At Long Last, a Thanksgiving Post

I know, I know, it has been a long time since I have written. Mommy put me through a 12-step detox program after spending nine days at Gran and Papa's over Thanksgiving, so this is really the first chance I've had to blog. So much has happened since I last wrote, that I don't even know where to begin. Granddaddy came to visit me right before Thanksgiving, which was really cool. He arrived on a Thursday, which is when mommy and I have MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) at church, and the day started out in a rather bloody mess. Mommy said we needed to leave early for MOPS because it was pouring down rain and traffic would be bad. She started loading things into the Jeep and told me to wait inside for her to come right back to get me. It was just as she said, "Thatcher Davis, don't come down the stairs," that I went head first down the metal stairs in our garage. She caught me on the second (of three) steps, but the damage was already done. I had busted my lip open in three places. There was blood everywhere and I was hysterical. Mommy in a classic "first time parent" move quickly scooped me up...and carried me into the study so she could read in her parenting books how to take care of a busted lip. Geez. After 20 minutes of consolation, counseling, and ice packs, we headed out the door (bloody shirt and all), where we were greeted only seconds later by an eight-point buck sprinting in front of the Jeep! Thankfully, mommy didn't hit it; but I didn't know how much more adventure I could take. All this and a visit from Granddaddy, too...that was a LOT for a little man to take.

Mommy decided to take full advantage of Granddaddy's presence. On Friday morning, we took Winston and W to get a haircut; then the three of us went to breakfast. I finished early--as is my usual habit--so Granddaddy took me for a walk so mommy could finish her meal in peace. Afterwards, we went home and Granddaddy watched me while mommy took a nap. When she finally got up, she showered and got ready for her lunch date while Granddaddy fed and continued to entertain me. While mommy went to lunch, Granddaddy successfully put me down for a nap and even changed my dirty diaper when I woke up. Mommy was amazed, awestruck, and incredibly thankful for the freedom and reclaimed independence she experienced. She thought this was too good to possibly be true. It was only an hour or so after she returned home that she went in my room and found the bottle of "Clorox Disinfecting Wipes" open on my changing table. In a panic, she called out to Granddaddy, "Dad, tell me that you didn't use the Clorox Wipes on Thatcher's bottom" (especially since I was recovering from a SEVERE bout of diaper rash). Granddaddy just started to chuckle because, frankly, there was nothing else he could do. He explained that he thought the "Disinfecting" wipes were especially for me since I had had this infection on my bottom. Clearly, he missed the "Do not use as diaper wipe or for personal cleansing" warning on the label. Thankfully, no harm was done...and Granddaddy now attributes the eventual healing of my rash to Clorox.

The Monday before Thanksgiving, we flew to Atlanta for Thanksgiving. I saw almost all of my family - even Nana and Papa came down from Kentucky to see me - and got to meet Aunt Leslie's kitty cat, Oliver. That was a big hit.

My cousin, Ella Ann, came over to Gran's house and we played together for a couple of days. She even let me kiss her before she left one day. Not even two years old, and I scored my first kiss. How smooth am I? Needless to say, I have a lot to be thankful for...if only I could have added Georgia Tech and Kentucky football wins to that list...

Hanging Out with Ella Ann on the Fireplace

Highlighting my Christmas Must-Haves for Nana

Being Coy with Nanny during the Thanksgiving Madness

My Best Friends

At long last, here is my Halloween update. Needless to say, we had a great Halloween (see here). I dressed up as a duck and really enjoyed trick-or-treating, especially at the houses where doggies live. Actually, there were doggies at every house I went to, so I naturally wanted to go inside and visit with them. Apparently, trick-or-treating is about getting candy, not puppy kisses. Mommy and daddy should have told me that beforehand.

Other than that, I've been busy playing with Winston and W, so I haven't had much time to write lately. I love playing chase with them (although W isn't that thrilled about it), and I've recently added fetch to my repertoire. Sometimes I bribe W to play with me by sneaking into the pantry where mommy and daddy keep his food; I'll reach in and grab a handful and give it to him in hopes that he'll play with me. It usually works! I've also learned how to let Winnie and Tuffy in and out of the back yard, which has been a real help to mommy. Whenever Winston is ready to come inside, I just go to the door and let him in. Then, I'll stick my head out and call for Dudya. He never comes when I call him the first time, so I close the door and wait another minute before calling him again. Mommy and daddy think this is my coolest trick ever. Personally, I think it is far more impressive that I can have managed to find Winston and W's replacement squeakers for their squeaky toys and squeak them (with my teeth) while they're still in the wrapper.

Heaven, Thy Name is Pumpkinville

On Saturday, daddy and mommy took me to Pumpkinville. I chased a rooster - but he was too fast for me to catch him.
I saw a camel, which was a LOT taller than I am.
I thought I saw W there, but it turned out to be a pot-bellied pig.
I was able to pet some sheep. They seemed to like it when I said "Baaa" to them.
Daddy wanted me to feed the animals, but he seemed to be doing fine on his own.
Pregnant mommy and I got in the moon bounce. She can bounce me really high now that she is pregnant!
Daddy and I rode a hay slide.
Then, we talked through some really long pipes.
Best of all, I went on a tractor ride - all by myself!
Afterwards, Daddy and I "drove" a school bus.
Since we were at Pumpkinville, I thought I should hang out with some pumpkins before we went home.

It rocked! It rocked so much that mommy took 49 pictures! If you want to see them, click here.

Water World

They say cleanliness is next to godliness, so I never miss a chance to get clean. On Friday, mommy ran the water for her shower, then went to get her clothes while the water heated up. When she returned to the shower, guess who she found in it...fully clothed in jammies and sock and with a Hot Wheel Rumbler in hand?!?! Knowing better than to fight me on it, she let me stay in - but did manage to strip me down.

That afternoon, mommy's friend Jamie brought her one-month old son, Henry, over for a visit. Mommy took out the bouncer so Henry could hang out in it while Jamie and mommy caught up. Needless to say, she should have known to put it away before I found it. I've been looking for that thing for almost a year! Now, you can't get me out of it.

Lastly, I confess that I was busted Sunday morning; and, no, not for "borrowing" cars from my Sunday School classroom. Mommy walked into the bedroom and found me on all fours, drinking out of Winston and W's water bowl. It was bound to happen, and at least now I don't have to hide it.

Refrigerator Art

At MOPS today, I created my first piece of refrigerator art and thought you'd like to check it out. Mommy and daddy will be auctioning it at Sotheby's when they go to New York in a couple of weeks, but - as a loyal blog follower - you are getting an exclusive preview. In case you were wondering, I have now added meowing to my animal sounds repertoire (baaa, moo, quack, oink), hence the kitty cat magnet.

Mommy took some pictures of me blogging yesterday:

Do You Know the Brownie Man?

Every day, I go into the pantry and pull out a box of Ghiradelli brownie mix. Mommy finally relented and decided to let me make some. Mommy put the KitchenAid on the floor, but I did all of the other heavy lifting. I poured the mix in the bowl and added the egg, water, and oil. It was pretty cool when mommy turned on the machine and I got to see the paddle spin around and mix all of the ingredients together. It was even cooler, still, when mommy handed me the beater to lick once she poured the batter into the pan! I never knew baking could be so much fun!

Finger lickin' good

In other news, we went to Kentucky this weekend to visit Nana and Papa. Mommy and daddy forgot to bring the camera, so it is a good thing Nana and Papa gave me some books and jammies so I can have some souvenirs of the trip! I'm really into "How Do Dinosaurs..." books (thanks to my Aunt Ashley and Uncle Devil), and Nana and Papa gave me two, BIG, new ones. Mommy had to read them to me twice just this morning; after which, I read both of them to Winston and W. They seem to like them almost as much as I do. Hopefully, the little sister I will be getting in a few months will like them as well!

Vacation

Mommy, Daddy, and I went to Sandestin the last week of August for a little getaway before daddy started at his new firm. Gran and Papa met us there with lots of fabulous toys, including Hot Wheels Rumblers which light up and make more noise than mommy and daddy care to discuss. They tried to take me to the beach, but I didn't want to have anything to do with the sand, something daddy wishes he had known before paying $40 to rent beach chairs for the day. Finally, they just gave up on that idea and took me where I really wanted to go - the tiki bar at the pool! Daddy and Papa Cecil would sit at the bar while mommy and Gran sat on the pool steps. I positioned myself squarely in between the two parties and danced to the music that was playing. Every time a pretty girl would walk by I would "accidentally" bump into her, then tell her "bye bye" as she kept walking. Mommy says I really am daddy's son. She really thought that after I discovered pina coladas, which I inhaled every time I came near one. The pina colada has officially replaced milk as my favorite drink!

Sipping Pina Coladas in the Pool
Tasty!
Examining the Lobster at Poppy's Seafood Factory