I'm One and Spring Break 2009

I turned 1 on April 5th. Mommy had turned my car seat around the night before so I got to ride facing forward on my way to church. I signed "all done" on the way because I just wasn't used to it. But mommy said that I had to get used to it. I've grown to like it. After church we went out for a hibachi table lunch. The man sang Happy Birthday to me and shot silly string in my eyes. I gave him a "what are you doing" look but he just smiled and laughed and gave me my ice cream.

The next morning we headed to Florida for my 6th visit. We saw cousin Austen, Aunt Mimi, and Uncle Billy. And then the next day we headed to Orlando and prepared for invading Disney World.

I got a 1st visit pin and a Happy Birthday one too that mommy put on my hat and we rode the Ferry boat across. We went on the following rides - Magic Carpet Ride, Haunted Mansion (I slept through it), Pirates of the Caribbean, Thunder Mountain, Stitch's Great Escape, Carousel of Progress, Buzz Lightyear ride (my favorite), Jungle Cruise (we did it @ night which was cool), It's a Small World (I was mesmerized), Peter Pan, and Mickey's Philhar Magic. Daddy found my souvenir of the day in Adventureland - an elephant that converts from a plush to a pillow (I've been sleeping with it). The characters we saw were Stitch, Buzz Lightyear, Peter Pan, Captain Hook, Smead, and Donald Duck. I was asleep by the time we left and didn't realize that we rode the monorail.

The next day Cooper decided to go to Hollywood Studios. We began the day with a character breakfast featuring Leo and June (Little Einsteins) and JoJo and Goliath (JoJo's Circus) from Playhouse Disney. We had super yummy food and filled our bellies up (they had Mickey Mouse shaped waffles!) until dinner time and I had a blast meeting the characters, getting them to sign my book, and dancing with them. We even got cupcakes to celebrate my birthday. They had orange muffins and I devoured one.

The rides/show we went on/saw were Star Tours (I actually couldn't go on this one so I hung out with mommy and then daddy while they did the ride switch thing), Muppets 3D, Sounds Dangerous (nap time for me!), Toy Story 3D (I really liked), Little Mermaid show, Stunt Cars show (I loved the fast cars), A Walk Through of Walt Disney's Life (nap time again for me), Movie Ride, Honey I Shrunk the Kids Playground (I went down a huge slide while a lot of people watched), Prince Caspian show (terrible!!!), Playhouse Disney show featuring Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Little Einsteins, Handy Manny, and My Friends Tigger and Pooh. I saw a lot of characters at Hollywood Studios: JoJo, Goliath, Leo, June, Annie, Goofy, Pluto (I got to play with his nose), Mickey Mouse (I grabbed his ears and stared at his hands), Bolt, Frozone, Lightning McQueen, Tow Mater. We also went through an animation class and daddy and I played with his wallet while mommy and Cooper drew. Oh and we ate dinner at Pizza Planet from Toy Story. We watched birds eat our pizza crumbs there. I bought a princess crown with blue and diamond jewels and a set of 6 princesses as my souvenirs. That night I fell asleep while we went to Fantasmic.

We had lunch the next day with Ms. Katherine (she gave me some clothes!!!) and headed to Papa and Nanny's. Mommy and daddy started preparing for my 1st birthday party. Mommy made me a special cake just for me along with a really nice lunch. We had lots of family there including 3 great grandmothers, 1 great grandfather, all my grandparents, and aunts, uncles, and cousins. I got a lot of really cool toys including a grow with me kitchen, a little 4 wheeler, clothes, jewelry, baby dolls, a musical guitar, blocks, and bowls and such. I had so much fun on my birthday and have decided to have MANY more!

I have really started playing even more and I can walk really well now even turning around. I am enjoying the beginning of toddlerhood.

These Legs Were Made for Walking

And that's just what I do! I can walk now. I've been walking really well for about two weeks now. The last couple of days I have really taken off and can walk much longer distances. I started taking my first steps a while back but learning to balance on these two legs has taken some time. I still crawl sometimes when I want to get somewhere fast, but I am definitely on the move. What I really enjoy doing is climbing. Mommy has found me 2/3 of the way up the stairs, on top of the train table, on the living rooms chairs, on the stool in the kitchen, and attempting much more (I actually crawled on top of the table at brother's school yesterday at a party - it isn't a party until someone gets on top of a table). I am just trying to make sure she pays attention to me. Seriously I love to climb - so watch out world, here I come!

By the way, everyone keeps telling me I'm about to have a birthday. I'm not sure what that means. I hear some cake, a party, and a trip to Disney World is coming up in a few days. But the best news I've heard so far is that my car seat will be turned around tomorrow!!! I am super excited.

In and Out

I have been having a ton of fun lately putting objects into containers. Then I take them out and put them back in again. I can go on for hours. I use my shape sorter, bat bag, purse, soap box, or whatever is lying around. Right now I am putting apple slices into a soap box I wouldn't let go of for snack. The apple slices go in, then out, then in, then out. It is FASCINATING!!! I am in serious need of a purse. Maybe someone will get me one for my birthday.

I am sneaking in a cute picture of me in my Easter outfit. Mommy took bubbie and me to get our pictures taken and then came home and made us take more pictures. I'm sure she'll post the pro ones on here later.

My First Ever Pigtails

I have had a problem with people thinking I'm a boy since I was really little. When you don't have much hair, people assume you're a boy. Sometimes I wear a blue outfit with hearts and flowers all over it and I get called a boy because of the blue. But one time I was called a boy when I had head to toe bright pink on. I really don't think I look like a boy but to ease the confusion mommy has put bows in my hair. However I am turning quickly into a toddler so the bows are coming out and going right in my mouth. The other day mommy picked up some tiny rubber bands and yesterday she put my hair in pigtails. Performing a little experiment, she dressed me in a yellow Indy 500 shirt that Pappaw brought me as a souvenir from the race. I think it is the most boyish piece of clothing I own. Well all day long everyone just at first glance said, what a cute little girl. The pigtails did it! No one was confused even with my most confusing outfit. Today without the pigtails in a more girlish outfit I have been called a boy twice. I am working on growing out my hair because I don't think I want to be mistaken for a boy all my life!

First Snow

I've been a bit fussy lately as I have 3 molars coming in at once. It hurts so bad but I'm trying to deal with it. So yesterday we stayed home from home since bubba had a fever on Friday and Saturday and I hadn't slept much the last several nights. Mommy was so glad we were home because at around 12:30 it started to snow. It snowed for about 6 hours! I was mesmerized by the snow falling and enjoyed going out in the snow for a bit. It was super cold though as we picked a time to go out in the heavy snowfall with wind. Mommy gave bubba and me a warm bath though and we were all good. (Notice the flying snowball in the picture.)

I went to the zoo for the first time the other day. I didn't have any kind of super exciting story to tell about it except that I have always enjoyed observing the behavior of animals. We had fun.

2 Steps & Laughter

I have been trying for quite a while and falling down, but last night mommy stood me up and I took two steps toward her. Daddy was watching so I picked the perfect time to display my new skill. I was so proud of myself and just laughed. I took one more step later but this walking thing is actually a lot harder than it looks. I think I'll continue to practice before declaring that I can walk. I'm very proud of myself though.

I have to say that I have been laughing a lot more lately. I've been finding all kinds of new things funny. Of course when my brother says words like "diaper, poop, pooty, pee" I just crack up. Mommy gets mad that I like these words but I just do. Another thing I have discovered is shaking my head like I'm saying "yes". I look like I'm head banging at times but it is a lot of fun. Mommy does it back to me and her hair flies everywhere and I just crack up. And of course being a girlie girl, I'm perfecting my art of crying to get what I want. I poke out my bottom lip, even bring on some tears and boom, bam I get whatever I want! Pretty cool trick, don't you think?

A shout out to my cousin Foster - today is his 1st birthday! That means only 6 weeks and 5 days until mine (we're 7 weeks apart exactly but leap year took away a day).

My First Roll in the Grass

Who would have thought we'd have a lovely Spring weekend here in Georgia in February? Mommy had warned me that February is a totally useless month full of illness and gloom, but I think she might be wrong - well at least she was this weekend. Since I am mobile (did you know I can walk if I hold at least one of your fingers?) I crawled around in the grass for the first time ever yesterday and today. It was a totally new experience and quite fun. I had a great time picking through the grass. I only tried to eat a few leaves, but they didn't taste too good. I have a feeling that I might just get a lot more time outside if the nice weather keeps coming.