George's First Thanksgiving

I thought that it was time for George to get the spotlight picture slot since it was his first Thanksgiving! I know that I am an old hat at Thanksgiving by now, being that it is my 3rd but this year, I was even more thankful than last year because I have a wonderful brother to love! Aunt Melissa came in town to spend Thanksgiving with us this year and we were so glad to have her. She is always so much fun. Nana and Mama were much more prepared this year. They had almost everything ready by the time that Mimi, Grandpa and Melissa arrived. This year there were no fires or injuries so I guess that Aunt Melissa brought good luck too!
You know what else she brought? That's right, presents!! She brought me two puzzles and George some peek-a-boo toys. One of my puzzles makes animal noises and the other is the alphabet. Right now, I am really interested in which letter represents which person. George likes his toy because when he shakes it, it makes noise and he laughs.
Everyone took turns playing with George and me all day long. I always love times when all of my favorite people gather around us to give us all the attention we could ask for!

It was a really pretty day so we got to spend a little time outside. I showed Melissa my table and I also liked making George laugh by grabbing his foot. I can make him laugh more than anyone else. He loves me the most (sorry Mama!) The next week, we spent the night with Mimi and Grandpa one night. Mimi let me decorate my tree and showed me how to put the ornaments on the branches. It is so beautiful but everyone thinks that it is even better because I decorated it! When I got home, Mama showed me the pictures they sent and asked if I had fun decorating Mimi and Grandpa's tree and I quickly corrected her and said "no, A A Harmie's tree!"
As you can see, I am a pro when it come to putting the ornaments on the tree now. Since George is really into pulling the ornaments off the tree, I can help Mama and Daddy by replacing them. Sisters help out their brothers like that!
The next morning when I woke, Mimi and Grandpa realized my parents forgot to pack my jacket so I got to borrow my Daddy's old Basketball jacket that he wore when he was little. I like to call it Daddy's Baby Jacket. It was a little big but it did the trick in keeping me warm. Plus, I just look so darn cute!

That weekend, it snowed! I was so thrilled and could not wait to get out in it! I was glad to have Daddy's Baby Jacket because I wanted to wear it in the snow. I wore my mittens and bundled up so that Papa could show me all of the cold, white, beautiful goodness outside. George got to see it too but just for a second because he it too little. I love to say "George too leetle."
At first, I was a little apprehensive but Papa held me tight and so I was not scared. Mama got the experience on camera. It snowed a whole inch and a half! Huge for Alabama!!

I made my hand prints in the snow and Mama thought that it was really cute so she took a picture of it. She has a picture of Gretchen's paws in the snow from last year. We will get George's next time! Then, I thought that it would be fun to make snowballs. Well, at least until my hands went numb and then I was over the snow really quickly! Mama had a great idea on how to make my snowballs into something beautiful!
I helped Mama make the perfect Alabama snowman. You know that can't be that big in Alabama so we have to be thankful for what we are able to work with! It was my "Baby Leetle Noman!"

I know that this is really random but we all LOVE George's Fat legs!! His thighs are just adorable and chunky! He has gotten really mobile and loves to pull up on everything so we are getting lots of great views of the chops! That afternoon, Mimi and Grandpa came and picked us up to spend the night with them so that Mama and Daddy could have a date. George and I were dauled in our Alabama dress in honor of the SEC championship! We are really great at doing our part!

George tried to help decorate the tree but he is not quite as coordinated as I am. Like I said before, I think that he likes taking the ornaments off more than putting them on! Maggie was very interested in learning his technique!Then it was time to don my apron for Christmas craft time! I like it because it has pockets and I like to keep my hands warm. I have one at home and like to wear it when Mama wears hers!

We attempted to make our annual hand print ornaments for everyone but neither George or I were very cooperative! They did not turn out as well as last year but it was still fun getting our hands dirty!

George was reading my blog from Christmas last year so that he would know what to expect and saw that I had a picture next to Mr Mistletoe and so he did not want to be left out! Mr Mistletoe was one of Mimi's favorite childhood toys (again, this one is a replica!)

To end the day, I got to decorate my very own gingerbread man! I think that I did a really great job if I do say so myself! It was a wonderful day! George and I were very glad to be where we were because Mama and Daddy's date ended up consisting of them taking turns in the bathroom during the entire game because they got the stomach flu! Very romantic, huh?! Mimi and Grandpa got it the next day...you gotta love daycare bugs that we bring home to the whole family...ahhh memories!

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...