At Long Last...A Christmas Post

On Christmas Eve, daddy, mommy, Winston, W, and I drove from Chattanooga to Kentucky. Whenever anyone asks mommy how long of a drive it is, she always has the same reply: "Longer than I think it is." She's right, but it was worth the trip. After arriving at Nana and Papa's house, we went over to my Nanny Thompson's house for the Christmas Eve festivities. I was finally able to meet my second cousin, Carter, and was able to hang out with my other second cousin, Ella Ann, again. We had a ball playing with each other and with all of the toys. We especially liked the "caroling dogs" toy someone gave daddy, who was all too happy to let us play with it. Everyone said we looked like little angels all dressed in white. Little do they know!

Checking out the Caroling Christmas Dogs with Carter and Ella Ann

Enjoying Christmas Eve Vittles

I woke up at my usual 6:00 on Christmas morning (that's 5 AM Kentucky time). Mommy and daddy gave me a "Cozy Comfy" Lamb with my name on it. It is a stuffed animal and blanket all wrapped up into one. Mommy assures me that I will grow to love it; but frankly, if it doesn't have wheels, I'm not that interested right now. Thankfully, a lot of people gave me cars and trucks for Christmas. Hopefully the new fleet will get me through until my birthday! Truthfully, I have so many, I probably won't need a new vehicle until I turn four...well, maybe three! Of all the toys I had to play with, I oddly enough chose to play with mommy's hairbrushes for most of the morning. Wonder if that means I'm going to grow up to be a stylist.... Just kidding, daddy.

Contemplating My Future as the Next Oscar Blandi

Wouldn't You Like to Find Me Under Your Tree?

My Second Wedding

23 December 2006. Granddaddy got married today, marking my second appearance at a wedding. I was not nearly as quiet at this one as I was at Uncle Devin's back in April. As a matter of fact, mommy took me out during the very first prayer! We were able to listen to the wedding from the anteroom while I practiced walking on the pews. No offense, Granddaddy, but that was a lot more fun for me than sitting through vows. Afterwards, we walked to the Dent House for the reception. I met mommy's third grade teacher (and granddaddy's high school girlfriend), Gloria, and her husband, Thad. We hung out with the string quartet, which desperately tried to drown out our catching up with their Christmas carols. It was pretty fun; and I think I'm going to end up enjoying weddings as much as mommy and daddy do.

With Daddy and Granddaddy

With Mommy and Granddaddy

With Aunt Leslie (in her brown dress that she thought was black)

T Minus Three Days until Christmas

I have finally recovered from my holiday travels and near-broken finger to update the blog. Let me rewind a bit to a couple of weeks ago to catch you up.

22 December 2006. Today, I celebrated an early Christmas with mommy's aunts and my great-nanny. They are certifiably crazy but a lot of fun, so I know that we are definitely related. Mommy about died because they wanted to give me cookies and juice. She shouldn't have been surprised, though. I've read Aunt Sherri and Nanny's promises about getting me off of this organic and healthy diet mommy has me on. Between you and me, I was really disappointed that Aunt Sherri didn't have any of those Long John Silver's "crispies" she's told me about. I was hoping that she would give me that for Christmas, but instead she gave me a present that scared my pants off. It's a Playskool board with lots of plastic, colored bolts on it that light up, make music, and spin around. She said her grandson, Landon, loves it; but I'm not so sure how I feel about it. It's not quite Santa scary, but close.

Tonight, I went over to Granddaddy's new house to exchange prezzies with him and his fiance, Tena. They gave me Elmo TMX, which is really cool (although I think Granddaddy may like it a bit more than I do). They also gave me what has arguably become my favorite Christmas present of all time, a police car that makes lots of fun noises. It is just the right size for me to roll all around the house.

Blue Christmas

We left for our Christmas odyssey on Wednesday afternoon. Thinking that the adventure should start a little early, I decided to test the laws of gravity by pulling the lamp cord that was dangling from the table in our family room. It was just screaming to be pulled, after all. Afterwards, I was just screaming. I pulled it right on top of myself and it landed squarely on my head and the floor - or so mommy thought. I was inconsolable for a good half an hour. Mommy checked me over and over again but could find no scars, bruises, or blood. Somewhere during the latter half of our 10-hour drive to Chattanooga, however, she noticed what looked like newspaper ink on my right ring finger. When "the ink" wouldn't come off when she tried to clean it, she realized it was a seriously bruised digit. The next morning, she called the pediatrician, who advised that she and daddy take me to the emergency room to have it x-rayed. What a way to start the holiday! Granddaddy met us at Aunt Margaret's (where we were staying) and took us to the urgent care center. Daddy and mommy say I was a real trooper. I didn't cry at all. My finger wasn't broken after all, just really blue, so I like to tell people that I'll have a blue, blue, blue, blue Christmas.

Topless Christmas Planning

Word on the street is that I am supposed to leave this Santa character cookies Sunday night. Most of you probably remember that my first encounter with Santa was not exactly pleasant. I have, however, been told that he will give me presents if A) I am really good and B) I leave him a plate of cookies and a glass of milk. Naturally, I'm willing to give it a try if presents are at stake. Given that I probably didn't make a great impression the first time we met, I figure I should up the ante and leave him something better than cookies. I've decided to go with Chick-Fil-A's chicken salad. I've never had one of these "cookies," but I really dig chicken salad. Cookies probably wouldn't taste as good after being rubbed in your hair and on your belly the way chicken salad does, either!


What, you don't think it's a good idea? Well, we'll see who is laughing on Christmas morning!

My Thoughts on the Christmas Tree

It is only......a matter of time...
...before I eat...
these ornaments!!!

"I Want to Walk Like You, Talk Like You"

Gran and Papa have given me a new nickname: Mowgli. You remember Mowgli from "The Jungle Book" who grew up thinking he was a wolf, right? Well, they think I believe I am a dog. Frankly, I think it is too harsh of a moniker. Just because I like to look out the door, crawl around on all fours, and have a new fascination with collars doesn't mean I think I'm a doggie.

Mommy says the evidence, however, is pretty damning:

1. She caught me licking the window the other day just like Winston and W do.
2. Every day, I challenge mommy to a contest to see who can make it to Winston and W's water bowl. Today, I actually beat her and celebrated by splashing their water everywhere.
3. Leashes taste good, especially the shiny part that hooks on to those collars I want so badly.
4. My first non-"mama" or "dada" word: "Dudya," which is what I call my furry brothers (It sounds like W, but I call Winston "Dudya" as well.)

Hanging with the Dudyas