Friday, November 28, 2008

The Names Grown Ups Come Up With




































So technically this wasn't my first Thanksgiving, but I sure do believe I'll remember more of this one than last year. I am thinking since I was just such a baby last year, I probably slept through most everything, took a couple of bottles, and probably was passed around for lots of grown ups to handle. This year was TOTALLY DIFFERENT!
Of course I woke up with some sort of a cold. Seriously people, I am tired of getting these little viruses on important days! I felt a bit cruddy at my birthday and now I felt a bit cruddy at Thanksgiving! However, I still enjoyed myself!!! I got up and got dressed, ate just a bit of breakfast and then headed out the door to Granny Conner's place. Mommy and daddy took lots of food, so I knew we were in for seeing lots of people! I got to watch the parade on television. It was wonderful and my favorite part was the care bears float. It was so great that I went to the tv and tried to touch them.
At some point during the morning my aunts, uncles, cousins and everybody else showed up. (I missed Levi though, he was at another house for Thanksgiving.) When it was time to eat, I really enjoyed the corn and jello jigglers!!! The stuffing was good and the rolls were nice, but nothing compared to the corn! Mommy was just super happy I was eating veggies!
After lunch my Aunt Cince and Uncle Tim and Casey showed up. I didn't get to see them very long because mommy said I absolutely had to get a nap in before my next meal. SOOOO, I said my goodbyes and we headed home.
I was so tired that I fell asleep in the car and didn't wake up when mommy took off my coat, changed my diaper and changed my clothes!!! I slept for a while and then woke up ready to go. Mommy said I had company, so I walked out to the lounge to see what was up! Grandma Penticuff and Aunt Sherry and Aunt Karen were there making more food!!! Before long, my OTHER SET of cousins, aunts and uncles were here!!! I ran all over the place and especially had a great time when my cousin Alex arrived! He brought a remote control car and we had a ton of fun!
Time to eat AGAIN, and again the corn was my favorite! I also had 2 rolls that were heavenly and some turkey (I preferred the dark meat that grandpa gave me). I ate and played some more. I played and played and played. Really, I did THAT MUCH PLAYING! I knew it was a special day when at 8:00pm I did not hear my parents even mention bed!
I got to stay up until most of my family left for the night. Just when I thought I was getting the look from daddy that meant, "time for bed," mommy gave me a bite of chocolate pie! OH WOW! That stuff was great. I got a few more bites and had a little milk, and then I really did get the dreaded look. I didn't put up too much of a fight because I was tired, but I hate going to bed when things are still going on around me!
Today was something called BLACK FRIDAY. That is right, first Thanksgiving and then black Friday. Really, these adults come up with outrageous names for things! So my parents did some online shopping while I played and then they made me get dressed. We went to the mall and YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE how many crazies were out! I say crazies because I just starred at the people (mostly ladies) carrying tons of bags and trying to run all over the stores. SHEESH, there must have been some good deals or something!
So I sat in my stroller while mommy and daddy looked through a few stores. I was so busy watching all the people that I didn't complain too much that I was sitting for quite a while. Mommy promised we'd only visit a few stores, so I was on my best behavior!
After Black Friday shopping, we grabbed some lunch and headed home. I took a really good nap...all those crazies made me tired just watching them! Then when I woke up we went to Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Filler's house. We had MORE THANKSGIVING FOOD! Man, we have eaten GOOOOOD this weekend! So we visited with my family and I finally got to see LEVI! Thank Goodness because I thought that kid was M.I.A.
After Thanksgiving at the Filler house we came home and played before my bed time. Again, I wasn't prepared for bed time, but I heard mommy saying something about Cyber Monday (I'm guessing ANOTHER CRAZY DAY), so I decided maybe bed was a good idea! Who knows what I will be doing next!!!
I hope all of you had a Wonderful Thanksgiving and a Happy Black Friday!

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Show and Tell











































I had another great weekend. I saw a walkway of lights, I spent time surrounded by family, I went shopping, I played in the nursery and many more things that just happened to be great! My Grandpa Penticuff got me a blackberry and I am texting all my friends, my daddy is off work all this week and so I'm spending quality time with him, we got new carpet that I really enjoy feeling with my feet and hands, and my kitchen is still so much fun. I went to Gran's house and it was PACKED OUT with cousins! So for today I just wanted to tell you some things my parents are teaching me and SHOW you some pictures from my weekend.
THINGS MY PARENTS ARE TEACHING ME:
1. Standing up on my bike is not an appropriate stunt.
2. If I complain long enough, sometimes I can get out of brushing my teeth for very long amounts of time.
3. Car rides can be fun when snacks and really good music are involved.
4. Hats and coats are required any time the words, "bye, bye" are mentioned.
5. There are always cookies in Granny's cookie jar!!!
6. It is MOST important to be surrounded by family.
7. There are special friends who feel like family and so I need to be surrounded by them, too!!
8. Sunday is church!
9. Daddy will always sing to me, even if he has to make up the song.
10. The bathroom is ALWAYS off limits.
11. If I get into the bathroom or if I am too quiet, my parents come a runnin'!
There is so much more, but I'll save that for another post! Enjoy the pictures!

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Thinking of My Favorite Things




















This is a great time of year! I mean, minus having to wear a big coat everywhere I go, I am really having a great time. It has been about a week since I've really posted on here, so I am going to try and give you highlights of what has been happening.
My Grandma Penticuff's birthday was last Thursday, so me and daddy and mommy took her to lunch on Wednesday. We went to Pizza King and I had a blast. I love the breadsticks there and we were all so pleased to see that Uncle Adam got to join us, too. I have a couple of pictures from that day on here for you to see.
Also, I got to spend Saturday morning with Grandpa and Grandma Filler because daddy was working and mommy had to go help with basketball tryouts for the Upward League. I got to do some shopping and eat at another of my favorites, Subway! My parents just can't figure out how come every time we go to Subway I choose to eat LOTS of tomatoes first. It makes no sense to them because they both do not like tomatoes. I, however, think they are delicious! So I usually eat turkey, cheese, tomatoes and sometimes some of grandma's broccoli soup!
Sunday was church and so I played a ton in the nursery. Telynda played Ring Around the Rosie with me until I fell over because I was so dizzy!!! I love that game. My favorite thing is to play it in my bedroom and to leave my legs up in the air after "we all fall down!" I also like to play it by myself. I spin in a circle saying, "ashes, ashes, ashes, ashes, ashes," and then I fall down only when I can no longer stand!
Monday I got to play with Levi, my favorite first cousin, while mommy watched us both. We had a great time! I showed him everything in my house and then we played and ate yogurt and played some more!!! Mommy had one wail of a time trying to get us both out to the parking lot to go to Granny Conner's house!!! I wanted to RUN to the car and Levi wasn't too sure because he wasn't used to going over to the lot. SOOO, mommy had to slow me down so Levi could get used to it!
We played more at granny's house and had a great lunch. Mommy said it is one of her favorite meals....ham and beans and cornbread!!! Well I would agree that the stuff was WONDERFUL! Aunt Clata made the beans and Granny made the cornbread. I know she loves us because she made the bread extra sweet!!! AND Aunt Ruth brought some cookies and I got eat some of those, too!
Last night we went to Menards and looked at the Christmas lights some more. That is another reason I LOVE this time of year. I love looking at all the lights in the stores. I especially like the lights that go with the music! I just sit and watch them for minutes (and that is a long time for me)! Liz also came over for a few minutes last night. I let her look at my books with me and I even let her pick me up before she left. I was a bit bummed when she left. Not only do I enjoy her company, but I had to go to bed when she went to work!
Today has been great, too. I went to grandma's for a little bit because mommy and daddy went to look at carpet. They think light colored carpet isn't a good idea for the living room with me around. I don't have a clue what they mean....but they went to look at different carpet. Me and Levi danced around to the songs from Madagascar 2 that grandma found on her computer! Man we had a blast!!!
I'm not sure what the rest of the day has in store, but I know I wanted to bring you up to date!!! I'm off to take a small nap and gear up for the night!

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

What Flies?

Time Flies! I cannot believe it has been a whole week since I've posted! That is 7 days of no pictures and no one-sided conversations. I have got to tell you that life gets crazy. Yesterday was my first day of "real" snow. It snowed most of the day. I wasn't quite as taken with it as you might think, but it was okay. I certainly do not like the fact that it keeps me inside more!!!
My parents broke down and gave me one of my Christmas presents early. It is a KITCHEN! Now I have a kitchen at Granny Conner's house and one at my house! I can cook for LOTS OF PEOPLE. I am especially impressed with the microwave. I keep hiding my sippy cups in it!
I do not have much time tonight, but I promise some pictures and fun stories very soon! I hope everybody is doing well!!!

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Santa Says I've Been GOOD




I know I say it everyday, but today was no exception...it was a great day! I got up after a wonderful 12 hours of sleep and was ready for anything. Me and mommy and daddy ate breakfast together (cinnamon rolls) and then we got ready for the day. It was kind of yucky outside so I had to wear a rain coat. I wasn't really excited about that at first, but I got used to the idea when I walked outside and realized it was about 40 degrees colder than yesterday (maybe I exaggerate a tad).
Anyway, I heard some talking in the front of the car about Christmas and what Santa might bring to me. We went to several stores and looked all around. I had to laugh a bit because we went to JC Penney to look for a gift for my cousin Levi and, of course, we walked out with something for ME! They had one wail of a sell today and I got 2 pairs of cords that hopefully will fit just beautifully!!! Mommy says we can't buy Levi any clothes until she knows what size to get for sure, so we have to do some more shopping soon for Levi. I think we should get him toys and mommy agrees. She almost bought him a tambourine and drum set...but then she thought about what Uncle Lawrence might get me and decided against it!
So, we did lots of looking this morning. We shopped so long that I got to eat lunch in the car. It was one of my favorites...a 4 piece chicken nugget with apple fries kids meal from BK. I finished off my lunch and headed to bed for a nap!
When I woke up and went to the living room I was SOOOO embarrassed! Nobody told me we had company (Josh and Shanise) and I walked out in a NON-MATCHING outfit. Just Picture It! I had on my cow pj pants and a flowery turtleneck! I was just mortified until mommy told me I looked just fine. It didn't take long to forget about my clothes and realize there were NEW PEOPLE TO PLAY WITH!! I quickly began showing them my toys and was quite pleased with the attention I received from everybody in the room!
When the visit was over I had to get dressed again so we could go to the store. Mommy picked Meijer and we headed out for milk and other essentials. My parents decided to take a quick gander at the toys while we were there and they became VERY, VERY excited about a steal-of-a-deal they found. I don't know what it is, but the box was so big that it hit me in the head because there wasn't room for it in the cart! Daddy got it fixed and then he had to push the cart the rest of the time because mommy couldn't see over the box and she was afraid she'd run over people!!! I am pretty pumped about it because 2 different people stopped us and told us that they got those for their kids and the kids LOVED THEM! They did warn daddy about the assembly part, but mommy says that is nothing I have to worry about! So I am guessing Santa must have told my parents I have been an EXCELLENT CHILD this year! Thank goodness he left out the part about those few temper tantrums I've been learning to throw!
After the store we came home and mommy made dinner. I ate a little bit but continued to play while eating. Before I knew it, it was time for bed again. I took my ear infection medicine like a champ and off to bed I went!
Oh and I cannot forget to tell you my new word!!! Tonight I said, "fish" "fish" at Meijer. I always get to go watch the fish while we are there and tonight I repeated it after daddy. Once I saw my parents reaction to my new word, I said it OVER AND OVER again!!!! Big people are so easily amused!

Friday, November 7, 2008

I Like Big Cups and I Cannot Lie





























Well do I have so much to tell you. Let me apologize now for the length of this post...it has been a while. First, let me tell you that I have a few new tricks up my sleeves. My most favorite (and my mommy's least favorite) is my ability to climb up the high chair and stand in it! I was stopped 3 times today from completing my task to get all the way inside the chair, only once did I make it because mom left the room for 15 seconds. I am also growling like a cheetah when I don't quite get my way. Sometimes I throw a smile in with it...sometimes I throw a little tantrum in with it. And let me not forget that I LOVE to drink out of big people's cups. This isn't exactly new, but I am getting better at it every day!! I LIKE BIG CUPS!
I have had a good week. It was topped off today with a trip to the doctors office for my 15 month check up. We learned a few things about me. I am now 23 pounds!!! That is right people, I am eating like a champ. I gained 3 lbs. in 3 months! I am 31 inches long and my head is just the perfect size. We also found out that I have an ear infection!!! Nobody could tell because I don't pull at my ears, but Dr. Byrne says it looks like the fluid is starting to get cloudy, probably because my sinuses are going NUTS and have been for 3 weeks. SOOOO, I have some new medicine that I have to take 2 times a day. It doesn't taste bad, though. ALSO, I got 3 shots! You would not have believed it. I didn't even cry for the first 2 and I barely cried for the last one. I stopped as soon as mommy picked me up. She was proud of me and I was proud of her because she held me down all by herself and didn't shed a tear. I think that was really all from the doc's office. He told mommy that she should IGNORE ME when I throw tantrums! HA HA, he has never seen me throw one!!! I am pretty amazing and demand an audience!
I got to spend time with lots of my family this week. We went to Grandpa and Grandma Penticuff's on Wednesday, did some shopping and had a great dinner. I ate so much that my pants barely fit when we left! My favorite was the corn, it was GREAT. Then Thursday I got to spend the evening with Levi and Aunt Sara and Uncle Lawrence and Grandma and Grandpa Filler and mommy. I played and played until I was so tired I couldn't stand it. Then tonight mommy made a roast and so we asked grandma and grandpa to come over and have dinner. I also got to see my Granny Conner for a little bit Thursday AND my great-grandma and great-grandpa Filler for a little bit on Tuesday! OH and I can't forget that I spent time with Aunt Clata and Uncle Bob on Tuesday while daddy took mommy to the doctor for some tests. Seriously, I saw LOTS of family (but not nearly all of them..I have such a big, wonderful family).
I've decided I'm not a fan of daylight savings time. It has totally messed up my schedule that I treasure so much (as do my parents)! I am getting up really early in the morning, which means mommy has to get up even earlier to get herself ready for the day. My naps are shorter than usual...I don't know what is up with that. HOWEVER, thank goodness I am still getting my beauty rest at night.
I could go on and on...but I'll give your eyes a little break! Until tomorrow, enjoy the pictures!

Saturday, November 1, 2008

My Tired Dogs!

I learned tonight that not only are the 4 legged creatures that try to lick my face called dogs, but so are my tiny, perfect feet. And let me share with you that MY DOGS ARE TIRED! It was a glorious day, thanks in part to the weather and thanks in part to my family who knows I need to move at all times!
Again, my day started off normal and I like normal. I wasn't really feeling toast for breakfast, so I dumped it on the floor and played instead. Thank goodness my aunt gave me some new breakfast bars in my trick-or-treat bag last night because I got to try a new flavor and it made me very happy, indeed!
I had to get dressed earlier than usual and found out it was because me and mommy were heading to the store. Now, this isn't the trip where we get to look at lots of fun stuff, this is the trip where we have to get food for the next couple of weeks. Mommy really hates this trip and generally likes it when daddy can go with us...he keeps us laughing. However, he was working and we just couldn't put it off any longer! So we headed to Wal-Mart and she complained half the way there about how it would be crowded and we'd have to park in Anderson just to get in the store and how the lines would take an hour.
Well we got there and we DIDN'T have to park far away and it didn't look very crowded, so I must say it was a fairly pleasant trip. I got to pick out some of the fruit and I got to eat cookies for most of the trip so I was happy and that made mommy happy! I got to walk to and from the car and that was a nice morning work out!
After the store it was time for lunch. I ate well and was so glad we'd gone to the store because that meant all my favorites were on my plate!! I took a quick nap and then mommy said we could go outside! Thank goodness for this weather! I didn't even have to wear a coat. Mommy showed me where to walk and before I knew it, we were in front of Burris where there were lots of kids (well, big kids) and loud music. Mommy explained it was the carnival for daddy's work and that we could go wherever I wanted! I walked around for 45 minutes before deciding to take a little break and let mommy carry me. We got to see daddy for a little bit, too! I also saw some college kids playing volleyball and I walked right up to them and said, "BALL," as loud as possible. They stopped their game and let me play pass with them for a little bit!
Mommy made me stop much too soon and so I told her who was boss. She still didn't let me play, but my grandma and grandpa walked up and so I was happy. We walked around some more and then headed to grandpa's car. We left and I thought we were just going to grandpa's house. BUT I was so surprised when we went to the park. It was a new park that I'd never been to before and it was so fun. There were lots of slides and swings and a tire swing that I really enjoyed. There was also a steering wheel that I played with. I had a great time there! I walked and walked some more!
THEN, just when I thought there couldn't be anything else fun left, LEVI came over to grandma and grandpa's house!! Needless to say, I played some more!!! I had beans and cornbread for dinner and really liked them! Grandpa makes the best cornbread. After dinner, more playing!! We climbed all over Uncle Lawrence and we even found a new door to open on one of grandma's cabinets! Unfortunately, we weren't allowed to play with the glass dishes in the new door!
By 7:30pm I was so tired that I couldn't even keep my head up. Mommy said I was going to stay up until 9:00pm tonight because of daylight savings time, but I just couldn't make it! We came home by 8:00pm, I had a REALLY FAST bath and then I went to bed. I was in bed by 8:20pm! Again, I tell ya, MY DOGS WERE TIRED!!! It was such a great day though. It was worth it!