and had to leave early to take George to the doctor. He had been up all night with breathing issues and when we got to after hours clinic, they decided to admit him to the Special Care Unit at Children's, which is the step down ICU. They hooked him up to all kinds of monitors with all kinds of wires! The only time that he was alert was about 45 minutes after he took Motrin. He was diagnosed with brochiolitis and then pneumonia. He has really been through it! 
On Monday, it was time for my scheduled trigger thumb release and everyone decided that I should go ahead and have it fixed even though George was sick. I was going to be out of school anyway and we had lots of extra help. They put a bracelet on my ankle and I got to play with the blue gloves. I was so brave and everyone was so proud of me!
